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Nate's RV-7 Site
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Date: 1-20-2021
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Number of Hours: 5.00
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Manual Reference: Sect 7-8
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Brief Description: Final Fuel Tank Sealing
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In this work session I worked to affix the T-702 Fuel Tank Baffle to the T-701 Fuel Tank Skin. After all the work I did yesterday, I was ready to affix the rear baffle to the tank skin and ribs. I was a long process that admittedly I didn't get completely done. I decided to do both tanks at once, But I could/should have done the tanks one at a time. Time will tell if I was wise or foolhardy this time. Hopefully, it was wise.
Following the guidance on the Van's fuel tank video (on youtube) I put sealant on the upper and lower rivet holes on the interior fuel tank ribs, and then created a 3/16" ring around the mating area. I made sure to add more fuel sealant at the corners of the tank to insure a good seal. On the second tank I made my bead a little over 3/16" and had to go back and spread the sealant out a bit more as I ran low on the outter rib, which I did last. I ended up with a good and sufficient bead around both tanks. Some build blogs, and internet guidance recommend more sealant, but Van's recommends using less sealant (less is more?), but I'm optimistic that I used enough sealant to accomplish my goal.
I then affixed to rear baffle to each tank, and clecoed the baffle into place. To assist the sealant to settle into the gaps, in between work times I stored the tanks baffle side down. I then installed the pulled rivets to the upper and lower rivet holes in the interior fuel tank ribs, and squeezed the AN470AD4-4 rivets into position on the end ribs. Then I began riveting the rear baffle into place along the skins. There were a good amount of places that my countersinks needed to be slightly adjusted to make the rivets sit completetly flush, so I invested the time necessary to work on each rivet until I was satisfied. I was able to get the left fuel tank completely riveted, but I was not able to complete the right tank. Instead of simply rushing to get the job done, I stopped and put a cleco in every hole, and stored the tanks vertically in a warm space. In about a week, I'll get bac
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