WeepNoMore - Fuel tank reseals

[N911TP]

Does anyone have any experience with the famous Mooney wing tank resealing company WeepNoMore out of Minnesota? Called to make an appointment and they’re booked 2 years out.
Good for them, that’s an excellent problem to have. Wondering if it’s worth the wait or if I should go elsewhere. Local A&P on my airfield can do it for $1500 per wing. 

 

Pro: 10 year warranty. Done right the first time. 
Con: 2 day trip to MN each way plus airlines and hotels. $7500 per wing. 2 year waitlist.  

[47U]

1 hour ago, N911TP said:

Does anyone have any experience with the famous Mooney wing tank resealing company WeepNoMore out of Minnesota? Called to make an appointment and they’re booked 2 years out.

You know the experience level of your local A&P… but a full strip and reseal of integral tanks is not a job for the faint of heart.  There’s a bit of artistry involved if you’re going to get a quality job.  I know a former owner who is an A&P and did a full strip and reseal on a ‘64D/C he was resurrecting.  He did a great job, but I don’t know if he’d want to do it again.  He wasn’t under any time constraints which might be a factor.  

I’m in NORCAL and made the trip last year at this time.  The initial window he gave me was for last March, but he had a cancellation and was able to move me up to January.  I didn’t have any leaks that needed attention, but the top coat was showing up as granules in the fuel samples.  And it wasn’t getting better.

The price he quoted was accurate on my ‘63C, plus he installed the screw-in sump drain service bulletin on the left tank (the right tank had been done during a patch job by the previous owner).  And, Paul swapped in some serviceable fuel quantity senders he had on hand taken out of a J model which saved me the cost of sending mine out for overhaul.  Both the sump drain and quantity senders were done at no additional charge.  I removed the interior side panels before I left so he wouldn’t have to deal with that.  I had family travel commitments and he hangared my airplane for me for three weeks before my scheduled date which was the last week in January… until I could come pick up the airplane in March.  I have relatives in the area who were able to give me transportation to and from MSP which was a big factor in my decision to travel that far.  Paul has a contact that will provide shuttle service at a reasonable rate.

I think you’ll have confidence in the final product with Paul.  I’d want a specialist for a job that requires this much attention to detail.  Your local A&P might do great, but if not, what then?

[LANCECASPER]

6 hours ago, N911TP said:

Does anyone have any experience with the famous Mooney wing tank resealing company WeepNoMore out of Minnesota? Called to make an appointment and they’re booked 2 years out.
Good for them, that’s an excellent problem to have. Wondering if it’s worth the wait or if I should go elsewhere. Local A&P on my airfield can do it for $1500 per wing. 

 

Pro: 10 year warranty. Done right the first time. 
Con: 2 day trip to MN each way plus airlines and hotels. $7500 per wing. 2 year waitlist.  

The fact that your A & P thinks it will take him 15 hours (@$100/hr) on each wing to do it right tells you everything you need to know. It's a much bigger job than that. He doesn't know what he doesn't know. It's isn't unusual for a small patch to cost $1500 by someone who knows what they are doing. I wouldn't want this guy learning on my airplane. If it was easy every A & P and every MSC would be doing it. 

[ArtVandelay]

The fact that your A & P thinks it will take him 15 hours (@$100/hr) on each wing to do it right tells you everything you need to know. It's a much bigger job than that. It's isn't unusual for a small patch to cost $1500 by someone who knows what they are doing.

It’s the stripping part that takes most of the time, the AP will probably just reseal it if the original sealant is good condition. Just like repainting a house.
It’s difficult to just patch a small area unless it’s a inspection plate that’s leaking, which in my experience is usually where it leaks. Either screws or the plate itself.
If you have to wait 2 years anyway, I would have the AP do reseal and if see if it works and plan on a complete job later.

