Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 03:43 AM - Re: Fuel tank inspection plate design (Dave Disney)
2. 04:10 AM - Re: What did you do with your Europa this week 7/23 - 7/29 (Area-51)
3. 05:15 AM - Re: Re: Fuel tank inspection plate design (James)
4. 08:17 AM - Re: Fuel tank inspection plate design (Dave Disney)
5. 10:08 AM - Re: Re: What did you do with your Europa this week 7/23 - 7/29 (Pete Zut)
6. 05:42 PM - Re: Re: Fuel tank inspection plate design (James)
Message 1
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| Subject: | Re: Fuel tank inspection plate design |
Hi Will,
Sorry to hear about your tank problem. My tank developed a split back in 2016,
at first, I explored installing a bladder inside the tank as I really didnt like
the idea of installing a new tank. I had studied the repair process and lots
of photographs from the web and even produced the mouldings required ready to
install a new tank, but I really didnt want to go that route.
I produced two or three bladders, but I couldnt produce a bladder that didnt leak.
The idea was to fill the bladder with explosion proof foam as used in racing
cars, it would have reduced the tank capacity a bit, but would prevent the
bladder from collapsing when empty. I approached several bladder manufacturers,
but they all wanted thousands to produce a bladder which is why I went the DIY
route. Although the bladder idea didnt work out for me, I still think this
is a great idea if someone can produce a bladder at a reasonable price.
Having spent a lot of time and effort on the bladder, I stumbled on the process
of welding plastic fuel tanks in a youtube video. At this point in time, I knew
that my tank was split, but I didnt know where or how bad as I hadnt cut open
the top of the tank. I figured that if I had to replace the tank with a new
one then cutting some holes in the tank top wasnt going to matter, and if I cut
the top of the headrests off then any holes I cut could be easily repaired
in the replacement process. There was already an LAA scheme for installing a fuel
tank sender unit that involved cutting an inspection hole between the headrests,
so I knew I wasnt breaking new ground doing this. Anyway, once the holes
were cut I could see the split in the tank for the first time and I thought
repairing it was feasible.
Ive included some photos of the bladder for reference, a copy of the repair scheme
that was accepted by the LAA in the UK and a pic of the inside of the tank.
Its pretty self-explanatory, but Im happy to help if something isnt clear.
I should add that my original welded repair failed earlier this year after 7 years,
but it was only a mornings work to pump it out and reweld it and its been
OK since. The repair approval dictates that I must remove the inspection panels
at annual inspection to inspect the repair. I usually pump the tank out to
do this which gives the opportunity to remove any debris from inside the tank
and have a good look at it as well.
Good luck with your repair.
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=507536#507536
Attachments:
http://forums.matronics.com//files/mod_8_redacted_1_114.pdf
http://forums.matronics.com//files/inflated_tank_rear_592.jpg
http://forums.matronics.com//files/bladder_top_180.jpg
http://forums.matronics.com//files/bladder_rear_116.jpg
http://forums.matronics.com//files/bladder_front_898.jpg
http://forums.matronics.com//files/2018_inside_of_fuel_tank_242.jpg
Message 2
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| Subject: | Re: What did you do with your Europa this week 7/23 - 7/29 |
12 days!!!! are they sending the part by donkey???!!!
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=507537#507537
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: Fuel tank inspection plate design |
Dave, how do you pump the fuel out of the tank?
Do you use the aircraft's own electric pump? Btw, it's vital that the tank
is ventilated so that all petrol/gas fumes are evacuated before introducin
g any heat source or spark, as many a motor mechanic found out to his cost
when welding the fuel tank of a petrol engined car!
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>
________________________________
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com <owner-europa-list-server@matr
onics.com> on behalf of Dave Disney <davedisney@yahoo.co.uk>
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2022 11:43:15 AM
Subject: Europa-List: Re: Fuel tank inspection plate design
Hi Will,
Sorry to hear about your tank problem. My tank developed a split back in 20
16, at first, I explored installing a bladder inside the tank as I really d
idn=99t like the idea of installing a new tank. I had studied the rep
air process and lots of photographs from the web and even produced the moul
dings required ready to install a new tank, but I really didn=99t wan
t to go that route.
