budyerly(at)msn.com Guest
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Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject: Europa fuel tank - Removal |
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<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]--> Will,
Not to worry, I think we have a fix.
If the tank must be replaced, it takes a three day weekend (not including interior replacement), although I spent a week. With the tank out I was able to play with some other things in that hole I preferred to do differently....
I have some pictures of the removal, somewhere showing how I cut it out and replaced it. I have done three at the shop over the years (mine cracked and the other two had holes drilled in them by accident) and it is not that bad... Just a technique and of course knowing where to cut to avoid all those wires you may have run through there.
In the next month or so, when the dust settles, I will do a how to as part of the tech help series and discuss why the old tanks fail... It is the lack of bottom support and variances in construction which my autopsy of the tank revealed causes the split(s), as well as some hardening of the tank when left without fuel for some time, and when refilled, the tanks lack of support on the front and bottom forces a stress riser at the rear. More of that later....
Give me a few weeks, much to do in the shop and airshows to get ready for and not enough hands or mind.
By the way, with the new tank, I can just hold 20 gallons to the filler neck in my trigear vs. the 18.5 from before. The old tank had a depressed top and the new tank was very straight and true, it's a bit wider (read as I had to cut the rails a bit) and has small diagonal support moldings which accounts for the slight bit of extra gas.
Bud Yerly Europa Tech Support.
Custom Flight Creations, Inc.
www.customflightcreations.com
(813) 653-4989
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