Fuel Tank Repairs

[The_Wrench]

PLEASE let only qualified mechanics work on your tanks! We are seeing too many unsuccesful repairs being made that are only making things worse. NEVER let anyone tell you that it is OK to seal the outside of the tank. This is a sign that they do not know what they are doing. We are seeing complete covering of interior surfaces, making the tank look more like a bladder. Sump drains are being covered up alowing water to reach depths of 1/2" before it will drain. Also, flow holes in ribs being covered allowing large amounts of water entrapment. Wrong sealants, wrong processes, wrong applications......

[mike28w]

Please offer some advice on how to discriminate between "qualified mechanic" and "non qualified mechanic" , (before I take it to the shop....)

Please don't suggest that simply being an MSC, as being qualified....I've had very mixed results from 2 diferent MSCs.....

[DaV8or]

Please offer some advice on how to discriminate between "qualified mechanic" and "non qualified mechanic" , (before I take it to the shop....)

Please don't suggest that simply being an MSC, as being qualified....I've had very mixed results from 2 diferent MSCs.....

Indeed. It's tough to find great mechanics and it's not always easy to tell going in. Interestingly, one of the best mechanics I've had work on my plane works at LASAR and he's not an A&P. Good solid guy with good wrench skills and attention to detail.

[gwcolwell]

Have posted here before with questions/concerns about resealing my tanks(M20F Exec 1974). You bring up an interesting point,,,,anyone have knowledge of proper procedures to be followed when stripping/resealing?

Have querried a most knowlegeable gentleman in Florida and I understood him to say that one of the last steps was to coat the inside of the tank completely. After reading the above post, am not so sure that even experienced people are aware of proper procedures.

[mike28w]

I'd strongly consider bladders , if it were me...... Having my tanks stripped and resealed has been a hassle...

[gregwatts]

A mechanic is going to do your tanks "per Mooney manual". If you want your tanks done right and "best"......take your plane to someone that specializes in the procedure. Wilmar...Weep No More.... and Wetwingologists all specialize in the procedure. There may be others..........I have my 201 at Wetwingologists now getting mine done. They did my C model many years ago and I, and the two following owners, have never had a problem. If you are trying to get it done "cheap", ......good luck! It is labor intensive and you never know if you will find the "mechanic" that did the tanks.............if ever you need to.

I did not even cosider bladders an option, but there are many on this forum that prefer them. Still not cheap, though.

My opinion only!

[fantom]

My opinion only!

Not really, cause it's my opinion also. <")'>

[danb35]

Wilmar...Weep No More.... and Wetwingologists all specialize in the procedure. There may be others.

Weep No More was formerly the fuel tank shop from Willmar Air Service. AFAIK, WAS doesn't do tank work any more.

[M016576]

PLEASE let only qualified mechanics work on your tanks! We are seeing too many unsuccesful repairs being made that are only making things worse. NEVER let anyone tell you that it is OK to seal the outside of the tank. This is a sign that they do not know what they are doing. We are seeing complete covering of interior surfaces, making the tank look more like a bladder. Sump drains are being covered up alowing water to reach depths of 1/2" before it will drain. Also, flow holes in ribs being covered allowing large amounts of water entrapment. Wrong sealants, wrong processes, wrong applications......

Just out of curiosity... Who is "we". I'm assuming a shop that has seen many mooneys....

[The_Wrench]

Just out of curiosity... Who is "we". I'm assuming a shop that has seen many mooneys....

We are a MSC in SW Florida. We have been resealing tanks for many years, successfully. Lots of times we get them after attempts by others, which usually makes things worse. I have a tank in here now that looks more like a bladder. Also, IMO, stay away from bladders. They too are going to fail, and it's sacrilegious to do that to a Mooney (LOL). A properly stripped and resealed tank will probably last longer than a bladder, and it's cheaper.

[The_Wrench]

Indeed. It's tough to find great mechanics and it's not always easy to tell going in. Interestingly, one of the best mechanics I've had work on my plane works at LASAR and he's not an A&P. Good solid guy with good wrench skills and attention to detail.

A qualified mechanic is someone that is experienced in the task at hand. My lead fuel tank guy is not an A&P, but has been fixing, stripping and resealing tanks for 20 years. He is one of the best I've worked with.

[fantom]

We are a MSC in SW Florida.

Appreciate your input, but why are you hesitant to tell us WHO you are?

The only SWFL MSC that the Mooney Aircraft web-site lists is:

FLORIDA FLIGHT MAINTENANCE

Dave Green

160 East Airport Avenue

Venice, FL 34285

Phone: 941.485.1149

So can we assume that's WHO you are?

[The_Wrench]

Appreciate your input, but why are you hesitant to tell us WHO you are?

The only SWFL MSC that the Mooney Aircraft web-site lists is:

FLORIDA FLIGHT MAINTENANCE

Dave Green

160 East Airport Avenue

Venice, FL 34285

Phone: 941.485.1149

So can we assume that's WHO you are?

Sorry everyone. I am new to the forum thing. I was not sure it is appropriate to mention that I am a business. It is not my intention to advertise here. If you want to know, yes, we are FFM in VNC.

