in need of fuselage fuel tank

[Guest]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

Is perhaps the ring missing that restricts roataion rather than the pin?

The pin as I recall connects the shaft to the plug and holds it together.

Don't toss it. Keep or sell on ebay and someone who has the compliment set of good parts can make one good valve.

[Robert Lees]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

I've taken two photos of my dismantled valve (although this is not specifically a main fuselage tank valve, the principle is the same).

The 90 degree rotation of the assembly is restricted by a collar. This collar has an outside "dog" or tongue that locates in a hole inside the valve body, and a 90 degree gap that restricts the rotation of the tapered plug.

In turn, the tapered plug has a pin that is restricted in rotation by the 90 degree gap in the collar. This pin also appears to hold the plug to the stem. The two items are loose, appearing to be held together by the pin.





Hope this helps.

Rob

[crispy critter]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

Make your IA give you your old tank as soon as it is removed from the airplane. Then have him show you the damage that can't be repaired. Same with all these other parts he is making you remove(or removing for you).Make sure they are not trashed. They are your parts and you should be able to keep them.Lights,harness,tank and all are worth something to someone and I have never seen a tank that could not be repaired unless it was eat up in corrosion.

[Buell Powell]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

D.J.
I have an old original steel tank with valve that a friend gave me years ago. I was saving it in case I had trouble with mine but if you can use it you are welcome to it. The tank isn't pretty but may be OK-I don't know. I don't know about the valve but it may be OK also. I haven't tested either one.If you want it let me know and I will send it to you.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

I agree with Kevin. Don't trash ANY of it. It is amazing what can be repaired when there isn't a replacement (and to a level where an inspector will accept it). If you don't want it, we will take it (and pay the shipping)
Hank

[fearofpavement]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

Just remember that, "The airworthiness of a part is inversely proportional to the availability of a replacement."

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

I wouldn't say "airworthiness" but I would say "repairability! I have a friend who has made a set of roller dies and is making his own streamlined tubing because he can't get the size he needs for an antique (WW-I German fighter!). They look BEAUTIFUL but cost a fortune. Too bad a Fokker D-VII didn't use the same strut size and my 41 "T".
Hank

[astjp2]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

My prewar vavle is a lot different than that one, mine has a pin soldered and the center body was machined to hit that pin and allow only a 90 degree rotation. tim

[SteveR]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

Harry says he has tanks on the shelf at the factory. So... My IA is going to order one. I told him do it COD or via credit card and expect it to be weeks or months before we see it.

But if Harry does in fact have them in stock then we may get one as early as next week. Apparently mine is cracked at the threads and the IA says he can't fix it. I said whatever.... I would have thought you could weld in a new pipe bung.

DJ, I know you are aware of the problems with Harry, but I thought I'd throw some information out there for you. A good friend of mine ordered a wing tank for an F-21B back in 2003. Harry said he had them available. Long story short, it took him several months to get anything from Harry, and what he eventually got was a used tank likely stolen from someone's aircraft that Harry was "repairing".

Anyway, I hope this isn't the case for you and that your tank arrives soon and in great condition. But if Harry starts yanking your chain, I wouldn't let him drag you along very long at all before getting your money back (hopefully from a credit card) and looking for another source.

BTW, if you are ever in the Oklahoma City area, the offer to take a ride in my Pietenpol is always on the table.

http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread.php?t=1111&highlight=craig+helm

Craig Helm says his problems with the factory began in October 2003 when he tried to get replacement fuel tanks for his aircraft. When he contacted the factory, Ingram told him replacement tanks would be ready in 10 days.

"Ten days came and went with no tanks," said the Graham, Texas resident. "So Steve Pierce, my mechanic, and I asked Harry if he could build us a tank to our specifications as an owner-produced part. He agreed and said we'd have the tank within a week. That week came and went."

Ingram blamed the delays on paperwork issues with the FAA, Helm said.

"He told us the tanks were done except for the FAA approval. Then Steve contacted someone at the factory, who let it slip that they were not even working on the fuel tanks and that nothing had been submitted to the FAA," he said. "We were told the fuel tanks were a low priority."

Helm kept calling Ingram to find out the status of the replacement tanks.

"Harry told me they had some problems with the FAA, but that he would have a tank built by Friday," he said. "This call was made on Tuesday. I told Harry I would call on Friday and see how things were coming. When I called on Friday, Harry said the tank was not complete, but that the sheet metal had been cut and all that was lacking was to weld it together. We agreed again that this tank would be identical to the existing F21B tanks without the tabs.

A few days later he called to say the new tank was ready. I hired a driver to make the five-hour trip to LaGrange to pick up the tank. Instead of a new tank, I got a used tank with the tabs cut off. You could see where it had been drilled out of the wing of another F-22."

