Don Maxwell fuel tank repairs

[Richie the C]

Anyone had tanks repaired at Don Maxwell’s? If so, how was your experience? Cost?

Thanks

[carusoam]

Yes... I did.

Perfect... DMax executed the hunt down and destroy of some minor leaks in a new 2me plane...

nothing... it cost me nothing because it was part of a purchase agreement for a relatively new plane... where DMax did the PPI...

no problems even a decade later...

Nobody knows how to find a leak better than DMax... he wrote the video of how to...

Best regards,

-a-

[Parker_Woodruff]

He patched the left tank on my M20K for the low-mid $1000 range back in 2012 or so.  Never had a problem after

[JoeM]

During an expensive annual on my M20K, he patched both tanks. They held for a couple of years before starting to leak again. I had them completely resealed. He didn’t promise the repairs would last, just did his best. Possibly could have repaired them again if I had asked him to. Great guy, knows a lot about Mooney tank seal problems, and also knows his limits. Wouldn’t hesitate to go back if I had leaks again. 

[carusoam]

Hmmmm.....

That brings up an interesting can of worms...

It all depends on the quality of the sealant in the tank...

If it is succumbing to age and environmental failures...

DMax can have the tools to fix today’s leak... but the tools required to fix the rest of the tank is called a strip and reseal...

And there are a few players around the country that specialize in that technology...

Stripping and resealing resets the clock, just like brand new only better...

Best regards,

-a-

[EricJ]

They patched my right tank after my PPI three years ago.   I think they were charging $600 flat for a patch then, and it's been fine since.

 

Edited December 12, 2020 by EricJ

[Greg Ellis]

Don attempted to patch my tanks multiple times.  It did not last.  But after seeing the inside of my tanks prior to have a complete reseal at WeepNoMore I understand why and I don’t blame Don at all.  I just mention this because sometimes things are bad enough inside the tank that it is just time for a reseal and no amount of patching will help.  You can decide which is the before and which is the after. 

 

 

[N201MKTurbo]

2 hours ago, Greg Ellis said:

Don attempted to patch my tanks multiple times.  It did not last.  But after seeing the inside of my tanks prior to have a complete reseal at WeepNoMore I understand why and I don’t blame Don at all.  I just mention this because sometimes things are bad enough inside the tank that it is just time for a reseal and no amount of patching will help.  You can decide which is the before and which is the after. 

 

 

 

This picture shows new sealant applied over the red stuff, this is a no no. The service manual clearly states that any repairs require that the old sealant is removed and the new sealant is applied to clean bare metal. 

[carusoam]

Looking closer...
 

Looks like the red is on top of the new sealant... a top coat?

-a-

[Greg Ellis]

 

4 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

This picture shows new sealant applied over the red stuff, this is a no no. The service manual clearly states that any repairs require that the old sealant is removed and the new sealant is applied to clean bare metal. 

Probably why the old stuff leaked I’m sure.  In the reseal, the grey stuff was applied first to bare metal and then the red was put on top of the grey.

[RobertGary1]

Don patched a couple leaks for me 20 years ago. Worked great. It’s not cheap to pay someone to patch leaks and you have to decide at what point a reseal is a better place to put your money. Don doesn’t do that but there is a shop in Texas that does. 
if you patch them yourself it’s very inexpensive and just a bit time consuming.