Wing tank leak

[n6346m]

A friend is looking to buy a real nice low time since rebuild BC12D.
He says that the only thing wrong is that the right wing tank has a leak somewhere unknown. He called me since he knows that I have a T-Craft and asked me some questions about a subject that is unfamiliar to me. How difficult is it to remove the tank? How easy is the tank to repair? Are replacement tanks available? Where do the tanks have the most common leaks? The filler neck? The outlet at the fitting? The seams?
If anyone can answer these questions please chime in.

[N96337]

Re: Wing tank leak

They can be removed/replaced, but it's a job if the wing's covered! You'll learn the meaning of patience when working the drag/anti-drag wire nipples on and off..... I used a small small combination wrench of the appropriate size that had some rib lacing cord on the box end. It worked fine. The one's I've seen have either had a leak on a seam or on the drain, but that's not saying that means much. I do believe that Wag Aero has new tanks?
John

[Robert Lees]

Re: Wing tank leak

Here's a summary of the steps involved that I found necessary to fix a leaking tank: http://www.taylorcraft.org.uk/how_to..._wing_tank.htm

The tool I used for tightening the wires is a bicycle spoke spanner:

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wing tank leak

Don't reject the plane just because the wing tank has a leak. I hardly EVER use the wing tank anyway. You get almost 3 hours from the nose tank alone and my bladder fills faster than the tank empties. You can look at fixing the wing tank when you have a long time of bad weather or it is time to do some cover work.
You MAY get lucky and it is just a leak around the drain fitting (common). A seam repair requires removal of the tank (at least every time I have seen).

Make an offer reflecting the loss in value and tag the tank as "INOP".

Hank

[Buell Powell]

Re: Wing tank leak

I think they can leak from any of the places you mentioned. The one I have has the valve at the tank it had a crack at the fitting in the tank. Wag Aero sells new aluminum tanks and the only difference I remember is that it was a little different where the drain is but wasn't a problem.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Wing tank leak

If the wing tank is terneplate (tin-lined steel), treat it as scrap.

If it is aluminium, it is easily repairable by welding, but does require removal.

I use my wing tank as a reserve. Having just spent 50 hours in a 15-gallon single-tank Aeronca Chief, a reserve "safety factor" helps keep the seat cushions well away from self-ingestion.

[mikerice]

Re: Wing tank leak

Robert-
Hi-jacking the thread slightly: Our group is debating getting a Aeronca Champ and selling our Taylorcraft. How was your experience in your grand adventure, Aeronca relative to your Tcraft? Was it slower than your companions or more comfortable? My partners are all about the electric start and a C85 in the Champ. I prefer the Taylorcraft.

I figure your 50 hours at 5 gal/hr = 250 gallons divided by a 15 gallon tank means you had to stop for gas 20 times at least. I can see where a working wing tank in the Tcraft is a very nice reserve feature. Keeping the seat cushions from puckering is important to clean flying.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Wing tank leak

Mike, it was a Chief (side-by-side).

Quite comfortable inside, better knee room, and I reckon better visibility than the Tcraft. But it has very few cockpit tubes to use so as to lift oneself off the seat to alleviate a sore bum! Too much dihedral for my liking, it looks like a classic child's paper dart. Close-coupled compared with the T, and I did not like the oleos; there is poor cross-wind tolerance... I found the darn thing lifting wings left right & centre at the smallest provocation.

It had toe-operated cable disc brakes which worked well. I'd like to change them to heel-operated disc brakes on my Taylorcraft, given a choice (Thinks: "Why is this take-off run taking so long?" )

I had to run the A-75 at 2400 to keep up with the Taylorcrafts which were running at 2150...hence my greater fuel burn (4.6 USG/hr average). I did have a metal prop, P&D unknown. It desperately needs the C85 with stroker mods and the Aux tank.

I stopped 28 times in 45 tacho hours. Not having a second (reserve) tank made me very conservative, but not all those stops were for that reason. Longest leg was 2 1/2 hours, and when the Aeronca rotary fuel gauge reads zero, I need those overhead tubes so as to be able to extract the cushions from my backside!

The Champ will be slower. And uglier.

Stay with the Taylorcraft. If your group needs electric start, get the mods to do that, or buy one so equipped.

If forced, change group!

HTH,

Rob

[M Jones]

Re: Wing tank leak

I would like to add that the darn thing just seemed to be unruly too. Many times I would spot it low, down on the deck following terrain, flying just above long stretches of RR tracks in desolate areas, etc. Rob must have had his hands full just trying to keep it in line.

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Wing tank leak

Just Darn!
I could see a Citabria or a Scout, but a Champ?? Champs have a calendar instead of a clock.
Seriously, I own 1/3 of an 85 hp L-16 (aka) Champ. Lots of fun but not a decent cross country machine.
Find a BC12-D-85 then put theO-200 crank mod on it. Better yet, find a F-19.
Mike, your guys need counseling! LMAO

[Scott]

Re: Wing tank leak

Second this. Flew mine for a number of years and 150hours with the wing tank inop.

Also there are ways to repair a leak without removing the tank. Some may frown on the use of sealants but remember all wet wing aircraft rely on them from new. If the tank has not been sealed before and is otherwise sound (inspect the interior with a USB camera or similar scope) you could achieve several years of service, to the next recover perhaps, by using pro-seal applied directly to the leak or "sloshing" compound.

[astjp2]

Re: Wing tank leak

Wet wings pinch the sealant, 8802B1/2 or b2 works well but many of the wing tanks are Ternplate, which is a lead plated steel that is soldered. Most times I wind up pulling the tank if its leaking the seam. Better to refabric than to have a potential problem 50 miles from the nearest airport. I have had airplanes make more unusual noises when I was 30 miles over the open water....or over the rockies, or somewhere in remote Canada. I have had a header tank float drop, scared the shit out of me. Overfilled the header tank once and was splashing on the windshield, another scare. I don't mess around when it comes to fuel. Tim