Tank Reseal Looking for PIREP for Houston Tank Specialists, LLC

[redraider]

Hello All,

I have searched the site and only found a few mentions of Houston Tank Specialists in Brookshire, TX.  I am looking for some firsthand experience and review of the quality and value of the services provided by HTSLLC.  I have a '78 M20J with nagging leaks.  Weighing the options of patching vs total reseal.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I am very close to Houston, so this would be the optimal option, assuming quality and value is there.

Regards,

Grant

[Hank]

Patching is risky, more so with older models. I'd recommend a reseal when it gets bad enough. Mine took three annuals to reach that point after I bought her, and I went to Wet Wingologists in the fall of 2010. Couldn't have gone better.

Good luck with fixin yours! 

[Bravoman]

13 hours ago, Hank said:

Patching is risky, more so with older models. I'd recommend a reseal when it gets bad enough. Mine took three annuals to reach that point after I bought her, and I went to Wet Wingologists in the fall of 2010. Couldn't have gone better.

Good luck with fixin yours! 

Hank, out of curiosity did  you go to their facility in Lauderdale?  Approximately what was the cost of the complete reseal if you don't mind me asking and how long did it take start to finish? 

[Hank]

Yes, I flew into FXE. Seems with my MAPA discount it was ~6-1/2 AMU for my 52 gallon tanks in 2010. Your larger tanks will cost more. 

We scheduled the work around the two discount flights weekly between Huntington and Ft Lauderdale International. I picked it up just before Thanksgiving, so it was probably 3-4 weeks. He had two in the shop and another waiting when I got there--it's all about timing and workload, and my timing, as usual, was bad. But he finished on time! It was ready to go when I got there.

[Bravoman]

1 hour ago, Hank said:

Yes, I flew into FXE. Seems with my MAPA discount it was ~6-1/2 AMU for my 52 gallon tanks in 2010. Your larger tanks will cost more. 

We scheduled the work around the two discount flights weekly between Huntington and Ft Lauderdale International. I picked it up just before Thanksgiving, so it was probably 3-4 weeks. He had two in the shop and another waiting when I got there--it's all about timing and workload, and my timing, as usual, was bad. But he finished on time! It was ready to go when I got there.

Thanks, appreciate it!

 

Regards, Frank

[Flynnupe94]

Grant, im currently having the tanks in my Ovation stripped and resealed by Houston Tank Specialist. So far everything is coming along fine and Carl the owner has kept me advised as to the progress of the job. I was originally set to fly it up to Paul at Weep no More in MN however had to cancell, the logistics of getting my plane up there and getting a ride back became too much. If you will like I could send you photos of the completed job in a couple of weeks..Hook em .Keith

[redraider]

Keith, thanks,  I would be very interested in seeing the completed job, without fuel in the tanks.  Like you, I have no desire to fly to MN.  Houston Tank Specialist is less than an hour away for me.

Thanks again, and, oh yeah, GO TECH!

[DonMuncy]

Houston Tank Specialists has not done my tanks, but if I needed them done, I would go to them in a heartbeat. I have seen Carl's work. He is meticulous. Also, a straight shooter.

[Flynnupe94]

Grant I'll send you the photos that I have of the job so far, one of which is one of my tanks without fuel that has been totally cleaned. Keith If you decide to use Houston Tank and need a ride I can fly down and help out. I always like to have a reason to fly.. Also' FYI they're based out of Eagle Lake airport (KELA) which is 35 mi SW of Houston. Keith

[redraider]

Thanks Keith.  I am meeting with my very trusted mechanic on Monday to assess and decide which path to take.  It has been patched several times, so I believe I'm ready for the whole enchilada, just not ready to pay for it.  I'll probably bite the bullet soon.  Any idea on down time? And, I'm aware and familiar with ELA.  Would love to see photos.

[LANCECASPER]

7 hours ago, Flynnupe94 said:

Grant, im currently having the tanks in my Ovation stripped and resealed by Houston Tank Specialist. So far everything is coming along fine and Carl the owner has kept me advised as to the progress of the job. I was originally set to fly it up to Paul at Weep no More in MN however had to cancell, the logistics of getting my plane up there and getting a ride back became too much. If you will like I could send you photos of the completed job in a couple of weeks..Hook em .Keith

Please post them on here. Thanks!

Edited February 4, 2016 by LANCECASPER

[Flynnupe94]

Grant I was told about 4 weeks. However, they are also replacing all of my windows as well. The tanks on my Ovation are larger than yours but I would figure 3 weeks. Call Carl at Houston Tank, he could give you a more accurate time frame....Keith

[Flynnupe94]

PIREP: The strip/reseal of the tanks on my "O" by Houston Tank Specialists is progressing. The tanks have been resealed and the only think left is to refuel them and make sure everything is ok. My experience with Houston Tank Specialist has been positive so far, I think that they have done a good job  .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hank]

Looks good! On time and on budget will be gravy on this job.

[LANCECASPER]

How much for the re-seal?

[Flynnupe94]

LANCECASPER I have an Ovation they charged me 9K for both sides..Although I saved money versus going to MN or FL thats not what really motivated me to take it to Houston Tank. It was more convenient to take down to them however, I think that they have done a good job. If you have a J or other short body with standard tanks I think the Price is around 8.5K.

[carusoam]

There is a lot of detail to getting things right.  The photos really show it too.  Each fastener, each port, each seam, each corner.....

Great photos!

One thing we don't see very often is the added structure that goes under the walkway.  Now I know what it looks like and where I'm supposed to stand on the wing.

Thanks for sharing the photos.

Best regards,

-a-

[redraider]

Thanks for the photos!  When you pick yours up mine will be the blue one next to it.

[Hank]

Waot a minute! Why is "redraider" flying a blue airplane??? 

[redraider]

Red airplanes scare me.  Besides, my color of blue is the EXACT color of 110LL dye making it nearly impossible to see fuel leaks until they drip on the hangar floor.  It has saved me years of grief.  Whomever chose that color was genius.

 

[Flynnupe94]

Redraider actually wanted a Burnt orange Mooney but he couldnt find one...LOL

[PTK]

I have always wondered about one thing with strip and resealing. What are the long term expectations since the sealer is placed on the surface and not sandwiched inside the seams between the overlapping pieces.

[Hank]

32 minutes ago, PTK said:

I have always wondered about one thing with strip and resealing. What are the long term expectations since the sealer is placed on the surface and not sandwiched inside the seams between the overlapping pieces.

You mean, when our tanks are resealed, the new improved material is applied the same way that the old sealant was applied when our planes were built? I'm expecting greater life than my original sealant provided, because the material is better.

Ovations and Acclaims used the sandwich method; not sure how far back it went, but I'd be surprised if it was used on any pre-long bodies.

[markejackson02]

I'm building RV-8 fuel tanks.  I don't think there is a huge advantage to putting lots of sealant in between skins/spars/stiffeners.  Almost all of it gets squeezed out.  Careful application over the seams is a lot more important.

 

 

[Flynnupe94]

PTK im not sure that one method or the other is going to get you significantly more than the other. I have a long body but most of the strip/reseal companies will only use the old method...