Brief Description: Section 18-8 Fuel Tank Leak Testing
02/22/2009 … Section 18-8 Althought not detailed in the plans design after allowing for the Pro-Seal to cure about a week I then purchased from Van’s a Fuel Tank Leak Tester Kit for $5.00 and a bicycle tire pump for $10.00. The Test Kit contains the instructions for initializing and completing the test(s). You place a rubber child’s balloon over the fuel out line and secure with a tie wrap and then pump air into the tank by means of the supplied tire valve stem to the fuel drain outlet. Also I covered the fuel cap with a rubber latex glove to prove a better air tight seal and inserted into the cap into fuel filler hole. The actual PSI is only about 1 PSI which causes the balloon to inflate insuring a pressure buildup and a pressure "pop-off" valve in case you apply too much pressure, the balloon will inflate and rupture not the seams of the fuel tank. You check for leaks with a paint brush and soapy water, looking for bubbles to appear. The results for the left Fuel Tank was a small leak at a seam where W-1009 Rib and the Top Baffle meet. I fixed this with a dap of Pro Seal and re-tested no leak was seen. Repeated to process for the Right Fuel Tank and no leak was found. Time about two evening or 4 hours.
Thank goodness that both fuel tanks are completed sucessfully and I saved myself $1,800.00 dollars by doing the work myself.