Frustrated, Helm posted his experiences on the Internet on the Taylorcraft Foundation Discussion Forum, on a message board titled "problems dealing with Harry Ingram and the factory".

"I knew there had to be other aircraft owners out there that were having similar problems and I didn't want them wasting their time or money too," said Helm.

"We had a fuel tank issue," Ingram concedes. "We had to redesign it. That took six months longer than I thought it would."

Ingram notes that he did not charge Helm for the replacement tank.

"It's not about the money," said Helm. "I just wish he had been up front with us from the beginning because then we could have approached the problem from a different angle. Instead he strung me along for three or four months."

[N74DV]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

well... order was placed at the factory for a new fuselage tank. Harry told my IA that he had some "on the shelf and in stock"

I warned my IA that this has been said before by the factory but order one up anyway and ask for a tracking number the next day. That was over a week ago. No tracking number no nothing. My IA says he called the factory and was told they'd have to "dig up the number" and get back to him.

As of now the fuel tank is the only thing stopping the annual from being completed.

I looked at my old tank and I gotta say it looks like a super easy repair. Just cut out the old pipe bung and weld in a new one. The tank appears to be in good shape otherwise.

So I either need a tank from somewhere or a shop that can repair mine and give it a yellow tag.

anyone? help?

[astjp2]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

Go down to your local Radiator shop, they can solder in a new bung and put in a fine coat of paint and tell your IA that you found a used one that was serviceable. But I never told you that(;f

[Guest]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

well... order was placed at the factory for a new fuselage tank. Harry told my IA that he had some "on the shelf and in stock"

I warned my IA that this has been said before by the factory but order one up anyway and ask for a tracking number the next day. That was over a week ago. No tracking number no nothing. My IA says he called the factory and was told they'd have to "dig up the number" and get back to him.

As of now the fuel tank is the only thing stopping the annual from being completed.

I looked at my old tank and I gotta say it looks like a super easy repair. Just cut out the old pipe bung and weld in a new one. The tank appears to be in good shape otherwise.

So I either need a tank from somewhere or a shop that can repair mine and give it a yellow tag.

anyone? help?

Is it steel or aluminum?

[Forrest Barber]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

The "steel" ones are called "terneplate" I imagine either can be done under the watchful eye of an A&P at the radiator shop. OR sometimes replace the complete bottom up the sides a few inches. OR a large heavy round patch on the bottom. Part of the problem has been the fuel shut off working the metal abck and forth. I NEVER just pull Fuel Shut Off ; unless on fire! I reach under to the lever and ease it back seeing that it does not try to twist. bye the way Barber Aircraft has a few of the Taylorcraft handles for under the tank with the correct index and little stubs sticking out.

[Buell Powell]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

well... order was placed at the factory for a new fuselage tank. Harry told my IA that he had some "on the shelf and in stock"

I warned my IA that this has been said before by the factory but order one up anyway and ask for a tracking number the next day. That was over a week ago. No tracking number no nothing. My IA says he called the factory and was told they'd have to "dig up the number" and get back to him.

As of now the fuel tank is the only thing stopping the annual from being completed.

I looked at my old tank and I gotta say it looks like a super easy repair. Just cut out the old pipe bung and weld in a new one. The tank appears to be in good shape otherwise.

So I either need a tank from somewhere or a shop that can repair mine and give it a yellow tag.

anyone? help?

D.J.
I talked to Tom O'neill @ Wag Aero this morning. They have the PMA for building the fuselage tanks both with the gauge and vent(for F19's) and without. They have one tank completly built and 3 more that are built but are working on a better way to form the dent that clears the tubing. They expect to be able to ship them very soon. He is EXPECTING the price to be somewhere between 450.00 and 500.00. He is also expecting to be producing steps in the near future. If you want to call Tom-his extension is 124.
Hope this helps.

By the way Tom is also going to produce the bottom fairing for the windshield. He has the blueprint but would like to have an original for a pattern so if someone has one they can spare-if they will send it to Tom he will be able to produce those also.
Buell

[N74DV]

Re: in need of fuselage fuel tank

Looks like I have one on the way from Mike Redpath. He found an aluminum tank that he says is good.

As for the order placed with Harry at the factory? let's just say it's a good thing a credit card was used and not a check.

3 weeks ago Harry says "yep! I have tanks on the shelf ready to ship" Then end of last week when he was queried on where the tracking number for our tank shipment is he reply was that he was waiting from the FAA for certification paperwork to sell the tanks because the material that was used was uncertified. WTF is that all about?

Having now had to deal with Harry I feel qualified to say I think he is a complete jacka$$