|
|
|
|
SAM'S WEB SITE
|
Date: 2-25-2012
|
Number of Hours: 1.70
|
Manual Reference:
|
Brief Description: Put the cover plate on the right tank
|
|
Been so slammed with work the last week & a half haven't been able to work on the ship much, but today was Saturday and I couldn't stand it any more, so decided to close up the tank and get the pressure test started. So, I mixed up a batch of sealant and dabbed a little in the corners of the tank adjacent to the inboard end rib, then smeared some on the gasket and stuck it on the opening. Stuck the cover/access plate on the gasket with a few clecoes and started screwing it onto the rib. After dabbing a little sealant on the threads of each screw, I started each screw in the cover plate, then torqued each of the 12 screws to about 16 inch-lb. I substituted some NAS 1801 machine screws for the # 8 phillips head screws in the Van's kit, because the 1/4" hex heads are easier to torque accurately, and the tensile strength of the NAS screws equals or exceeds that of the AN screws supplied.
Then I put some duct tape on the filler cap hole and put about 1 psi (27" of water differential in the U-tube) test pressure on the tank. After about an hour and a half, it is down about 3/16 of an inch, which could be either thermal change in the tank (evening is falling) or a small leak in the test tubing connections (haven't put soapy water on them yet), so I am cautiously optomistic that the tank is holding. We will see in a couple of days. Maybe I will put some soapy water on the test connections to rule out tank leaks.
I think I will go up and celebrate with Mr. Regal, Chivas to his friends. If the tank indeed holds, I will be riveting it and the leading edge along with the top skins to the wing skeleton shortly.
Can't wait to start the fuselage. Only had the kit for 2 1/2 years.
|
|
Starting the NAS 1801-8 screws in the cover plate.
|
|
The manometer setup for pressure testing the tank.
|
|
High water level at the start of the test. It was down about 3/16" after about an hour and a half.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2001-2024 Matronics. All Rights Reserved.
|
