Drain and clean O&N bladder

[djking]

Has anybody had to drain and clean their O&N bladders? I’ve sumped but still come up with what looks like sand and possibly microbial growth. Looking for tips and tricks. Sounds like using lint free cloths is the only way, and vacuums shouldn’t be used.

[DXB]

2 minutes ago, djking said:

Has anybody had to drain and clean their O&N bladders? I’ve sumped but still come up with what looks like sand and possibly microbial growth. Looking for tips and tricks. Sounds like using lint free cloths is the only way, and vacuums shouldn’t be used.

Bummer. No experience with the cleaning, but the entire fuel system downstream of the bladders would seem to need very close attention too in your situation.  There was a thread somewhere around here not to long ago about what happens when you get the last of the fuel from the bottom of a fuel truck that previously contained a  standing fuel - water interface.  You get growth at the interface of anaerobic microbes that can use the fuel as an energy source. Once the water is gone, the bacteria die but leave a nasty sediment behind that gets bolused into your tanks if it's stirred up while dispensing the last little bit out of the truck.  The same growth could have happened within the bladders themselves if they sat for a long time with a layer of water at the bottom.  

[carusoam]

See if you can catch the crud, take a pic, and post it here...

Doesn’t sound like a bladder challenge...

And Bladders don’t have any rust issues like some tank parts can get...

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic...

Best regards,

-a-

[djking]

I’ll post some pictures. 2 owners before me let it sit for awhile and I think that is where the problem could have came from. Now that it’s flying regularly, it’s probably broken loose. The fuel system was recently overhauled though 

[carusoam]

If you haven’t seen the fuel strainer... it is below the fuel selector valve and drain...

You might want to catch what comes out when you pull the ring...  see if anything has made its way from the tanks to further downstream...

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic...

Best regards,

-a-