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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Frederick Fielder on December 04, 2007, 02:37:43 PM

Title: Leaking Fuel Tank
Post by: Frederick Fielder on December 04, 2007, 02:37:43 PM

My fuel tank is leaking around the over flow tube and the tank is permanently mounted (silly me) so I need advise on how to proceed to repair this with out any explosion or a airplane that looks like a crispy critter.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Frederick

Title: Re: Leaking Fuel Tank
Post by: don Burke on December 04, 2007, 08:08:22 PM

Believe it or not, CA glue will plug a leak.  I know some say it ain't fuel proof!  As long as the joint isn't flexed after being treated it should hold.  Clean as well as you can around the crack with pure alcohol (acetone would work better but may make a mess of any paint in the vicinity) then when dry, put on the thin CA.  I fixed two poor solder joints on tanks on my racers this past weekend.  They held up fine and didn't leak.  Now all I have to do is practice how to solder in the first place!

Title: Re: Leaking Fuel Tank
Post by: Neal Beekman on December 05, 2007, 07:36:13 AM

Clean real good and use J B Weld., form it neatly ,it will hold and is fuel proof. :)

Title: Re: Leaking Fuel Tank
Post by: Frederick Fielder on December 05, 2007, 07:47:24 AM

Thanks for the replies now I can getter fix and back in the air.
Frederick

Title: Re: Leaking Fuel Tank
Post by: Gene O'Keefe on December 05, 2007, 08:02:14 AM

I'd use J-B Kwik  weld - sets in "4" minutes and is just as strong for this application.

 Geno

Title: Re: Leaking Fuel Tank
Post by: Bill Heher on December 05, 2007, 08:18:18 AM

Yep J-B Weld is the way to go. I used it last weekend to repair a small leak in a radiator, and my dad once it used to repair a crack in the block of a Volkswagon engine. Good stuff to have around.

Title: Re: Leaking Fuel Tank
Post by: kvarley on December 05, 2007, 08:29:28 AM

J.B.Weld comes in regular and 5 minute,which is not as strong ,but ok for plugging leaks. Keith Varley

Title: Re: Leaking Fuel Tank
Post by: Frederick Fielder on December 05, 2007, 03:02:11 PM

I went with the JB Weld that takes 15 hours to set completely so if I got every thing de-greased properly using 100% Methyl Alcohol it should do just fine. I'll do a tank test tomorrow and see. I think that the CA might work in a pinch.
Thanks.
Frederick