wing tank removal and recover with Aluminium

[Len Petterson]

I have leaks in my wing tanks. what is leaking I dont know, tubing, tank, bad conections? Can I remove the fabric over the tank and replace it with 0.015 Aluminium? Can the fabric be securly fastned to the rib outboard of the tank? If so, how?
My wings where dune over in 99 and 2003 and should last me out. I dont want to recover the wing if I dont need to. Also I have matching metal paint but no dope.
Len Petterson

[paulp]

Re: wing tank removal and recover with Aluminium

Howdy Len,

When I did the conversion on 39203, I used .016 between the root and the first rib over the tanks. Joggled the edges and used about 14,000 pk screws. It looks good and has held up fine for a 120 hrs. The a&p and the AI had no problems with it and if I ever need to remove a tank, just pull the screws. No fabric work and only touch up painting.

[Yellow Duck]

Re: wing tank removal and recover with Aluminium

Thanks, Nice to know. I have a simular problem and have been putting it off. Sounds like a fix to me.

[Steve]

Re: wing tank removal and recover with Aluminium

I have a similar problem with my tank, no leaks, it just hasn't been used in 15 years and has dirt and corrosion. Do you have a 337 for the above "fix" ? Any pictures?

Thanks,

Steve

[Len Petterson]

Re: wing tank removal and recover with Aluminium

I figured it was posible. Would the screw weakend the rib or is lot of metal left. Did you just over lapp the metal and the fabric with the fabric on the bottom or did you clue the fabric to the rib first? ribstiching still in place, I take it, any additional stiching needed? Jogel the metal, please explaine the term as I have not heard it before.
Thanks for the all hints, this is my favorite website for some reason.
Len

[paulp]

Re: wing tank removal and recover with Aluminium

Howdy Len,

The fabric was left stiched to the rib and was cut about 1.5" from the ribs. I put an alum plate(.020) along the bottom just behind the tank. for the screws. I used a joggling tool on the edges of the covers. i.e. to joggle means to bend at an angle towards the mounting surface of the wing. about 5-10 degrees. Using the smaller pk screws leaves plenty of meat on the ribs and doesn't seem to have caused any problems. It's been over 100 hours since installation and everything is still good an tight. Just completed and annual with no problems. (except for the exhaust flanges and a cracked shroud.)

[Len Petterson]

Re: wing tank removal and recover with Aluminium

I did not know it would be so simple I figured it make sence and my AME said Ok I just sign it out. He dune it on several AC types, cub's Aronca's etc.
Keep an Smilling, Its a simple Taylorcraft".
Len