For those who have come before me.......
I am in the final stages of my RV-7A and I just sealed up the tanks. That is installed the senders and sealed the access plates. I started leak testing this evening using the manometer method. I must be dense or something because I can't get the manometer to work right.
My setup is simple. Tank is sitting on the bench (36") off the floor. Drain hole is plugged, cap is sealed and 3/8 fitting is capped. 10 foot of clear tubing is attached to the vent fitting and draped to the floor and taped to a vertical support 3 feet above the tank. When I pour colored water into the tube the water fills the tube partially then air gets entrapped in the line then the line files a bit more. So when you look at the line you see colored water then air then some more colored water. I tried several times and I get the same result. When I do get more water in the tube it fills beyond the vent fitting and into the vent line. I quickly remove the fill tube from the vent line and vacuum out the small amount of colored water in the vent line. I understand that I should have a column of water in the tube that is about 2'3" above the vent fitting. I don't get anywhere close to that before it fills to the vent fitting.
I thought maybe I might have a major leak somewhere so I tried the balloon technique and it worked great. Double checked every rivet and seam with out any leaks and the balloon is still inflated after an hour of testing.
I really would like to get the manometer to work but I don't understand what I am doing wrong. Maybe it is just late and I can't think straight or I am having a senior moment.
Any input would be appreciated.
I am in the final stages of my RV-7A and I just sealed up the tanks. That is installed the senders and sealed the access plates. I started leak testing this evening using the manometer method. I must be dense or something because I can't get the manometer to work right.
My setup is simple. Tank is sitting on the bench (36") off the floor. Drain hole is plugged, cap is sealed and 3/8 fitting is capped. 10 foot of clear tubing is attached to the vent fitting and draped to the floor and taped to a vertical support 3 feet above the tank. When I pour colored water into the tube the water fills the tube partially then air gets entrapped in the line then the line files a bit more. So when you look at the line you see colored water then air then some more colored water. I tried several times and I get the same result. When I do get more water in the tube it fills beyond the vent fitting and into the vent line. I quickly remove the fill tube from the vent line and vacuum out the small amount of colored water in the vent line. I understand that I should have a column of water in the tube that is about 2'3" above the vent fitting. I don't get anywhere close to that before it fills to the vent fitting.
I thought maybe I might have a major leak somewhere so I tried the balloon technique and it worked great. Double checked every rivet and seam with out any leaks and the balloon is still inflated after an hour of testing.
I really would like to get the manometer to work but I don't understand what I am doing wrong. Maybe it is just late and I can't think straight or I am having a senior moment.
Any input would be appreciated.