Fred
There are sloshing products for sealing the inside of fuel tanks. The
question is will they work in our tanks. I know they have it for fiberglass
and aluminum and some of the sloshes are epoxy based. We know epoxy sticks
to our tanks. Maybe you could check out Jeffco Products they make epoxy fuel
tank sealers. I am sure they will show up in a Google. Maybe they could tell
us if would make sense.
Jerry
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Fred Klein
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 3:15 PM
Subject: Re: AW: Europa-List: Fuel tank - bulges and leakage.
On Saturday, May 3, 2008, at 07:00 US/Pacific, david miller wrote:
> It looks as if the failure rate for the plastic tanks is less than 1%,
> I would imagine that
> welded tanks will in time have their own share of problems. Perhaps
> all that is required is for the factory to beef up the existing design
> a little , and ensure that the tanks are well flourinated.
David,
Thank you for your optimism...I certainly hope your take on this holds
up over time.
For myself (in the midst of my build w/ the top just clecoed in place
and no fuel in the tank, I'm inclined to essentially live w/ the
possibility of tank replacement at some time in the future.
I am laying up a stiff, full width FG strip, cushioned w/ 1/8" closed
cell flexible foam, which will slide between the spacers and the front
face of the tank in order to guard against potential tank contact w/
the aileron control rod; it will have a generous curve to allow for
some bulging (but not so much as would interfere with the spars) and be
bonded full width to the underside of the shelf layup. I'll post a pix
in the next few days. I recognise that this may do nothing to alleviate
potential cracking around the tunnel, and I'm looking into the
possibility of some foam ala Ron Pagoris's postings.
This tank situation is giving me another reason to build a "spit" which
would allow the fuselage to rotate 360 degrees; if a miraculous coating
turns up which inhibits or eliminates entirely the propensity for fuel
to be absorbed into the HDPE material, I would disconnect my fuel
lines, stopper the openings, pour a gallon or so in the tank and give
the entire fuselage about 10 revolutions in both directions.
jus rock and roll,
Fred
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