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How should I seal a leaking fuel tank fitting?

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William Dominguez

Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Posts: 118

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:28 pm Post subject: How should I seal a leaking fuel tank fitting?

I just leak tested my fuel tanks using the "pressurizing by balloon" method. Found leakages in most of the fitting screws, nipple coupler to finger screen screw and finger screen to flange screw, you can see it in this picture:



http://picasaweb.google.com/billdomg/Wings#5300156828305206066



I have a similar leak in one of the quick drain valve screw. I tried tightening with no success, I'm afraid that further tightening might break the flange since this screws are tapered. Is there any type of sealer (other than pro-seal) that I can apply to the screws? I would like something that will seal the screw without making it to hard to unscrew in the future. 



Also, one of my senders didn't come with the rubber washers for the screws and they are also leaking:



http://picasaweb.google.com/billdomg/Wings#5300156857736108498



I would like  to use same sealer for the head of this screws in lieu of the washers.



The good news is that there is no leak in any of the pro-sealed joints and rivets in the tanks, except for the only rivet that I forgot to dip in pro-seal before placing it. 



William Dominguez

Zodiac 601XL Plans

Miami Florida

http://www.geocities.com/bill_dom

  [quote][b]

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_________________
William Dominguez
Zodiac 601XL Plans
Miami Florida
http://www.geocities.com/bill_dom

larry(at)macsmachine.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject: How should I seal a leaking fuel tank fitting?

William,

There's a tube of TFE thread sealer that works very well. Usually at 

your auto parts store.  I had the same problem and this stuff took care 

of it.



Larry McFarland 601HDS at www.macsmachine.com

do not archive



William Dominguez wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I just leak tested my fuel tanks using the "pressurizing by balloon" 

 method. Found leakages in most of the fitting screws, nipple coupler 

 to finger screen screw and finger screen to flange screw, you can see 

 it in this picture:



 http://picasaweb.google.com/billdomg/Wings#5300156828305206066



 I have a similar leak in one of the quick drain valve screw. I tried 

 tightening with no success, I'm afraid that further tightening might 

 break the flange since this screws are tapered. Is there any type of 

 sealer (other than pro-seal) that I can apply to the screws? I would 

 like something that will seal the screw without making it to hard to 

 unscrew in the future.



 Also, one of my senders didn't come with the rubber washers for the 

 screws and they are also leaking:



 http://picasaweb.google.com/billdomg/Wings#5300156857736108498



 I would like to use same sealer for the head of this screws in lieu of 

 the washers.



 The good news is that there is no leak in any of the pro-sealed joints 

 and rivets in the tanks, except for the only rivet that I forgot to 

 dip in pro-seal before placing it.



 William Dominguez

 Zodiac 601XL Plans

 Miami Florida

 http://www.geocities.com/bill_dom



 *

 ==================================



 *

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bryanmmartin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject: How should I seal a leaking fuel tank fitting?

Put a dab of any decent gasoline tolerant thread sealer compound on  

the threads. Fuelube, Sealube, Permatex aviation form-a-gasket, etc.  

You should be able to get a 4 oz. can of Permatex aviation form-a- 

gasket for about $5 at most auto parts stores. White PTFE thread  

sealer can be found at most hardware stores for a reasonable price. It  

doesn't take much to do the job. For the sender screws, the Permatex  

product would probably be best and it will work on the pipe threads  

also.



On Feb 7, 2009, at 4:26 PM, William Dominguez wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   I just leak tested my fuel tanks using the "pressurizing by balloon"  

 method. Found leakages in most of the fitting screws, nipple coupler  

 to finger screen screw and finger screen to flange screw, you can  

 see it in this picture:



 http://picasaweb.google.com/billdomg/Wings#5300156828305206066



 I have a similar leak in one of the quick drain valve screw. I tried  

 tightening with no success, I'm afraid that further tightening might  

 break the flange since this screws are tapered. Is there any type of  

 sealer (other than pro-seal) that I can apply to the screws? I would  

 like something that will seal the screw without making it to hard to  

 unscrew in the future.



 Also, one of my senders didn't come with the rubber washers for the  

 screws and they are also leaking:




	


-- 

Bryan Martin

N61BM, CH 601 XL,

RAM Subaru, Stratus redrive.

do not archive.

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_________________
--
Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
do not archive.

milreed(at)directcon.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:17 am Post subject: How should I seal a leaking fuel tank fitting?

How is this test run? Google didn't know where to find this information.

Milburn

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arno7452(at)bellsouth.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:44 pm Post subject: How should I seal a leaking fuel tank fitting?

Good Test!

Ken Arnold



do not archive



---

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William Dominguez

Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Posts: 118

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:51 pm Post subject: How should I seal a leaking fuel tank fitting?

This test is run by pressurizing the tank with balloons attached to the fittings and pumping air through the quick drain valve with a cheap air pump until one or both balloons inflate. Then use soapy water to look for air leaks. You can see the test in this picture, the air pump that I used is on the left side:



http://picasaweb.google.com/billdomg/Wings#5300156820135627810



William Dominguez

Zodiac 601XL Plans

Miami Florida

http://www.geocities.com/bill_dom



[quote][quote]---

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_________________
William Dominguez
Zodiac 601XL Plans
Miami Florida
http://www.geocities.com/bill_dom

ggower_99(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:56 pm Post subject: How should I seal a leaking fuel tank fitting?

The test is to pressure test the gasoline tank before its instalation in the wing.

The Zenith gasoline tanks, as we know, are welded of thin aluminum, so they need very little pressure for the test.  Using excess compressed air could deform or ruin the tank.

 

What I did (was told by old timers) is to seal with a piece of inner tube and a hose clamp the gas inlet.  Using 2 of the outlets of the tank (if it has more, seal them temporary)  in one install a temporary fuel valve to keep the air inside. in the other outlet install a condom well sealed to the outlet (these they say are leak proof:-) or a balloon.   

 

Though the fuel valve fill air with a hand pump or very carefully with the air compressor untill the balloon is inflated. close the valve and first check all around (outside) the tank (welds)  including the temporary seals and the fuel valve with soapy water.  Bubbles will show leaks

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