Day 10
Recommendations for removing sealer and replacing bad rivets during fuel tank construction for Van’s Aircraft:
By BDavis
Day 10
Recommendations for removing sealer and replacing bad rivets during fuel tank construction for Van’s Aircraft:
By BDavis
Day 9: Page 7-7 and 7-8 from the RV-7/7A Plans Set
Closing and Finishing the Tank
Check all the final details before installing the baffle. Apply sealant to the tank skin from the rivet holes forward. Put sealant along the inside edge of the flange on each end rib and where the corner of the baffle will meet the end rib. This is a common location for leaks. Place sealant on the back flanges of the T-703/4 ribs. With the tank in the cradle, install the T-702 rear baffle assembly. Cleco the baffle to the skins (where the holes were not counter sunk).
Put sealant on the back of each Z bracket. Rivet the baffle to the skins.
Install the AD-41 H closed end rivet in the top and bottom baffle-to-rear rib-flange holes. The brackets on each end of the tank use solid rivets, not blind rivets. Check drawings 16A and 10A for T-712 bracket orientation. Install the blind rivets in the brackets. Use a modified rivet puller.
Finish all riveting and clean any excess sealant off the fuel tank.
By BDavis
Day 5:
First, place all the snap bushings in the ribs. Then, run the aluminum tubing from the outboard side through the fuel tank to the inboard side. Next, put on the B-nut and sleeve and flare the end of the tubing. (Made a video of this and hope to share it soon.) Cleco the inboard rib in place.
Connect the B-nut to the elbow fitting.
Install the access cover with the fuel pick-up tube.
Cut the vent line to length using a tubing cutter.
The tube gets sealed into the T-714 clip.
The vent line is installed.
By BDavis
Day 4:
Helpful trick for nut plate installation…
Happy Fourth!!
By BDavis
Day 3:
Place masking tape where you don’t want the sealant. (Note: Joyce bottom left is watching over the whole production.)
When assembling the tank, work in the cradle.
We clecoed ribs #2 and #6 dry and began sealing/riveting rib #4.
Tungeston bucking bar. This is my “go to” bucking bar.
Not too bad…
Thanks to Dane Patterson (and Joyce) for all their help in sealing the fuel tank today.
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