Fuel Tank Bay Repairs

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

Post Reply
User avatar
Kyle
Posts: 217
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:23 am

Fuel Tank Bay Repairs

Post by Kyle »

Sorry - this needs to be in the "Hanger" and I can't figure out how to move a draft from one forum to another...
Mod: You can't move it but I can :wink:

During the last annual we addressed the continuing contamination of our right fuel tank. I decided to pull the tank, clean it, prep the tank bay and re-install everything. Hoping of course it would not need another visit for another 60 or so years. It was worth the effort. Fore and aft in the bay are small wooden blocks ("spacer" IPC Fig. 8, index # -8, p/n 0523524) that help keep the tank properly placed in the bay. The rear block was installed with truss head screws. Once the rear block was out, and all the tank plumbing was disconnected the tank came out of the bay easily. The tank straps had dried / cracked chaffe padding and we replaced it with new. Using clothes pins worked great to hold new chaffe strips on untill the glue dried.

The rear inboard spar had a small amount of corrosion that was removed. The tank bay was preped, etched and alodined including all surfaces that would come in contact with the tank cover. The bay was primed once ready. The two small dings on the tank were heli-arc welded (once the tank was flushed and gas free). Any corrosion on the tank was also removed and treated. The tank cover was treated and painted paying special attention to areas that would come in direct contact with metal.

In order to access some of the tank plumbing inside the cabin, the headliner needed to be pulled back. Since we were up in that area, and I had been following Greg's teriffic job of soundproofing his 170 over in Plymouth, - well that's another post. Here are a few pictures...
IMG-20120306-00109.jpg
P1090188.JPG
IMG-20120310-00112.jpg
P1090185.JPG
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Kyle Takakjian
Truro, MA
52 C-170B, N8087A
hilltop170
Posts: 3485
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm

Re: Fuel Tank Bay Repairs

Post by hilltop170 »

Nice looking job, are you going to re-install the wooden blocks? If not what will replace them?
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
User avatar
Kyle
Posts: 217
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:23 am

Re: Fuel Tank Bay Repairs

Post by Kyle »

We cleaned the wooden blocks, replaced the cork pad on each with rubber and re-installed.
Kyle Takakjian
Truro, MA
52 C-170B, N8087A
User avatar
lowNslow
Posts: 1535
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:20 pm

Re: Fuel Tank Bay Repairs

Post by lowNslow »

Kyle, how did you the treat the inside of the fuel tank for contamination?
Karl
'53 170B N3158B SN:25400
ASW-20BL
User avatar
Kyle
Posts: 217
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:23 am

Re: Fuel Tank Bay Repairs

Post by Kyle »

Karl,

Sorry should have been more descriptive, only the exterior of the tank was treated, etched, alodined and primed...
Kyle Takakjian
Truro, MA
52 C-170B, N8087A
User avatar
DaveF
Posts: 1565
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2007 1:44 am

Re: Fuel Tank Bay Repairs

Post by DaveF »

Thanks for the write-up. This is on my to-do list.
User avatar
FredMa
Posts: 257
Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:13 am

Re: Fuel Tank Bay Repairs

Post by FredMa »

While doing this repair, it would be a good time to coat the paint with some type of corrosion inhibitor like Cor-Ban 35 or equivilant.
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 21304
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Fuel Tank Bay Repairs

Post by GAHorn »

Paint ...IS..an anti corrosion treatment.
Painting ...paint...with another product ...unless it is a sealer... is not likely beneficial and, depending on the type of paint, may cause deterioration of the paint (and loss of it's protective capability.)

And some anti-corrosion products are nasty about attracting dirt and grime. Not a good thing where chafeing might occur or where inaccessibility can prevent regular cleaning.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
Post Reply
Cessna® is a registered trademark of Textron Aviation, Inc. The International Cessna® 170 Association is an independent owners/operators association dedicated to C170 aircraft and early O-300-powered C172s. We are not affiliated with Cessna® or Textron Aviation, Inc. in any way.