Fuel Tank Poll

[cnoe]

Discussion has come up regarding the longevity in our Mooney wet-wing tanks. Please respond to the poll.

[TTaylor]

Where is the "I have bladders and don't worry about it anymore"? 

[cnoe]

Hold on. I can separate out bladders.

 

[cnoe]

Bladders added. If somebody has a leaky bladder I suggest you visit a urologist.

[RobertGary1]

I think the sealants greatly improved in the 70's. Post 70's it seems like an occasional inexpensive patch is all that is required.

 

-Robert

[ArtVandelay]

My top inspection panel has a leak, whichs lends credibility that if sealant dries out it leaks. Or it was removed at some point and the reseal wasn't good.

[RobertGary1]

3 minutes ago, teejayevans said:

My top inspection panel has a leak, whichs lends credibility that if sealant dries out it leaks. Or it was removed at some point and the reseal wasn't good.

My money is on the latter. But at least its an easy fix. You can do it in an hour when you're bored.

-Robert

[Yetti]

45 minutes ago, teejayevans said:

My top inspection panel has a leak, whichs lends credibility that if sealant dries out it leaks. Or it was removed at some point and the reseal wasn't good.

The inspection panels in 75 have a way different sealant than the tanks.  red crumbly vs brown

[Marauder]

4 hours ago, cnoe said:

Discussion has come up regarding the longevity in our Mooney wet-wing tanks. Please respond to the poll.

You should add a category for bladder longevity. Mine have been for 26 years.

 

[cnoe]

My assumption was that bladders are a permanent fix so I didn't address that. But if anybody has experienced such a failure I hope they'll discuss it. The 2nd part of the poll is already out of whack due to my poorly worded query but I believe we're getting valuable data from question #1. Later, after more responses we can analyze and discuss the results.


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[Marauder]

Just now, cnoe said:

My assumption was that bladders are a permanent fix so I didn't address that. But if anybody has experienced such a failure I hope they'll discuss it. The 2nd part of the poll is already out of whack due to my poorly worded query but I believe we're getting valuable data from question #1. Later, after more responses we can analyze and discuss the results.


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I know of one failure and the plane was one of the first to have them installed. Something in the 30 year old range.

[cnoe]

My other assumption was that nobody ever installed bladders prior to experiencing a leak.


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[jonhop]

Just voted and now I'm knocking on wood, as the tanks were patched but are not currently leaking. 

[carusoam]

Bladders have a couple of challenges related to connecting hardware.  Mostly an installation challenge.  Get it installed right.

90's tanks look really good after 20+ years. Somebody opened the top of mine to reseal the Inspection panels And a couple of screws weren't done right at that time.  

PPI when I purchased it found the issue. Sealed up the screw or two. All good ever since.

I think my bird has lived indoors for most of it's 20 plus years.

finding the cut-off point of the sealants is important when buying a plane with sealed tanks.

1965 C original sealed tanks lasted about 50 years before I noticed any issues. It lived outdoors most of its life.

Best regards,

-a-

 

Edited February 1, 2017 by carusoam

[RobertGary1]

1 hour ago, Yetti said:

The inspection panels in 75 have a way different sealant than the tanks.  red crumbly vs brown

It's a non hardening sealant. Otherwise the panels wouldn't be removable. Flamemaster p/n CS3330B-2

 

-Robert

[N201MKTurbo]

My 67 F never leaked a drop with the factory sealant.

My 77 J had the tanks compliantly stripped and resealed in 06 and have been a nightmare ever sense. My annual starts this weekend and I start the third major tank repair...

[kris_adams]

I was looking for the Leaked and got them patched 3x, finally gave up and got bladders...loving life now...

 

[Raptor05121]

Fuel tanks were leaking, stripped and sealed.

Had a small leak from the fuel line going to the fuel pump. Fabricated and replaced.

Fuel selector is now leaking.


"It isn't a Mooney if it ain't leaking!"

[RobertGary1]

2 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

My 67 F never leaked a drop with the factory sealant.

My 77 J had the tanks compliantly stripped and resealed in 06 and have been a nightmare ever sense. My annual starts this weekend and I start the third major tank repair...

A good argument against resealling. 

-Robert

[rbridges]

Got bladders in 2010. Fuel smell in the cockpit gets old after a while. 

[ArtVandelay]

I disagree.  If the job is done well then it should be like factory new.  It is not just a case of resealing it is also a case of replacing rivets that have loosened, making sure everything  is as tight as per factory spec and then applying sealant.  
Andrew

With 1 exception, I believe they started to apply sealant during the assembly process and got it between the seems, not just applied over them, don't remember where I read that.

[Bob_Belville]

10 hours ago, Marauder said:

You should add a category for bladder longevity. Mine have been for 26 years.

 

20th worry free year.

[aviatoreb]

Hah - I just picked up my plane from weepnomore about a month ago - with a complete reseal and also added long range tanks.  I am happy to report they are still holding!  Before that, it had never been resealed and give I have paint on the calendar, I was figuring it had been long enough that it was tempting fate on a 1981 airplane to paint and just hope the tanks continue to hold without  a reseal.

Actually I had Bruce Jaeger's wonderful new interior with the SCS leather too - and it is sort of pleasant now whenever I put my head into the airplane - it smells like a new car.  Not avgas, but new car, new leather and plastic and glue.

 

Edited February 1, 2017 by aviatoreb

[Mooneymite]

11 hours ago, Marauder said:

You should add a category for bladder longevity. Mine have been for 26 years.

My bladders were signed off 12/1990, so mine are also at the 26+ years point too.  Always hangared, no leaks.

[Marauder]

My bladders were signed off 12/1990, so mine are also at the 26+ years point too.  Always hangared, no leaks.

Glad to hear another owner without bladder issues. Would be tough going through life wearing Depends.

Or worse, trying to find a pair in Mooney size.


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