After 20+ years in VNC, I can still learn a lot from the general public and other Mooney owners. Sometimes after seeing crazy things time and time again, I feel I should say something. Fuel tanks are an art. Our specialist would like to do nothing more than kick back on his reclining creeper and reseal tanks. He's crazy, but darned good.

[Sabremech]

I find this thread a little troubling. I'm an A&P/IA and have no problem going in to my Mooney tanks to do a reseal or a repair nor do I see a problem with an A&P who has been working in the field for a number of years. The Mooney manual details what the procedure is to classify a leak and repair or reseal as necessary. This borders on the "MSC is the best" topic again and insulting to A&P's who are working independently in the field. What constitutes a qualified mechanic in your opinion? There are owners out there who are doing more than they are suppose to, so what you've seen may not be from an unqualified mechanic but an owner instead. Resealing fuel tanks isn't anything out of the ordinary maintenance, but is labor intensive.

[rbridges]

We are a MSC in SW Florida. We have been resealing tanks for many years, successfully. Lots of times we get them after attempts by others, which usually makes things worse. I have a tank in here now that looks more like a bladder. Also, IMO, stay away from bladders. They too are going to fail, and it's sacrilegious to do that to a Mooney (LOL). A properly stripped and resealed tank will probably last longer than a bladder, and it's cheaper.

I ended up with bladders. It was a tough decision, but my schedule tipped the scales. I researched bladders, and there are a few guys on here that have had them for several years without issue.

[N201MKTurbo]

I had my tanks resealed at Willmar and they did a terrible job. They didn't even finish the job. They only coated the cells that you could see through the gas cap with the liquid butyl rubber and the rest of the tank only had a brush coat of sealant. I have had to repair both sides which have been leak free sense the repairs. I have an A/P license so I do all my own work. The best instructions for repairing tanks are on Don Maxwell’s website. I used his methods and I leak no more.

Feel free to contact me for advice on tank repair.

[fantom]

Owners love bladders. If I was in the business of resealing wet wings, though, I probably wouldn't recommend them.

If I owned a plane with bladders, I'd probably say the same thing ;-)

[jetdriven]

We are a MSC in SW Florida. We have been resealing tanks for many years, successfully. Lots of times we get them after attempts by others, which usually makes things worse. I have a tank in here now that looks more like a bladder. Also, IMO, stay away from bladders. They too are going to fail, and it's sacrilegious to do that to a Mooney (LOL). A properly stripped and resealed tank will probably last longer than a bladder, and it's cheaper.

Aww come on. I have bladders that are 22 years old now and no evidence of any work being performed on them. No leaks. Further, I have posted on here asking for documented evidence of any bladder failure on a Mooney and so far, zero have come forward. Bigfoot sightings are more common.

You lose 34 pounds of useful load, and nowhere in the history of man has 34 pounds been made such a big deal of. We still have a 974 lb useful load as well.

[Sabremech]

There's nothing wrong with bladders. I'm having a new one made for our 1947 Douglas AD-1 Skyraider. This is the original bladder in this airplane and needed to finally be changed due to the self sealing compound entering the bladder itself. Wet wing or bladder, it's your choice. They both will do the job when taken care of properly.

[travism740]

like most of you i would prefer a reseal but in my case there is no one close i have found that i trust. i live in ohio and most of the a&p's here dont want to do a reseal they say just get bladders and forget it. but if anyone knows someone close to ohio i might do a reseal

[danb35]

like most of you i would prefer a reseal but in my case there is no one close i have found that i trust.

What's "close"? Willmar is an easy trip away, and Paul's warranty (according to some of his posts here) includes travel to your location to fix any problems. Yes, it means either a week's vacation in MN or round-trip commercial airfare. I'd think it would be worth the trip (and am planning to do it myself, from KY).

[Hank]

Travis--

I enjoyed a nice flight from the pointy tip of Ohio down to Ft. Lauderdale, with a stop in south Georgia goind both directions. Wet Wingologists kept her much longer than I could stay, but discount airline prices are rather nice. Allegiant took me round-trip from Huntington, WV for $143 after fees, taxes, etc. He has a 7-year warrantly.

Before choosing, I emailed and talked to him and to Weep No More. Midwest Mooney at the bottom of Illinois has a different process for ~30% higher cost. So far I've been very, very satisfied. Wet Wings gives 10% MAPA discount, too, which will pay several years' membership.

It's your plane, you get to make the choice then live with the results. Choose wisely.

[fantom]

.....and if you come to Ft. Lauderdale, I'll try to take you flying

[travism740]

the other thing to keep in mind for me is every day i take off work the cost of the reseal goes up about 3 to 4 hundred dollars do to lost wages but it is something to keep in mind

[marks]

I think Weep No More LLC in Willmar MN is the best. Unlike WetWingoligists, Paul doesn't scrape the inside walls of your tanks. Instead there's a chemical solvent that will dissolve the sealant without being caustic to the tanks. He uses a sprinkler inside your tanks and the the tanks are shiney and clean before he applies an improved sealant. Patches may seal certain leaks but then the rest of your old sealant deteriorates and tiny pieces float around inside your fuel headed for the injectors. Do you really want that? After all, Mooneys have a higher than average unexplained engine failure rate and we are plagued by leaking fuel tanks. I wouldn't take the chance. When your sealant starts to come apart it's time to do the job right.