Time to reseal the tanks

[Steve Dawson]

I had my Bravo tanks resealed at Edison's. He was on time and close to his original budget. The two fuel drains were corroded so they had to be replaced which added extra costs but it was acceptable. When the tank access covers were removed the bare head of the screws would now show. Jimmy Garrison suggested using Don and Paul Maxwell to paint the top of the wings and they did excellent work which made the wings look better than new 

[MikeOH]

2 hours ago, Greg Ellis said:

And, by all means, please don't ground anything.

Not to worry, I’m nearly certain those CB plastic buckets from Home Depot are very conductive

[blaine beaven]

On 8/23/2023 at 5:57 PM, MikeOH said:

Why does pouring multiple 5 gallon plastic buckets of gasoline make me nervous? Just make sure you use a closed hangar while smoking

Make sure you are wearing a polyester track suit while pouring too. 

[DCarlton]

On 8/8/2023 at 1:11 PM, Henry Hochberg said:

Looks like it's time to reseal the tanks on our Bravo.

So far we've heard about Wet Wingologists and Weep No More.  Any one know of something on the West Coast that does a good job?

Thanks!

 

Henry H.

N355RZ@KPAE (Paine Fielld, Everett, WA)

 

 

I'm on the West Coast in SOCAL and I'm leaving for Willmar MN (Weep No More) on the 7th, weather permitting.  My tanks have been patched; it's time for a reseal.  

Edited August 28, 2023 by DCarlton

[wombat]

Finally got into the copilot side tank with a borescope and found the float was jammed tight up against one of the screw covers.   Got another piece of wire in there with a *almost* 90 degree bend at the very end and was able to pull the float off.  It was actually kind of scary how hard I had to pull to get it free.   I could see it moving, but the arm the float is on was flexing a lot.    Anyway, both tanks now report levels from both senders.    So it's time to move on and fix other issues with the plane!

[Ragsf15e]

1 hour ago, wombat said:

Finally got into the copilot side tank with a borescope and found the float was jammed tight up against one of the screw covers.   Got another piece of wire in there with a *almost* 90 degree bend at the very end and was able to pull the float off.  It was actually kind of scary how hard I had to pull to get it free.   I could see it moving, but the arm the float is on was flexing a lot.    Anyway, both tanks now report levels from both senders.    So it's time to move on and fix other issues with the plane!

Now how the heck did it get like that?!

[wombat]

Either they put the panel with the float on it in last, and when tightening it into place it got pressed against that nub, or they put the bottom panel on last and the same thing happened.

They *could* have prevented this from happening by putting those two panels on first so they could still see inside easily though other access panels.   But it probably doesn't happen often.

[Fly Boomer]

On 8/28/2023 at 7:41 PM, wombat said:

Either they put the panel with the float on it in last, and when tightening it into place it got pressed against that nub, or they put the bottom panel on last and the same thing happened.

They *could* have prevented this from happening by putting those two panels on first so they could still see inside easily though other access panels.   But it probably doesn't happen often.

I haven't been following this.  Has it been like this a long time?

[wombat]

@Fly Boomer  No, it had not been long.   I picked the plane up after reseal in early July.    And while I noted the problem immediately (Edison came in on the 4th just to let me pick up the plane)  and told Edison before we parted ways, he said that usually these just pop up after the first landing.   I'm not sure what kind of landings all you other Mooney pilots do but after 40+ hours and maybe 20 landings (and crossing the entire lower 48) it hadn't come unstuck on its own so I finally got in there and got it free.  

[Shadrach]

8 hours ago, wombat said:

@Fly Boomer  No, it had not been long.   I picked the plane up after reseal in early July.    And while I noted the problem immediately (Edison came in on the 4th just to let me pick up the plane)  and told Edison before we parted ways, he said that usually these just pop up after the first landing.   I'm not sure what kind of landings all you other Mooney pilots do but after 40+ hours and maybe 20 landings (and crossing the entire lower 48) it hadn't come unstuck on its own so I finally got in there and got it free.  

Send the pic to Edison.  If it were my business, I would want to know.

[Fly Boomer]

12 hours ago, wombat said:

@Fly Boomer  No, it had not been long.   I picked the plane up after reseal in early July.    And while I noted the problem immediately (Edison came in on the 4th just to let me pick up the plane)  and told Edison before we parted ways, he said that usually these just pop up after the first landing.   I'm not sure what kind of landings all you other Mooney pilots do but after 40+ hours and maybe 20 landings (and crossing the entire lower 48) it hadn't come unstuck on its own so I finally got in there and got it free.  

Found the problem.  Fixed the problem.  Nice!

[wombat]

5 hours ago, Shadrach said:

Send the pic to Edison.  If it were my business, I would want to know.

Great minds think alike?   Did that on Monday.