I produced two or three bladders, but I couldn=99t produce a bladder
that didn=99t leak. The idea was to fill the bladder with explosion p
roof foam as used in racing cars, it would have reduced the tank capacity a
bit, but would prevent the bladder from collapsing when empty. I approache
d several bladder manufacturers, but they all wanted thousands to produce a
bladder which is why I went the DIY route. Although the bladder idea didn
=99t work out for me, I still think this is a great idea if someone c
an produce a bladder at a reasonable price.
Having spent a lot of time and effort on the bladder, I stumbled on the pro
cess of welding plastic fuel tanks in a youtube video. At this point in tim
e, I knew that my tank was split, but I didn=99t know where or how ba
d as I hadn=99t cut open the top of the tank. I figured that if I had
to replace the tank with a new one then cutting some holes in the tank top
wasn=99t going to matter, and if I cut the top of the headrests off
then any holes I cut could be easily repaired in the replacement process. T
here was already an LAA scheme for installing a fuel tank sender unit that
involved cutting an inspection hole between the headrests, so I knew I wasn
=99t breaking new ground doing this. Anyway, once the holes were cut
I could see the split in the tank for the first time and I thought repairin
g it was feasible.
I=99ve included some photos of the bladder for reference, a copy of t
he repair scheme that was accepted by the LAA in the UK and a pic of the in
side of the tank. It=99s pretty self-explanatory, but I=99m hap
py to help if something isn=99t clear.
I should add that my original welded repair failed earlier this year after
7 years, but it was only a morning=99s work to pump it out and reweld
it and it=99s been OK since. The repair approval dictates that I mus
t remove the inspection panels at annual inspection to inspect the repair.
I usually pump the tank out to do this which gives the opportunity to remov
e any debris from inside the tank and have a good look at it as well.
Good luck with your repair.
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=507536#507536
Attachments:
http://forums.matronics.com//files/mod_8_redacted_1_114.pdf
http://forums.matronics.com//files/inflated_tank_rear_592.jpg
http://forums.matronics.com//files/bladder_top_180.jpg
http://forums.matronics.com//files/bladder_rear_116.jpg
http://forums.matronics.com//files/bladder_front_898.jpg
http://forums.matronics.com//files/2018_inside_of_fuel_tank_242.jpg
Message 4
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| Subject: | Re: Fuel tank inspection plate design |
Hi Mallard,
I use the aircraft electric pump to pump out as much fuel as possible, then remove
the fuel tank access cover and mop out the rest. Leave for an hour for fumes
to evaporate then do what I need to do. When using a hot air gun to heat weld
the plastic, I usually leave the tank empty overnight for fumes to evaporate.
So far, it's not been a problem.
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=507541#507541
Message 5
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| Subject: | Re: What did you do with your Europa this week 7/23 |
- 7/29
Pity I don't see a europa homebuilt review in the schedule. Would be too
cool to have Erich's beautiful paint job sitting on the eaa emblem pad
where he could share his newly installed goodies for the rest of to us to
prod at. <hint: carbon>
I think Erich may have also been talked into doing the showcase review! Thx
Erich!
Cheers,
PeteZ
On Sat., Jul. 23, 2022, 9:26 p.m. h&jeuropa, <butcher43@att.net> wrote:
>
> Kingsley,
>
> We are N241BW, departing K2C5 hopefully 24 July around 1500Z - 2000Z.
>
> John Wigney is enroute. He appears to be in Peoria, IL tonight. He is
> N262WF. Looks like he has had a tough day with the storms.
>
> Sorry you are stranded but at least your weather looks OK.
>
> Stay green!
>
> Jim
>
>
> Read this topic online here:
>
> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=507535#507535
>
>
Message 6
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| Subject: | Re: Fuel tank inspection plate design |
Yes Dave,
Better to be safe than sorry!
Btw,
Did you have plenty of welding material left over from the first repair?
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>
________________________________
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com <owner-europa-list-server@matr
onics.com> on behalf of Dave Disney <davedisney@yahoo.co.uk>
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2022 4:17:11 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Re: Fuel tank inspection plate design
Hi Mallard,
I use the aircraft electric pump to pump out as much fuel as possible, then
remove the fuel tank access cover and mop out the rest. Leave for an hour
for fumes to evaporate then do what I need to do. When using a hot air gun
to heat weld the plastic, I usually leave the tank empty overnight for fume
s to evaporate. So far, it's not been a problem.
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=507541#507541
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