|
|
|
|
Stevens Web Site
|
Date: 3-30-2006
|
Number of Hours: 2.80
|
Manual Reference:
|
Brief Description: Pressure tested right tank
|
|
After the proseal in the screw to the access plates had cured for two days, it was time to pressure test the right tank. I hooked up the clear plastic tubing, blocked off the fuel pickup fitting and applied fuel lube to the fuel cap to stem any air leak. Then, I filled the tubing with water (I did not have any food coloring) and waited. After 2.5 hours, the water level actually rose in the tube (indicating more pressure in the tank) because the shop heated up a little. I'll check it again in the morning, but it looks like it will hold. Next, I removed the leading edge and fuel tank from the left wing so that I could countersink the skin attach holes in the spar. At that point, I ran into a problem. The pilot bit on the countersink would not go in the holes I already reamed in the spar (when we match drilled the skin to the spar and the ribs). After much head scratching, I determined that the holes were a little undersized because they had been reamed out with the fancy and semi-expensive reamer, instead of the old fashioned #40 drill bit. As it turns out, the #40 reamer will not make the hole big enough for the countersink pilot. but the #40 drill bit will make a big enough hole. Go figure. So, of course, I had to go back and redrill all of the skin attach holes in the spar with a #40 drill bit. Then, I countersunk them, as per the plans. I read somewhere recently that countersinking is better done with a slower speed drill rather than a high speed pneumatic drill. So, I whipped out the old DeWalt cordless drill and went to work. I finished countersinking all of the holes in the left wing spar and then I spot primed them to fight corrosion down the line. I can't work on Miss Vick tomorrow, because we are going to a retirement party for one of her bosses, Dr. Benjamin Okel (who is a great guy, by the way). Then, I leave for Sun-N-Fun in Lakeland, Florida on Sunday.
|
|
Pressurized right tank with the tubing attached
|
|
Countersinking the left spar
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2001-2024 Matronics. All Rights Reserved.
|