[Steve Dawson]

I've heard nothing but good things about Paul and they must be true because he's always booked up for at least a year. When I bought my Bravo it had been abused and leaked profusely.(The tanks wouldn't hold more than 1/2 tank) Paul couldn't do it for at least a year so I went with Edison in Florida (WetWingologist-East) since he was available in a couple months and I couldn't wait. The funny thing was that Paul phoned me with a cancelation just after I picked up my plane. 

Don't be surprised if it costs a little more also. I had the fuel drains and the rivets replaced at the lift points at the spar because they had worked loose. I believe these are items that can't be seen until the tank is opened up.  I forgot what the costs were but I was happy that he looked after any future tank issues

[Bartman]

I agree with @ArtVandelay and would patch what is necessary for now, but go ahead and schedule at a one of the specialty shops. Edison did mine about 15 years ago and as @Steve Dawson stated above we also replaced rivets and nut holders as required so it was a little more than quoted. I tried leak repairs with limited success. Mine only leaked when filled above about 12 gallons so I only filled above that immediately before a flight if necessary, and always landing in a range where it would not leak on the ground. I did that for about 6 months while waiting for my reseal, and you might try a similar strategy. 
 

No leaks since full reseal both tanks, and I’m thinking that was around 2010. 

[Schllc]

Edison at KFXE was an absolute pleasure. He told me he needed the plane for four weeks. I visited several times during the work. He is very thorough, takes pictures, communicates well, and finished on time. There were no “extras”, and it is probably one of the most pleasant experiences I have had in aviation. 
highly recommend going to Edison at wet Wingologist.

[PT20J]

Has anyone had experience with Houston Tank Specialists? https://htsllc.net

[Fritz1]

My tanks were sealed by Weep no more 8 years ago, no leaks, I personally know several people who had wet wingologist in FL reseal their tanks with excellent results, probably best to book either one and keep patching until then. Paul Beck does one plane a week working by himself with one helper, he has a recirculation pump system for the stripper, the sealant is applied by hand in two or three layers which brushes, real art and very hard work, 2 years sounds like a lot, there are always planes dropping out, then Paul calls around to see who might be ready to go

[Planejim]

I just had mine resealed at Wet Wingologists at FXE.  Eddie specializes in Mooneys and I'm very pleased with the work, although it was expensive.  I have a 1983 Mooney M20K Rocket based at DVT and did the trip over three days, visiting friends and family along the way.

Jim

 

 

 

[Ragsf15e]

14 hours ago, N911TP said:

Does anyone have any experience with the famous Mooney wing tank resealing company WeepNoMore out of Minnesota? Called to make an appointment and they’re booked 2 years out.
Good for them, that’s an excellent problem to have. Wondering if it’s worth the wait or if I should go elsewhere. Local A&P on my airfield can do it for $1500 per wing. 

 

Pro: 10 year warranty. Done right the first time. 
Con: 2 day trip to MN each way plus airlines and hotels. $7500 per wing. 2 year waitlist.  

How bad do they look?  Where’s it leaking?  Where are you based?  Maybe a patch can hold you over?

[Justin Schmidt]

Houston tank specialist are also good. They did mine in 2019 (prev owner), looks great, no issues.

[1980Mooney]

22 hours ago, N911TP said:

Does anyone have any experience with the famous Mooney wing tank resealing company WeepNoMore out of Minnesota? Called to make an appointment and they’re booked 2 years out.
Good for them, that’s an excellent problem to have. Wondering if it’s worth the wait or if I should go elsewhere. Local A&P on my airfield can do it for $1500 per wing. 

 

Pro: 10 year warranty. Done right the first time. 
Con: 2 day trip to MN each way plus airlines and hotels. $7500 per wing. 2 year waitlist.  

Do you currently have a leak? You don't mention the current status of your tanks or urgency.  A severe leak will render your plane unairworthy.  Has your plane previously been fully stripped and sealed or had tank repairs?

[laytonl]

I’ve used both Weep No More and Edison at FXE (two different Mooneys). Both were excellent.  Lee