BLADDERS - NO TURNING BACK NOW

[DCarlton]

So far so good with my F's bladder install.  Access plates removed; vent tubes drilled out and removed; fuel cap adapter ring drilled out and removed; fuel senders removed.  Removing the fuel pickup tubes should be next.  Several types and layers of sealant built up over the years from patches.  More to come... 

[BDPetersen]

When you start torque wrenching the clamps, Tekton sells a compact one as I recall.

[Immelman]

Interesting to see sealant applied to the inside of wing skin. I wonder what the thought process was there.

[N201MKTurbo]

After looking at the repair work done on your tanks, no wonder you are putting in bladders.

[N201MKTurbo]

If you stripped those tanks before you put the bladders in, you would probably gain 10 Lbs of payload.

[DCarlton]

3 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

After looking at the repair work done on your tanks, no wonder you are putting in bladders.

Yep; nothing close to the beauty of a weep no more job. I'm trying to convince myself the extra 10 lbs of sealant will provide a cushion between the bladders and any sharp edges; along with the foam provided in the STC kit.  

[N201MKTurbo]

What I see is sealant put over sealant. And mystery sealant. And sloppy application. The only repairs approved in the maintenance manual requires the leaking area to be cleaned of all sealant down to bare metal. Then a bead coat of the specified sealant and after it cures, a brush coat of sealant. After that cures a top coat is applied. The repaired area should look like a brand new tank. That’s not what I see in your tanks.

[MikeOH]

6 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

What I see is sealant put over sealant. And mystery sealant. And sloppy application. The only repairs approved in the maintenance manual requires the leaking area to be cleaned of all sealant down to bare metal. Then a bead coat of the specified sealant and after it cures, a brush coat of sealant. After that cures a top coat is applied. The repaired area should look like a brand new tank. That’s not what I see in your tanks.

What is your point?

[DXB]

Does anyone else with bladders worry there's spar corrosion hidden under their old sealant, and now permanently hidden upon bladder installation?

[MikeOH]

12 minutes ago, DXB said:

Does anyone else with bladders worry there's spar corrosion hidden under their old sealant, and now permanently hidden upon bladder installation?

Does anyone drain their tanks and strip off old sealant just to inspect for spar corrosion?

[DCarlton]

17 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

What I see is sealant put over sealant. And mystery sealant. And sloppy application. The only repairs approved in the maintenance manual requires the leaking area to be cleaned of all sealant down to bare metal. Then a bead coat of the specified sealant and after it cures, a brush coat of sealant. After that cures a top coat is applied. The repaired area should look like a brand new tank. That’s not what I see in your tanks.

Not a great example of how to seal or patch tanks.  I'm sure the folks at the tank strip and seal shops have seen it all.  The new bladder STC install procedure calls for removing the sealant from inside the tank around the sender holes 1/2" wide; it doesn't call for stripping the tanks.     

[DCarlton]

5 hours ago, DXB said:

Does anyone else with bladders worry there's spar corrosion hidden under their old sealant, and now permanently hidden upon bladder installation?

Would be interesting to ask the tank reseal shops if they have ever encountered corrosion inside a fuel tank or under the sealant.  They've seen thousands.  Someone with a good line of comms with Paul at Weep No More should ask.  My gut and no more says that's an unlikely location.  In the case of a bladder install, I like the fact that the old sealant covers the sharp edges inside the tank in addition to the materials and procedures provided in the STC.  

[N201MKTurbo]

I would think any corrosion would cause blistering or flaking of the sealant. It is hard to imagine any corrosion would start on the tank side, so inspecting in the wheel well should show it first.