Hank Posted April 29, 2011 Report Posted April 29, 2011 Hey, guys. I'm rapidly approaching tank reseal time, and am investigating my options. Thank you, I have already gone the local A&P scrape and patch route once, now it's time to do it right. Wet Wingologists and Weep No More both do a chemical strip followed by sealing with the new, improved polysufide sealant material. It takes less than 2 weeks. For my C, costs are ~6 AMU, and the shops are >600 nm away. Midwest Mooney used a chemical strip followed my multiple coats of polyurethane material in a complicated process. Each coat dries overnight [6 days to apply primer and all coatings], and the final coat dries for 5 days. Time is estimated at 4 weeks. Cost is ~8½ AMU. Apparently all 176 nut plates on the wing panel will need to be replaced at $4 each, but it is not clear if this is included or is an extra ¾AMU. Touching up the wing where stripper leaks out is extra. Midwest is <300 nm away. Questions: 1) I've read many good reports about Wet Wings and Weep-no-more here. Any experience with the Midwest reseal? 2) Is the polyurethane & STC worth 50% extra cost and 3X the downtime? 3) How well should the PU hold up compared to the polysulfide? Any information greatly appreciated. Also, is there anyone else between Minnesota and Florida with a good track record on tank reseals? The costs shown above do not include dropping off/picking up the plane, nor my own travel home and back while the work is being completed. Durn it, I have no business excuse to visit any of these places! Quote
Parker_Woodruff Posted April 29, 2011 Report Posted April 29, 2011 Find a Willmar licensee to do it. Don Maxwell in TX is one, any others farther east? Quote
jetdriven Posted May 2, 2011 Report Posted May 2, 2011 the 65 gallon fuel bladders. Almost same fuel capacity. Never leaks again. Lost 30 lbs useful load. Mine are 28 years old and havent leaked yet. Quote
Hank Posted May 3, 2011 Author Report Posted May 3, 2011 Wow--13 more gallons of fuel will go nice things to my range, but that's another 78 lbs of weight in addition to the ~25 of the bladders, so 100 lbs. gone . . . Quote
Shadrach Posted May 3, 2011 Report Posted May 3, 2011 Quote: jetdriven the 65 gallon fuel bladders. Almost same fuel capacity. Never leaks again. Lost 30 lbs useful load. Mine are 28 years old and havent leaked yet. Quote
jelswick Posted May 3, 2011 Report Posted May 3, 2011 Does anyone have any idea how long the Weep No More process should last before requiring reseal? That was one of the buying decisions for my J as it had just been done in November 2005 (bought it in 2007) and just under 6 years since that reseal my mechanic is telling me it's getting close to where it's going to require reseal again from what is showing up around some rivots and I'm seeing some fuel staining by one of the gascolators. Not sure I want to have that done again if it's an every 6 year process unless that is normal. I'm thinking possibly the bladders when I have to break down and do this. How much are the O&N bladders for the 64 gallon option? Sounds like they might last longer. Quote
KSMooniac Posted May 3, 2011 Report Posted May 3, 2011 Quote: jelswick Does anyone have any idea how long the Weep No More process should last before requiring reseal? That was one of the buying decisions for my J as it had just been done in November 2005 (bought it in 2007) and just under 6 years since that reseal my mechanic is telling me it's getting close to where it's going to require reseal again from what is showing up around some rivots and I'm seeing some fuel staining by one of the gascolators. Not sure I want to have that done again if it's an every 6 year process unless that is normal. I'm thinking possibly the bladders when I have to break down and do this. How much are the O&N bladders for the 64 gallon option? Sounds like they might last longer. Quote
Piloto Posted May 4, 2011 Report Posted May 4, 2011 Quote: jelswick Does anyone have any idea how long the Weep No More process should last before requiring reseal? That was one of the buying decisions for my J as it had just been done in November 2005 (bought it in 2007) and just under 6 years since that reseal my mechanic is telling me it's getting close to where it's going to require reseal again from what is showing up around some rivots and I'm seeing some fuel staining by one of the gascolators. Not sure I want to have that done again if it's an every 6 year process unless that is normal. I'm thinking possibly the bladders when I have to break down and do this. How much are the O&N bladders for the 64 gallon option? Sounds like they might last longer. Quote
bnicolette Posted May 4, 2011 Report Posted May 4, 2011 Hi all, I hope that I don't jinx myself here, but the plane I purchased is a 1982 model. It has been hangared for it's entire life, well at least since it had 200 hours on it. The previous owner had always kept 3/4 to full fuel in the airplane and changed out the landing gear biscuits whenever the MSC recommended it which going back through the logbooks seems to be about every 6 years is when they changed them. I'm sure they did the measurements, but that's about what it worked out to. My tanks have never been patched and they are still holding strong!! I'm sure it is right around the corner when they will need to be done and I have budgeted for it, but no leaks as of yet. There has to be something behind the fact that it was kept inside and also full of fuel and I am continuing that philosophy. Quote
jelswick Posted May 4, 2011 Report Posted May 4, 2011 My reseal was done by the prior owner in 2005. It was advertised as always hangared and since I've owned it (2007) it always has been hangared and fuel at least 1/2 full when put away, so I'm thinking that isn't the culprit in the developing leaks. Quote
bnicolette Posted May 4, 2011 Report Posted May 4, 2011 Quote: jelswick My reseal was done by the prior owner in 2005. It was advertised as always hangared and since I've owned it (2007) it always has been hangared and fuel at least 1/2 full when put away, so I'm thinking that isn't the culprit in the developing leaks. Quote
Hank Posted May 5, 2011 Author Report Posted May 5, 2011 Quote: Bnicolette Shoot!!! There goes my warm and fuzzy about my tanks! I know it's coming but hope it takes it time. I have heard great things about the "Wilmar or Weep no More" process and that's where I'll be heading when it happens. Quote
bnicolette Posted May 5, 2011 Report Posted May 5, 2011 Quote: Hank Shoot!!! There goes my warm and fuzzy about my tanks! I know it's coming but hope it takes it time. I have heard great things about the "Wilmar or Weep no More" process and that's where I'll be heading when it happens. Quote
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