RE: Re: HDPE fuel tanks


Subject:    RE: Re: HDPE fuel tanks
From:    Curt Thompson (Curt.Thompson@verizon.net)
Date:    Sat Nov 29 - 8:31 PM
Thanks for the pictures Ron.


Those are the ACS caps I used.  They are the sealed (non vented) kind.  
They
are heavier than I expected.  Appear to be quite robust.


The hole in the wing skin is about 3mm larger radius than the outside of 
the
cap flange. I put a ring of flooring subfloor cork between the tank and 
the
skin.  Keep in mind that my tank matches the profile of the wing.  I 
might
fill the gap with ProSeal or the =933M 5200=94 stuff that Brady wrote 
about.


The ring around the ACS cap had six indents that I used to drill out for 
the
rivets.  I then eyeballed it and drill six more holes (for a total of 
12).
I then ProSealed and riveted the cap to the tank.


My vent is pretty much as Brady described his (actually I think I stole 
the
idea from him).  Except I ProSealed a =BC=94 flange to the bottom of my 
tank and
threaded it with a 1/8=94 NPT.  I will screw a vent tube in that 
eventually.


My fuel outlet from the tank comes out the side so I can keep the fuel 
lines
in the wing.  I still have about =BC =93 of fuel I can=92t get to but at 
least my
drain valve is below the fuel outlet.  I heard a rumor that certified 
planes
are required to have a certain about of unusable fuel in the tank ' 
8oz?


I think the flange I made for the fuel sender was 0.250=94 AL.  I made 
it
using some round whole saws obtained from Home Depot.  I had to tap them 
for
10-32 as you describe.  The ring was ProSealed in (but not the fuel 
sender).


Someone wrote in the archives that the rubber gasket alone would seal 
the
fuel sender.  It seemed to me that fuel would leak around the heads of 
the
bolts.  I tested this theory and sure enough ' leaks around the bolt 
heads
on the sender.  I sealed my sender with Permatex #59214 from B&B Auto.  
I
called a Permatex factory guy and he said the stuff is fuel tolerant as 
long
as you let it cure for 24 hours before you expose it to fuel. It will be
months before I get to that point.


I rinsed my tanks out with mo-gas before I put them on the wings.  I 
wanted
to see if any ProSeal debris would come out.  I dumped them out into a
coffee filter.  The only thing I got was a little bit of lint from the
cotton rag I used to wipe them down (with acetone) before sealing them 
up.


Let me know if I didn=92t get to all your questions.


Curt

Plans building, CH701.


p.s.  Working on the slats today.  I should be ready to rivet them 
tomorrow.
My Zenith pneumatic rivet puller is on order.  My H.F. puller is dead 
(and
my hands are tired).  I=92m pretty much done with the rudder, elevator,
horizontal stab, both wings, and flaperons.  The fuse is next.  I=92ve 
been
working since March.  This is going much quicker than I expected.


  _____  

From: owner-zenith701801-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-zenith701801-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of 
R.D.(Ron)
Leclerc
Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 1:45 PM
To: Curt Thompson
Subject: RE: Re: HDPE fuel tanks


Thanks for the great photos Curt...


<snip>




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