Alfred=2C
Any good epoxy will stick to the tank. I use Redux and glass for small rep
airs like a screw put into a tank by the builder. Still holding after 10 y
ears. Do not use ethanol based fuels.
Also=2C it can be successfully repaired with a plastic welder as I was shoc
ked by one person that installed drains in the bottom of his tank. It work
ed well. We tried on one tank in the shop by cutting a hole in the center
under the aft bulkhead and clearing the area where the tank could be welded
. It worked until the next annual when we could get in a new tank and repl
ace the repaired one.
I am surprised to see an indent as you showed in your photo. Was it there
---From the beginning? During your cockpit module install was the module flex
ed by accident?
Regards=2C
Bud Yerly
From: ykibuess@bluewin.ch
Subject: Europa-List: Fuel tank leak - another type
Date: Sun=2C 10 Aug 2014 11:14:24 +0200
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Fuel tank leak - another type=0A
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Collective wisdom=2C=0A
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My Europa XS is mostly finished. Two days ago I filled the tank with fuel
' it leaked after I filled in about 40 liters. Not much=2C but steadily.
After emptying the tank and opening up the access hole on the tank top the
culprit was quickly found: On top of the tunnel there are three distinct in
dentations and three more that are smaller. At least one of them must have
a pinhole. The tank leaked exactly where these indentations are. See attach
ed pictures. It must be a manufacturing error. I am not keen to cut this ta
nk out and replace it with a new one=2C but would rather like to repair it.
As it is not a stress crack and as the top of the saddle should not be exp
osed to particular stress=2C I think a repair should be possible. I added t
he spray foam bottom support suggested by Bud Yerly (thank you for the advi
ce !) before filling the tank to minimize deformation stress. =0A
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My question: What adhesive sticks well enough to the tank material (I read
it is medium density polyethylene MDPE) and is fuel resistant? Is redux the
the good choice? Any other advice? Thanks in advance for all suggestions a
nd shared experiences!=0A
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Alfred Buess=2C Switzerland=2C Europa XS HB-YKI=2C Ercoupe 415-E N94804=0A
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