There are days building an RV-12iS when everything seems to be going smoothly and the plans all seem to make sense, and then there are days like today when I wonder if I can even understand simple instructions. I assembled my fuel tank out of order last summer in order to take advantage of the warm weather to work with the Proseal. Then SL-0070 came out and I waited until warm spring weather to work with the sealant and finish installing the inspection port. In between I made some of the fuel line components and finished all the fuselage steps that would allow me to test install the fuel tank as shown on the final page of section 26. It's there that I've begun to doubt my work.
First problem: The fuel tank seems to fit very tightly into the baggage compartment. It looks like the AK-42H rivets are as flush as I thought. The heads are slightly domed and bind on the F-01204J bulkhead flange caps. I'm not sure that's the real problem, though because once I managed to get the tank in place, I still had trouble getting the NAS1149F0332P washers in between the tank and the bulkhead flanges because the fit was so tight. Is this typical of how tight the tank fits? I think it would be a nightmare to remove the tank with the canopy in place with such a tight fit. It's certainly not possible to put it in and remove it without marking up the flange caps as far as I can tell. I fear I may not have countersunk the holes in the T-01225 flanges as much as I should have, which may mean rebuild the fuel tank.
Second problem: This is relatively minor, but there is no mention in the plans of dimpling the screw holes in the F-01229-1 and F-01229A panels but the underlying screw holes are dimpled. I assume this is an oversight? It's more confusing because where these panels are installed in section 38, AN526C832R6 screws are specified, but none were supplied with my kit. It seems like it would make more sense to dimple the holes and use AN507C832R8 screws (of which I have ample numbers) for this panel. I was willing to just go ahead with this plan, but have lost my nerve after seeing how difficult it is to properly place the fuel tank.
I'll mention my third concern, involving the F-12127K fuel line from the shutoff valve to the tank. I carefully measured this line according to the instructions and I think I was very successful in bending it to match the drawings, but it looks like it's very short. I couldn't hook it up to the fuel tank because I had left the pressure testing fittings on the fuel tank when I test installed it thinking the job was going to be easy. But it seems like it is almost a half inch short. I've confirmed that the drawings are to the proper scale, so I didn't mis-measure the bends. I'll recheck and tweak the bends or remake the part when I next install the fuel tank, but it left me wondering in general what the tolerances are on the rigid fuel lines? How much are you able to manipulate the lines for the final installation?
Would someone be willing to share their experiences with these parts?
Thanks!
First problem: The fuel tank seems to fit very tightly into the baggage compartment. It looks like the AK-42H rivets are as flush as I thought. The heads are slightly domed and bind on the F-01204J bulkhead flange caps. I'm not sure that's the real problem, though because once I managed to get the tank in place, I still had trouble getting the NAS1149F0332P washers in between the tank and the bulkhead flanges because the fit was so tight. Is this typical of how tight the tank fits? I think it would be a nightmare to remove the tank with the canopy in place with such a tight fit. It's certainly not possible to put it in and remove it without marking up the flange caps as far as I can tell. I fear I may not have countersunk the holes in the T-01225 flanges as much as I should have, which may mean rebuild the fuel tank.
Second problem: This is relatively minor, but there is no mention in the plans of dimpling the screw holes in the F-01229-1 and F-01229A panels but the underlying screw holes are dimpled. I assume this is an oversight? It's more confusing because where these panels are installed in section 38, AN526C832R6 screws are specified, but none were supplied with my kit. It seems like it would make more sense to dimple the holes and use AN507C832R8 screws (of which I have ample numbers) for this panel. I was willing to just go ahead with this plan, but have lost my nerve after seeing how difficult it is to properly place the fuel tank.
I'll mention my third concern, involving the F-12127K fuel line from the shutoff valve to the tank. I carefully measured this line according to the instructions and I think I was very successful in bending it to match the drawings, but it looks like it's very short. I couldn't hook it up to the fuel tank because I had left the pressure testing fittings on the fuel tank when I test installed it thinking the job was going to be easy. But it seems like it is almost a half inch short. I've confirmed that the drawings are to the proper scale, so I didn't mis-measure the bends. I'll recheck and tweak the bends or remake the part when I next install the fuel tank, but it left me wondering in general what the tolerances are on the rigid fuel lines? How much are you able to manipulate the lines for the final installation?
Would someone be willing to share their experiences with these parts?
Thanks!
