I spoke to Jim Nelson-whom many of you know- and venerable builder of
A058 - which I now own.
He suggested I check with Bob Berube at Flight Crafters who he thinks
is working on an aluminium tank retrofit for someone!
I'm emailing him to get details. Will update you shortly!
After speaking with Jim, I've decided to convert A058 to conventional
gear through Bob. Might do the tank concurrently if its not too
expensive.
Venu
Europa Mono - flying
A058 - 132.5 hrs
Austin, TX
On May 3, 2008, at 19:23, Jerry Rehn <rehn@rockisland.com> wrote:
>
> 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
> To: europa-list@matronics.com
> 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
>
>
|