My plane is now at Wet-Wingologists

[wombat]

Dropped my plane off with Edison this morning for a full tank reseal, main and long range tanks.   Should be ready to go the first week of July.

Got some pictures of an in-progress plane, locally famous...  See thread titled "TFR Violation Beaufort, SC 4/23/2023 Blue Angles Air Show"...

Edison seems very knowledgeable and very hard working.   But I'll let you all know more as I fly with tanks he's resealed.

Some tips he gave me:

• When you repaint, don't use chemical stripper on any of the areas where there is sealer on the inside, the stripper will eat its way all the way through.  Even through rivets that should be airtight.  Use mechanical paint removal only there.
• Some pilots get confused by corrosion-X stains and think those are fuel stains.    So when you apply it, do so sparingly and don't completely soak the inside leaving puddles.
• There are a number of planes flying around with 'fake' Monroy long-range tanks where someone just made a photocopy of the STC and did it themselves.  This causes a problem in particular with the pneumatic speed brakes as there is a tube that goes through the long-range tanks for the actuator cable that people other than Jose Monroy often don't get right.
• Tank seal first, then paint.      (I already knew that one)
• There are two fuel level senders in each of the main tanks, one inboard and one outboard.  The outboard one is sealed with the same sealant as the rest of the tank, but the inoard one is sealed with a rubber gasket only.  3 if you have the sight gauges.
• Everybody probably knows this already, but surface prep is key on making the sealer last.  Even after stripping the old sealant successfully you need to do a bunch more pre-sealant preparation.

 

Pictures below or at this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/d9PxzTiS6DQM1Rj99

[GeeBee]

Yes indeed. Edison did mine in February. Great job, very pleased.

 

 

[Mcstealth]

The toilet picture is funny. 

[flyboy0681]

My plane is on Edison's schedule for the middle of August. Just a ten minute hop for me.

[Hank]

Edison did mine in 2009. Now I'm starting one small seep that needs investigating. 

[201Mooniac]

2 hours ago, Hank said:

Edison did mine in 2009. Now I'm starting one small seep that needs investigating. 

That seems quick to me, mine was last resealed in May of 2003 and not a leak, or a seap, or a drip in sight.

[flyboy0681]

When not being worked on, is the plane parked outside or is it always in the hangar?

[Hank]

40 minutes ago, 201Mooniac said:

That seems quick to me, mine was last resealed in May of 2003 and not a leak, or a seap, or a drip in sight.

It seems to be an access panel screw. I'm hangared in Alabama. 

[201Mooniac]

3 hours ago, Hank said:

It seems to be an access panel screw. I'm hangared in Alabama. 

Glad to hear it sounds very minor.

[67 m20F chump]

My plane was done at that shop and 7 years later I was putting bladders in.  Beechcraft may have been onto something when they put them into the bonanza.  He does good work but it doesn’t take much to leak.

 

[wombat]

18 hours ago, flyboy0681 said:

When not being worked on, is the plane parked outside or is it always in the hangar?

From my conversation with Edison: When he is done, he fills the tanks up to the top and then leaves them outside for at least 24 hours. If no leaks are found, he calls the owner and they can come get it any time after that.    I would expect the plane to remain outside until it's picked up.    He only works on 2 planes at a time, and while they are in progress, they are both in the hangar.

 

 I suspect that Banyan FBO will happily come get your plane for you and put it in one of their hangars if you call them.  I also suspect that will not be cheap.   I was the only piston plane on their ramp, they had only one single-engine turboprop, half a dozen twin turboprops but most were multi-engine jets.    I think at least half the cars in their parking lot were more expensive than my Rocket.  I'm afraid of the bill they will send me for keeping the plane overnight.

Edited May 31, 2023 by wombat

[Hank]

18 minutes ago, wombat said:

From my conversation with Edison: When he is done, he fills the tanks up to the top and then leaves them outside for at least 24 hours. If no leaks are found, he calls the owner and they can come get it any time after that.    I would expect the plane to remain outside until it's picked up.    He only works on 2 planes at a time, and while they are in progress, they are both in the hangar.

When I left my plane with Edison, there were two in the hangar, and my plane plus two more outside; when I picked her up, she was inside the hangar with one other, and none outside. Like everything else, business fluctuates.

[1980Mooney]

23 hours ago, wombat said:

Some tips he gave me:

• When you repaint, don't use chemical stripper on any of the areas where there is sealer on the inside, the stripper will eat its way all the way through.  Even through rivets that should be airtight.  Use mechanical paint removal only there.
• Some pilots get confused by corrosion-X stains and think those are fuel stains.    So when you apply it, do so sparingly and don't completely soak the inside leaving puddles.
• There are a number of planes flying around with 'fake' Monroy long-range tanks where someone just made a photocopy of the STC and did it themselves.  This causes a problem in particular with the pneumatic speed brakes as there is a tube that goes through the long-range tanks for the actuator cable that people other than Jose Monroy often don't get right.
• Tank seal first, then paint.      (I already knew that one)
• There are two fuel level senders in each of the main tanks, one inboard and one outboard.  The outboard one is sealed with the same sealant as the rest of the tank, but the inoard one is sealed with a rubber gasket only.  3 if you have the sight gauges.
• Everybody probably knows this already, but surface prep is key on making the sealer last.  Even after stripping the old sealant successfully you need to do a bunch more pre-sealant preparation.

 

Pictures below or at this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/d9PxzTiS6DQM1Rj99

"When you repaint, don't use chemical stripper on any of the areas where there is sealer on the inside, the stripper will eat its way all the way through.  Even through rivets that should be airtight.  Use mechanical paint removal only there"

Isn't that like everywhere there is fuel tank on the wing, top and bottom?  Do you really think the paint shop will know?  And if they do (or you mark the outline of the tanks) isn't that a lot of physical (and abrasive) paint removal?

[flyboy0681]

53 minutes ago, Hank said:

When I left my plane with Edison, there were two in the hangar, and my plane plus two more outside; when I picked her up, she was inside the hangar with one other, and none outside. Like everything else, business fluctuates.

The reason I asked in the first place was whether to put the cover on when I drop her off.

[Hank]

24 minutes ago, flyboy0681 said:

The reason I asked in the first place was whether to put the cover on when I drop her off.

I generally travel with my cover, it doesn't take up much room. If needed, it's quick to put on. Edison can tell you at dropoff.

[wombat]

1 hour ago, 1980Mooney said:

"When you repaint, don't use chemical stripper on any of the areas where there is sealer on the inside, the stripper will eat its way all the way through.  Even through rivets that should be airtight.  Use mechanical paint removal only there"

Isn't that like everywhere there is fuel tank on the wing, top and bottom?  Do you really think the paint shop will know?  And if they do (or you mark the outline of the tanks) isn't that a lot of physical (and abrasive) paint removal?

Yes.   So maybe be prepared to put some tape over the rivet lines to isolate where they shouldn't strip chemically?  Or have a conversation with the paint shop and discuss the issue?  Or do like one of the planes I saw there... Do the stripping part of the paint work, then the tank reseal, then apply the new paint.