fuel tank sealant

[Cruiser]

Hi All,

 

I have a small leak in the rivet next to my fuel tank drain, does anyone have some left over fuel tank sealant I can buy from them. I only need a small amount for this rivet.

 

thanks,

 

TomK

[N201MKTurbo]

The only correct way to repair it is from inside.

That being said, if you drain the tank and let it dry out and then put penetrating lock tight on the rivet, it will probably seal it up.

BTW that is what Norm used to sell as his magic tank sealer.

[Marauder]

The only correct way to repair it is from inside.

That being said, if you drain the tank and let it dry out and then put penetrating lock tight on the rivet, it will probably seal it up.

BTW that is what Norm used to sell as his magic tank sealer.

 

What was his other gizmo? AeroTrim or something like that?

[DonMuncy]

He also sold fuel cap locks and fuel cap covers. Perhaps more.

[N201MKTurbo]

I probably met Norm 10 times. He was a genius!

Figured out how to fly his Mooney all over the US with a lawn chair and an easel and write it off his taxes!

[Steve65E-NC]

A little bit of Locktite 420 might work.  A very light vacumn, only a few inches of water, with a dry tank might also help.  Careful on vac, you can use a plastic tube and a  table spoon of water to make a manometer.   Also be careful when emptying tank, and drawing a vacumn.  Avoid any sparks and electric motors.  Remember that a fuel air mixture in a closed space (tank) with any kind of ignition is highly explosive and dangerous. Maybe use a hand pump of some sort.  You can collapse a wing even with that so be careful.   Probably better not to use a drop light while working under the wing with open fuel.  I heard of a guy who died that way when the light broke.   

[Cris]

A little bit of Locktite 420 might work.  A very light vacumn, only a few inches of water, with a dry tank might also help.  Careful on vac, you can use a plastic tube and a  table spoon of water to make a manometer.   Also be careful when emptying tank, and drawing a vacumn.  Avoid any sparks and electric motors.  Remember that a fuel air mixture in a closed space (tank) with any kind of ignition is highly explosive and dangerous. Maybe use a hand pump of some sort.  You can collapse a wing even with that so be careful.   Probably better not to use a drop light while working under the wing with open fuel.  I heard of a guy who died that way when the light broke.

I'm curious as to the technique requiring a manometer and vacuum? I would have thought a few drops of the locktite on the rivet from the inside of the tank would be sufficient unless maybe a vacuume on the outside of the wing over the offending rivet would help draw the locktite to a better seal. Could you explain? Thanks

[bumper]

Loctite 290 on the *outside* after drawing a slight vacuum (1 inch Hg) on the inside of the tank.

 

for more details see: http://www.seqair.com/skunkworks/Maintenance/TankLeak/TankLeak.html

 

I have tested another product, "Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Seal" (I know . . . don't laugh) though not on a Mooney tank. My test was to drill two small 1/32" holes in the bottom of two OJ bottles and slice between the holes with a razor knife. Then I applied the crack seal, twice. Filled one bottle half way with 100LL and the other with MoGas. Let stand several days and observed no leaks. Captain Tolley's is not intended for this application, though my testing indicates it should work. Not approved of course.

 

bumper