Gentlemen,
Having just replaced my fuel tank, I can speak to this issue. I did the
replacement with doors on & wings off. There is one issue in fitting
the new tank. The door sill on one side must be cut out to allow the
new tank to go in:
If the top were not on, this cut would not be required.
But, there=92s no way you would be replacing the tank till long after
the top is on in any case. You can slosh all the av/mo gas you want
doing fuel testing, etc, during the build and you won=92t affect the
tank. The tank will have to be in contact with the fuel for an extended
period of time to absorb sufficient fuel or entrained solvents to soften
the tank material.
=46rom my experience, the tank crack arises after the tank has sat empty
for some extended period, such as mono to tri gear conversion. That
seems to make the tank material brittle. After the tank has been
refilled for some short duration is when the cracking usually occurs.
Just my experience. I=92d say finish your aircraft and don=92t worry
about unless you have an extended down time with an empty tank. If you
do, watch carefully for fuel loss or what appears to be sudden excessive
fuel consumption.
Blue skies & tailwinds,
Bob Borger
Europa XS Tri, Rotax 914, Airmaster C/S Prop (50 hrs).
Little Toot Sport Biplane, Lycoming Thunderbolt AEIO-320 EXP
3705 Lynchburg Dr.
Corinth, TX 76208-5331
Cel: 817-992-1117
rlborger@mac.com
On Mar 30, 2014, at 11:57 AM, Fred Klein <fklein@orcasonline.com> wrote:
On Mar 30, 2014, at 9:40 AM, William Daniell
<wdaniell.longport@gmail.com> wrote:
> I think you're being optimistic I think it would be significantly
easier without the top on but I don't see an alternative=85
Will=85I would never recommend building a Europa to anyone who was not
an optimist=85but, without wishing to tempt fate, consider the task of
replacing tank w/ wings and doors off=85IMO, t=92would not be much
different than w/ top off as well=85Fred
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