gsxrpilot Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 I guess it's something that most Mooney owners will face at one time or another. The right tank is leaking on my K. I started noticing a fuel smell in the cockpit and we were thinking it was the sender gasket. But after pulling the interior piece below the door, it's obvious the leak is through the seams in the tank. I expect I'll be taking it to Carl at Houston Tank Specialists. Reviews of his work are good and he's only about a 1.5 hours DRIVE from home, or a very short Mooney flight. The plane's been down for a month for the JPI EDM-900 install and now another month for the tank reseal. It's not a good dispatch record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N6758N Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Are you doing a full re-seal or a patch? Might be worth just patching to see if it goes away? Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonal Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Hope it's a quick fix at least the weather has been kind of crappie and its January not May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsxrpilot Posted January 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Right now I'm planning on a full reseal of both tanks. If I can go ahead and bite the bullet and get it done, it should make for years of trouble free service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LANCECASPER Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Many times its one spot that can be re-sealed. David at DuGosh in Kerrville is very good at that. If it's more than that he'll tell you to get them re-sealed. If you decide to have him to look at it, I live up by Kerrville and can give you a ride back to San Marcos. N134JF Airframe Logbook #2 page #32.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWinter Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Just think how nice it will be when you get it back. You will get to really enjoy all the upgrades. Mine was down three months this summer..sucked, but now when I fly it's all grins. After you get her back you will forget all the down time...if you are like me you might actually get stuff done around the hacienda that I kept putting on the back burner. Best of luck!! -Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertGary1 Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 A reseal is probably a nuclear option for such a young plane. Quick patches every few years are pretty normal and not very time consuming. -Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zwaustin Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 26 minutes ago, gsxrpilot said: I guess it's something that most Mooney owners will face at one time or another. The right tank is leaking on my K. I started noticing a fuel smell in the cockpit and we were thinking it was the sender gasket. But after pulling the interior piece below the door, it's obvious the leak is through the seams in the tank. I expect I'll be taking it to Carl at Houston Tank Specialists. Reviews of his work are good and he's only about a 1.5 hours DRIVE from home, or a very short Mooney flight. The plane's been down for a month for the JPI EDM-900 install and now another month for the tank reseal. It's not a good dispatch record. You'll enjoy the new engine monitor. I have a 960 in my new bird and it is nice!! Let me know if you need a ride to or from Houston. . . Happy to help you out if i can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamont337 Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Being that close to the tank shop might make me consider leaving the left tank alone. I realize there is a little bit of a "get it over with" mentality when it comes to tanks but there can also be the "if it ain't broke" side of the argument. From your previous posts I gather you fly a heck of a lot more than I do so I'm sure that was a big factor in the decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMuncy Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 The guy who patches his tanks several times and then has them resealed, knows he screwed up. The guy who has them resealed never knows for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Modern sealants, stored indoors have been going strong for twenty + years in my O... So getting them resealed could be issue free for another 20+ years. putting that in the Plan... fly like Bennet (deep into the future ) Depending on the pilot's age... That might be two re-seal jobs... Crappy sealant from days gone by has a tendency to crack and flake. There is no patching that can overcome this very well. Best regards, -a- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbridges Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 I'm speaking out of jealousy when I say you should have kept the older mooney. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMuncy Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 My '82 K model has never had its tanks sealed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertGary1 Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 12 minutes ago, DonMuncy said: My '82 K model has never had its tanks sealed. Nor has my 76. Ive had to patch misc leaks occasionally but no big deal -Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsxrpilot Posted January 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 So this thread has got me thinking... MooneySpace will do that. Maybe a patch job is good enough at this stage? There are no leaks in the left tank. So maybe a patch job on the right tank would get me through another year? What does a patch job typically cost? I'm sure it depends. Houston Tank quoted me $7500 for a full reseal of both tanks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy95W Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 My suggestion, FWIW, is do a patch job on your right tank. If/when it starts to leak again, do a full reseal on the right tank. Consider doing the left tank at the same time to minimize downtime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetti Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 I think the 60s planes need the tanks done. mid 70s and better probably just need a patch. There is a inspection port under the leading edge that is not fuel tank. pull it and see if you see stains. The leading edge of the tank can leak and it travels down the wing towards the cabin. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FBCK Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 If your a gambling man go for the patch, but if you want the problem fixed go for the full reseal, which if what I did. I would be inclined to just get the side done with the leak though, the other tank might last years before needing a reseal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviatoreb Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 I just brought my airplane home from Weepnomore yesterday from Wilmar, MN. Lovely flight nonstop as I also had the long range tank install done. You can see me on flight aware - n10933. Also Bruce Jaeger did his interiors system and also subcontracted to STC interiors in Duluth - new leather. So this morning I brought my wife to the hangar to show off the new interior - and I opened the the luggage door and peeked my head in .. and too my surprise ... I didn't smell what I was essentially completely used to in ga airplanes - a faint smell of avgas - and usually I don't even think about it if its not too strong. Nope - all I smelled was new car small and new leather. Wow that caught my attention! I will make a full report with pictures on all that when the last step of reconditioning the airplane is done - paint starts in Feb. But for the time being, BIG thumbs up to the teams in Minnesota - THANK you weepnomore, thank you Bruce Jaeger, and also the people at SCS interiors all for fantastic work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMuncy Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 2 hours ago, gsxrpilot said: So this thread has got me thinking... MooneySpace will do that. Maybe a patch job is good enough at this stage? There are no leaks in the left tank. So maybe a patch job on the right tank would get me through another year? What does a patch job typically cost? I'm sure it depends. Houston Tank quoted me $7500 for a full reseal of both tanks. Did you ask Houston about patching? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsxrpilot Posted January 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 1 minute ago, DonMuncy said: Did you ask Houston about patching? No I haven't. I'll give Carl a call on Monday. I did ask about doing a single tank instead of both. He said he would have to charge me a premium to do just a single tank as he still has to do the complete equipment setup whether doing one or two tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertGary1 Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 3 hours ago, gsxrpilot said: So this thread has got me thinking... MooneySpace will do that. Maybe a patch job is good enough at this stage? Could ask a local a&p to show you how. It's not very skilled labor and can be done supervised. Maybe a couple hundred bucks for a routine patch. Probably most reseals are not necessary. -Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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