Tank reseal?

[rturbett]

I've read a lot about peoples efforts to reseal tanks. I'm curious- does anyone ever just try to patch an area, or is that a losing battle?

Thanks,

Rob

[LANCECASPER]

You can wade through this search and see a lot of information on patching:

https://mooneyspace.com/search/?q=Patch&quick=1

 

I had a tank patched a few years ago and it was successful. Also I've sealed a screw under the wingwalk on a couple of Mooneys and they never leaked again during my ownership.

[Schllc]

Kind of depends on the severity and location.  I had one that would weep a teaspoon or less on the top of the wing, and only when tanks were very topped off. 
This is one of many choices where what it costs to rectify, was at best third on the list of priorities.  
How it’s handled is as little as a few hours labor and an overnight, to months of downtime and tens of thousands of dollars in stripping, resealing repairing paint, and all other squawks, have to’s, we just discovered etc.  the answer is as unique as the question. 
if you could be a little mores specific, I’d bet the folks here will be able to share anecdotal experiences, both successes and failures are extremely valuable.  
 

[MikeOH]

I've not had anything like a leak, more like small weeps or seeps and have had very good luck with patches.  I'm certainly no where near needing to spend $10K on a full reseal.  I think who does the work is the most important factor in a successful patch.

[wombat]

1 hour ago, MikeOH said:

I've not had anything like a leak, more like small weeps or seeps and have had very good luck with patches.  I'm certainly no where near needing to spend $10K on a full reseal.  I think who does the work is the most important factor in a successful patch.

I don't think you'll get a full reseal for $10k these days.   .  

But as long as the base sealant is less than maybe 30 years old and/or you only have a small number of seeps, patching is probably the way to go.

[DCarlton]

I made it 15 years with patches.  Now I’m going In for a full reseal.  The seeps are building up and starting to run.  Ready to get past the leaks once and for all.  

Edited September 1, 2023 by DCarlton

[wombat]

13 hours ago, DCarlton said:

I made it 15 years with patches.  Now I’m going In for a full reseal.  The seeps are building up and starting to run.  Ready to get past the leaks once and for all.  

"Once and for all" is maybe 20-40 years, but depending on your age, that might be good enough!

[MikeOH]

13 hours ago, DCarlton said:

I made it 15 years with patches.  

I'm 6 years in...so, good to know I've got another 9 years before dealing with a full reseal

[wombat]

15 hours ago, DCarlton said:

I made it 15 years with patches.  Now I’m going In for a full reseal.  The seeps are building up and starting to run.  Ready to get past the leaks once and for all.  

Is that 15 years from the factory or other full reseal, or 15 years since the first patch or 15 years since you got the plane?

My tanks made it about 38 years on patches before a full reseal.

[MikeOH]

2 hours ago, wombat said:

Is that 15 years from the factory or other full reseal, or 15 years since the first patch or 15 years since you got the plane?

My tanks made it about 38 years on patches before a full reseal.

Most excellent!

Based on that, I'll be dead before I need to spring for a full reseal

[jkgyr52]

I owned a J model with leaking tanks on both sides. It was a labor intensive job but I stripped both tanks and resealed with good success. My A & P offered me a job resealing tanks afterwords. NO Thanks.

Patching might work OK if you use the vacuum technique that Don Maxwell uses.

 

[DCarlton]

On 9/1/2023 at 1:34 PM, wombat said:

Is that 15 years from the factory or other full reseal, or 15 years since the first patch or 15 years since you got the plane?

My tanks made it about 38 years on patches before a full reseal.

Owned the plane about 20 years.  First patch was 3-5 years into ownership.  Then more patching.  Haven't done anything for about 15 years but now have a few seeps that have gotten progressively worse.  

Edited September 2, 2023 by DCarlton
corrected typo

[Yetti]

depends on how bad and where it is

[John Mininger]

I had a leak in my right tank repaired at Air-Mods and Repair Inc at Trenton-Robbinsville NJ (N87). They also repaired a couple broken rivets on the landing gear spring bracket while they were in the tank. They did an excellent job with both. A little far from the Rochester area though.

I have no idea what their current status is.

airmodsflightcenter.com

609.259.2400