My recent fabric job

[Guest]

I just finished fabric on this Aeronca and started to test the fuel system with the improvised 1 gallon tank.

Gas seeped out. Autogas- non alcohol.

Hmm, what a mess.

I am about ready to scrap the whole thing. :-(

Dave R

[Robert Lees]

Re: My recent fabric job

It appears to be a problem with the substrate/primer, not the top coat. Very typical (in automotive terms) of using a one-part primer overcoated with a two-pack top-coat, whereby a solvent gets underneath the top coat as it can do with porous fabric.

But I've not seen such an aggressive attack upon a fabric job, even a one-part process like Poly-Fiber, even with autogas.

Dare you mention what paint process you used?

Rob

[Robert Lees]

Re: My recent fabric job

p.s always use Fuel-lube on NPT fittings.

Rob

[Guest]

Re: My recent fabric job

Gas seeped out overnight, about .7 gal , I had a weepy fitting. Autogas- non alcohol.

Hmm, what a mess. Stewarts says you can expect this with autogas.

Kinda wish they stated that up front in the STC.

Very very unhappy.

Dave R

[Guest]

Re: My recent fabric job

p.s always use Fuel-lube on NPT fittings.

Rob

that is the least of my problems

They say it only happens is the gas gets on the inside.

Hmm I wonder where overfill gas on a wing tank goes or leaky gas/wing tank or fuel near a quick drain goes?

Do you think it will touch the inside? I think so.

The glue, the fill and the topcoat are all eaten up.

Dave R

[N95334]

Re: My recent fabric job

Oh no, I give you a Dollar for her now Lol!

[astjp2]

Re: My recent fabric job

They dont make fuel lube anymore, its now branded as EZturn...

p.s always use Fuel-lube on NPT fittings.

Rob

[astjp2]

Re: My recent fabric job

Dave, what process are you using? Stits, ceconite or stewarts? Tim

[Guest]

Re: My recent fabric job

Stewarts

I searched the manual - no mention of this hazard.

[Guest]

Re: My recent fabric job

Oh no, I give you a Dollar for her now Lol!

about 3 pm you would have gotten for that, too bad you aren't closer

[otrcman]

Re: My recent fabric job

Wow ! That worked better than any of the paint strippers I've bought in recent years.

Dick

[N96337]

Re: My recent fabric job

How long had that paint been on Dave? I've seen car gas do that, but usually on semi-fresh paint. We used to topcoat the inside of the fuel tank bays (no matter what system) to guard against this.
John

[astjp2]

Re: My recent fabric job

That is Stewart system equivalent of dope, not paint....makes me want to shy away from anything Stewart system now if it cant handle auto gas...back to polytone it is...

[Guest]

Re: My recent fabric job

How long had that paint been on Dave? I've seen car gas do that, but usually on semi-fresh paint. We used to topcoat the inside of the fuel tank bays (no matter what system) to guard against this.
John

About 1.5 years. Their manual has no mention of this hazard. I never had to worry about this with Randolph dope.

Not possible to top coat the fabric inside of an Aeronca wing tank bay.

They claim that avgas will not do this I they they are wrong, it will do the same, the green glue has been softened too, yuk.

This process was a waste of my efforts.

Dave R

[Garry Crookham]

Re: My recent fabric job

Hi Dave
Was the EkoBond, EkoFill and EkoPoly all damaged by the autofuel? After using Poly Fiber for years and years I had decided to use Stewarts for my current covering project. After seeing your pictures I'm going to start over with the Poly fiber.
I hope there is some way to salvage your cover job!

Garry