Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Supporting Owners, Builders and Pilots of the Thorp T-18 and its variants.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 8:49 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 42 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:28 pm 
Hero Member
Hero Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:33 pm
Posts: 3095
Images: 64
Location: Jamul, CA (San Diego area)
I would take the panel out .


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
bfinney
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:07 pm 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:24 pm
Posts: 501
Images: 6
Location: Yelm, WA USA
Chuck,
When I did my gas cap upgrade (cronicled in another thread) I removed the panel to get the tank out. It took me a week of evenings to get every thing disconnected and labeled. I also had to remove the sticks and the canopy to get the tank out of the plane. The other thing I did with the panel out was to rewire it to make it more modular, I have 5 electrical plugs to disconnect a DB25 and a molex connector (for the higher amperage stuff) on each side and a DB25 that is a single point ground behind the panel. I now can remove the panel and have it on the work bench in under an hour, makes working on the panel a breeze.

_________________
Bruce Finney
N18JF T-18C #262
Yelm, WA USA


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:37 pm 
Hero Member
Hero Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:33 pm
Posts: 3095
Images: 64
Location: Jamul, CA (San Diego area)
Bruce : Exacly what I did . I have one Deutch connector for all the engine instruments, one plug for the fuel sender and on the left side a few quick disconnect plugs for power to the panel and mags/ign switch. Pull the plugs and disconnect the pitot/static lines and in about 30 minutes it's on the bench . BOOM !

RB


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
chuck
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:02 pm 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:53 am
Posts: 169
Images: 19
Location: USA
Well I managed to get the outer edge rivets drilled out (and I just painted the whole plane) and the center console removed. Another hour or so and I should be able to drop the floor panel. I don't know If I'll bother repairing the fiberglass tank once removed. I looked up on my drawings index and it referenced drawings 480, 481 and 482 as needed for the fuel tank construction. As it turns out I'm missing 480 but have 481L and 482. Anyone have a copy of 480 that I can borrow?

Bruce, I hope to organize the wiring behind the panel while the tank is out. One of my other future upgrades is a total panel overhaul and hopefully at that time I can rewire as you've suggested; that's the way to go.

_________________
Chuck Kincer
Richmond, Me
575CK
KIWI


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:33 pm 
Hero Member
Hero Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:33 pm
Posts: 3095
Images: 64
Location: Jamul, CA (San Diego area)
Chuck : Shit can the glass tank ! I don't think you want to R & R it and have it leak again and have to remove it again ! Get a tank from CSA . If they don't have one available Lou said he would fab one for you . Not sure what he charges , but I have seen his welding and the aluminum beads are smooth and very little (if no) warping in the aluminum . ;) I can "lend" you the 480 drawing ...for a future consideration at OSH 2013 . :P

RB O0


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
Bill Williams
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:08 pm 
Some tanks were made from polyester resin and should not be used. Epoxy can be used although the manufactures don't recommend it. The alcohol in gas will attack it. Bob,Les and I used an expoxy tanks for 20 to 30 years with sucess. We used avgas only.
The 480 is an 1 3/4 diameter bung hole or a AN867-2 can be substituted, I might have one somewhere


Top
  
 
chuck
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 8:40 pm 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:53 am
Posts: 169
Images: 19
Location: USA
Floor board out! tank next....


Attachments:
2012-12-16_11-14-50_639.jpg
2012-12-16_11-14-50_639.jpg [ 709.91 KiB | Viewed 9940 times ]

_________________
Chuck Kincer
Richmond, Me
575CK
KIWI
Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
mattst18
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 5:55 pm 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:39 pm
Posts: 194
Images: 43
Location: USA
Man, I am sure glad Fraser isn't sitting there in his Kilt.

_________________
Matt Smith
Des Moines, IA
55RC


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
chuck
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:51 pm 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:53 am
Posts: 169
Images: 19
Location: USA
This is his new "Kilted vent" design for total cooling. Still working out the bugs, kilt ends up over your head while on final; minor problem. To be patented and sold in Scotland.

_________________
Chuck Kincer
Richmond, Me
575CK
KIWI


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:04 pm 
Hero Member
Hero Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:33 pm
Posts: 3095
Images: 64
Location: Jamul, CA (San Diego area)
That's way too much information ! C:-) Please no write up for the NL and NO pics ! O:-)

RB O0


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
Fraser MacPhee
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:24 pm 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:57 am
Posts: 722
Images: 19
Location: USA
Am in London.....tomorrow is Kilt Day.....It's really rainy, heya....the kilt....she's a bit damp!!


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
Bill Williams
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:54 pm 
Just don't do handstands and wall will be right


Top
  
 
Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 5:11 pm 
Hero Member
Hero Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:33 pm
Posts: 3095
Images: 64
Location: Jamul, CA (San Diego area)
I recommend staying inside and enjoying the pub food . Banger and Mash and Fish and Chips ! ;) You go to London to expect rain ! :o How you dress is your concern and the Bobbys will figure out your motive . C:-) I found riding the "TUBE" quite the experience . :P

RB O0


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
chuck
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:15 pm 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:53 am
Posts: 169
Images: 19
Location: USA
Update: Turns out I do have a metal gas tank coated with fiberglass on the outside and some sort of slosh compound on the inside. I


Attachments:
2012 236.jpg
2012 236.jpg [ 562.5 KiB | Viewed 9836 times ]

_________________
Chuck Kincer
Richmond, Me
575CK
KIWI
Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: Fuel Tank Removal
PostPosted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:36 pm 
Hero Member
Hero Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:33 pm
Posts: 3095
Images: 64
Location: Jamul, CA (San Diego area)
Goodness ! I don't see how the finger screen isn't plugged up with all that crap ! A riveted tank ? I may have read about one in a very early NL ? Lee probably has info on this if it does exist . It would take an act of Congress for me to try and repair this tank and put it back in my AC ! Based upon the amount of time you have spent just getting this tank out I would suspect you would not want to take it out again after a "repair ?" I would go with a new factory metal tank . JMHO .

RB O0


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 42 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests


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 post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  

[ Time : 0.191s | 14 Queries | GZIP : On ]