Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Leak test for fuel tanks.

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Leak test for fuel tanks.

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Zenith-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

pacificpainting(at)comcas
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:43 pm Post subject: Leak test for fuel tanks.

I know this has been brought up before, but I  couldn't find an answer. I need to test my tanks. What do you use to put the air  in the tanks that you can close off to keep the air from coming back  out?

  

  

 Dave (anonymous)

  

 do not archive

   [quote][b]

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:04 pm Post subject: Leak test for fuel tanks.

Cut the stem and some rubber around it from an inner tube.  Then clamp it over the filler neck. Use a bicycle pump to inflate BUT USE VERY  LITTLE PRESSURE. You can easily bulge the tank. You can try and monitor the  pressure and see if it drops but the most sensitive test is to squirt soapy  water along all welds and look for bubbles.

  

 -- Craig

[quote] [b]

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List

dredmoody(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: Leak test for fuel tanks.

The most safe route is this: screw in the filler cap making sure that it fits securely and makes a good seal. Next screw in the push-to-drain valve making sure that it seals well too. Last item is to inflate a balloon and secure it around the vent tube with tape or a rubber band. Honestly, that's all the pressure you need and it will not deform the tank. Leave it that way for 15 - 30 minutes. If the balloon stay inflated, the tank is good.



Ed Moody II



---- Dave Ruddiman <pacificpainting(at)comcast.net> wrote: 

 	  Quote: 	
		   I know this has been brought up before, but I couldn't find an answer. I need to test my tanks. What do you use to put the air in the tanks that you can close off to keep the air from coming back out?

 

 

 Dave (anonymous)

 

 do not archive

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List

jhstarn(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:02 pm Post subject: Leak test for fuel tanks.

OR...put a surgical glove over one opening & tape it in place. Put just  enough air in thru the other opening to inflate the glove to about the size of  the smaller volleyballs and then seal that opening when inflated. The glove  will shrink when it's cold & grow when heated, as when you put the tank in  sunlight. The glove will keep a continuous pressure and expands as required. If  the glove goes flat you have a leak. Half & half water and dish washing  soap in a spray bottle on the seams & filler areas IF you have a leak.  Re-fill the glove as needed & squeeze during "soap" test.

 How long do you leave the glove on ? ?.  

 We had the gloves on both tanks for more than a year and a half while  building the rest of the airplane. The "glove" pressure won't hurt the tank but  as a leak detector it's on the job 24-7, 365 days a year.

 Test:  Put them outside in the sun once a week, once a month.

 Why a surgical glove ? ?. The "kitchen/painter" type won't hold up for a  year.

  

 KABONG  EAA Tech Inspector & HRII builder, 6 yrs flying &  going on 300 hrs  Do Not Archive

 [quote]   ---

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List

jhstarn(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:23 pm Post subject: Leak test for fuel tanks.

We closed off openings except two, put the glove on the fuel outlet  fitting, & with air from the compressor VERY SLOWLY blew the  glove  up via the open tank drain fitting, when the glove was the proper  size we closed the tank drain.   KABONG  Sorry I forgot that  step. Do Not Archive

 [quote]   ---

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List

ggower_99(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject: Leak test for fuel tanks.

The aluminum in the tanks is very thin for the bicycle pump...  Is better to infalte a condom,  these are certified leak proof.   Is what I use.  If it deflates overnight, then test it with soapy water.



Saludos

Gary Gower



Craig Payne <craig(at)craigandjean.com> wrote: 	  Quote: 	
		         Cut the stem and some rubber around it from an inner tube.  Then clamp it over the filler neck. Use a bicycle pump to inflate BUT USE VERY  LITTLE PRESSURE. You can easily bulge the tank. You can try and monitor the  pressure and see if it drops but the most sensitive test is to squirt soapy   water along all welds and look for bubbles.

  

 -- Craig

 	  Quote: 	
		   	
   	


  		Get your email and more, right on the [url=http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42973/*http://www.yahoo.com/preview] new Yahoo.com[/url]   [quote][b]

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List

pacificpainting(at)comcas
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:25 pm Post subject: Leak test for fuel tanks.

Since I have the fuel lines and fittings  temporarily installed I just put rubber gloves over the filler necks and blew  into the lines by mouth until the gloves were about the size of a large  grapefruit. I let them set for an hour or so. I checked all the fittings and  sending units with soapy water. The air leakage was around the rubber bands  on the gloves and the cut ends of the fuel lines. I do plan on doing one last  test before I rivet the skin on.

  

  

  

 [quote]   ---

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List

idyll1

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 3

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject: Leak test for fuel tanks.

Here is a very simple and extremely sensitive method of leak testing 

the fuel tank:

1. Seal all openings in the tank except the vent.

2. Clamp a piece of tygon tubing to the vent (3 to 4 feet long).

3. Pressure the tank by breathing into the tubing (you don't need 

much pressure).

4. Kink the tubing near the tank and hold the kink with a small spring clamp.

5. Add water to the tubing ( I used some food coloring in the water ).

6. Release the clamp and secure the tubing in a U shape ( I taped it 

to the leg of my table).

7. Mark the level and note the temperature of the tank, this is very 

temperature sensitive ( I used a digital indoor/outdoor

thermometer with the outdoor probe taped to the tank.

Gary Briggs

601 XL

Kennewick, WA

--

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Zenith-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum