JackinMichigan
Well Known Member
The fuel vent in the right tank began leaking about 6 months after first flight, and it has been steadily getting worse.
The left tank started leaking right away and we had to remove it and return it to Vans, but since then the airplane has been painted and we REALLY don't want to take the tank off. I built that special tool where you could tighten the B nut thru the fuel sender hole, but with all the might I could muster I couldn't budge that nut. It's TIGHT, and I suspect so tight that the flare has been cracked.
I also tried inserting a 3/16" dia by 3" long Delrin tube, liberally gooped up with fuel resistant silicone, up the vent tube in an effort to seal it off, and that exercise failed. I was also concerned that fix would restrict the airflow into the tank during use.
Does anyone know of a fix that wouldn't require wing tank removal? I suspect I already know the answer, but hope springs eternal. And I have to say I'm more than a little annoyed at Vans - we opted for the QB kit (and paid an extra three grand) precisely so we WOULDN'T have these issues.
The left tank started leaking right away and we had to remove it and return it to Vans, but since then the airplane has been painted and we REALLY don't want to take the tank off. I built that special tool where you could tighten the B nut thru the fuel sender hole, but with all the might I could muster I couldn't budge that nut. It's TIGHT, and I suspect so tight that the flare has been cracked.
I also tried inserting a 3/16" dia by 3" long Delrin tube, liberally gooped up with fuel resistant silicone, up the vent tube in an effort to seal it off, and that exercise failed. I was also concerned that fix would restrict the airflow into the tank during use.
Does anyone know of a fix that wouldn't require wing tank removal? I suspect I already know the answer, but hope springs eternal. And I have to say I'm more than a little annoyed at Vans - we opted for the QB kit (and paid an extra three grand) precisely so we WOULDN'T have these issues.