Tanks not breathing

[Shadrach]

  On 3/30/2015 at 8:55 PM, mike_elliott said:

I guess I have to ask why not here. I literally had safety wire in the vents of my F for over 14 years without them coming out, getting sucked in, nor having them plugged up by mud daubers. They wont fall out, really. You have to pull them out with small needle nose pliers. I didn't have to worry about removing them before flight like I would have caps. Keeping your plane inside a hanger wont help, the daubers like it indoors also. Every IA that has looked at my plane really liked the idea (and it wasn't mine) to boot. Being removable, it is not against the regs.

I did not mean to poo poo your success, I just don't think it's necessary.  Did you have a mud dauber problem prior to the wire?   Besides, as many times as I've hit my head on the vent when sitting under the plane removing panels, a piece of safety wire would probably embed under my scalp. 

[mike_elliott]

  On 3/30/2015 at 9:16 PM, chrisk said:

I like the idea. It's kind of like a giant IUD (birth control) for your plane. --So, how long were the wires? I assume there is a bend it needs to go around or it would fall out.

About 2 to 3 in. piece, slightly bent to stay in the tube. It didn't go around any bends, just held in by the spring of the wire and friction.

[Piloto]

I would check the battery vent and the tail ventilation drain hose. Also the adjacent wing sections next to the wheel wells. At some time the plane must has been standing on grass with empty tanks for a while. Wasp nests don't build up overnite.

José

[mike_elliott]

  On 3/30/2015 at 9:17 PM, Shadrach said:

I did not mean to poo poo your success, I just don't think it's necessary. Did you have a mud dauber problem prior to the wire? Besides, as many times as I've hit my head on the vent when sitting under the plane removing panels, a piece of safety wire would probably embed under my scalp.

I never had a problem with them. A respected old stick and rudder cfi who transitioned me into my Mooney in 2000 told me that would keep me from having a mud dauber problem in spite of my new plane being hangered. He was right on this as he was on most things