Fairchild Club Forum

----- Original Message -----
From: mcclurebill@rocketmail.com
To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, May 30, 2011 4:54 PM
Subject: [fairchildclub] Leaky Fuel Tank



I've been pursuing a fuel leak in my 24G wing for some time. I've tried sealant of various makes applied to the outside of the tank in the areas where it is obvious fuel is coming through the tank. The area in question is in and around the pressed-out sump on the bottom of the tank, where the inboard fuel pick-off is located. I've noted the same issue on other, un-mounted tanks. It seems a combination of time and perhaps moisture collection in that area contributes to the erosion of the aluminum in the thinned-out area formed when the aluminum was pressed to make the sump.

I can't be the first to have encountered this problem, and I'm about ready to bite the bullet and cut the fabric to get the tank out of the wing, and send it out for repair. Trouble is, since the area that should be replaced is the sump and perhaps a few inches surrounding, that pressed-out area will have be made and welded in, a bit more complex than just welding in a flat piece.

I'm wondering if anyone has had the same problem, and if I could get a recommendation to a shop that could tackle this?

Thanks in advance.

Bill McClure
Cape Cod, Mass.






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--- In fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com, "Leighton, George" wrote:
>
> Hi Bill
>
>
>
> I had the exact same problem last fall. I cut the fabric and pulled the
> tank out. I took it to a local shop here in the Seattle area. He is a
> certified FAA repair shop. He welded a patch over the sump area that was
> leaking and I also had him weld a patch over the other sump just in
> case. I did not want to have to pull the tank again. My tank was fabric
> covered so it was a little more of a hassle. I would think that any
> approved repair shop in your area could handle the repair.
>
>
>
> George
>
>
>
> From: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> mcclurebill@...
> Sent: Monday, May 30, 2011 1:55 PM
> To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [fairchildclub] Leaky Fuel Tank
>
>
>
>
>
> I've been pursuing a fuel leak in my 24G wing for some time. I've tried
> sealant of various makes applied to the outside of the tank in the areas
> where it is obvious fuel is coming through the tank. The area in
> question is in and around the pressed-out sump on the bottom of the
> tank, where the inboard fuel pick-off is located. I've noted the same
> issue on other, un-mounted tanks. It seems a combination of time and
> perhaps moisture collection in that area contributes to the erosion of
> the aluminum in the thinned-out area formed when the aluminum was
> pressed to make the sump.
>
> I can't be the first to have encountered this problem, and I'm about
> ready to bite the bullet and cut the fabric to get the tank out of the
> wing, and send it out for repair. Trouble is, since the area that should
> be replaced is the sump and perhaps a few inches surrounding, that
> pressed-out area will have be made and welded in, a bit more complex
> than just welding in a flat piece.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has had the same problem, and if I could get a
> recommendation to a shop that could tackle this?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Bill McClure
> Cape Cod, Mass.
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>