large wing tank questions

[swoeric]

I see that there is a 337 to install 4 tanks in the wings but requires moving a rib. Is it possible to remove the rib with most of the fabric in place on the bottom side and then cover with aluminum?

option 2 was the wing changed much when they put the big tanks in?

does the big tank have wires going through it?

If the part is no longer produced then we should be able to owner produce it right?

are their any drawings for this wing tank that could be used?

does somebody have a bad one that we could make a template from?

are the wing internals all that different than a cubs to where we could use a cubs tank?

[mikerice]

Re: large wing tank questions

It has been five years since I saw a large Taylorcraft tank, but I am 90% sure that the 22 gallon tank design had the drag/anti-drag wire passthroughs. The wing still needed the drag wires and the tank took up multiple rib bays.

Sorry I cannot help with the other items.

[astjp2]

Re: large wing tank questions

I built a mock up for a cub tank, there are some real plumbing issues with that conversion. Tim

[akndrifter]

Re: large wing tank questions

I think the mod you are talking about is where they just put another 6gal take outboard of stock ones. Giving 36gals total.

[Robert Lees]

Re: large wing tank questions

That would make more sense...each tank would act as its own baffle, without the need for the dreaded welded tabs to act as the intermediate rib that so blights the F22.

[astjp2]

Re: large wing tank questions

I did that mod 13 years ago, that is my 337. Gawd its been that long? How time flies. Tim

[swoeric]

Re: large wing tank questions

Perfect you have answered my questions perfectly.....f22 tank more complex than worth duplicating. easier to add second tank to each wing but if building a tank then no need to move the rib because we could just fab wire crosses where needed.

I dont imagine there are many people making new tanks for Tcrafts....is this an item that we can reproduce?





Second part is when removing stock tank i have wires in the way....I assume but would like conformation that i must take both ends of the wires loose...completely remove them from the wing....then remove the tank from the wing.....



is my thinking above correct?

[Pearson]

Re: large wing tank questions

Check with Wag-Aero. I believe they are manufacturing NEW wing tanks. I think you have to use a left tank on the right side and viceaversa, and yes you need to completely remove the wires to get the original tanks out.

[Robert Lees]

Re: large wing tank questions

Second part is when removing stock tank i have wires in the way....I assume but would like conformation that i must take both ends of the wires loose...completely remove them from the wing....then remove the tank from the wing.....
is my thinking above correct?

Yes, the wires have to come out, or at least be freed at each end. It's not too much of a job. Try this as a basic guide: It's a few years old now...I found it easier to remove the wing, but I'm sure it's possible otherwise. The photos are a little poor, but it might give a bit of guidance.

One hopes that the previous owner put the inspection rings in the right place on the wing underside to enable wire tensioning.
Rob

[RobertP]

Re: large wing tank questions

I had leaks in one wing Tank of my F22A. In fact there were five thanks to the welded tabs mentioned earlier in the thread by Rob. We removed the wing to make the job easier but it was still a pig! We slackened the wires off so that we could remove the Tank from the wing and there was a fair bit of fabric work afterwards. I am not sure that the tank could be removed with the wing in sit tu? but it seems a nonsense that you have to go to such extremes to get the tank out! Be careful pressure testing the tank after the repair because it is easy to over pressure and distort it which would make refitting even harder! sometime after my repair was completed I recall ( somewhere, this thread? ) someone mentioned a mod they had carried out to dispense with using the welded tabs but I can't remember the detail now? If I had the misfortune to have to do the job again I would certainly take up that option as in my opinion there are F22 tanks which are leaking and those waiting to leak!

[swoeric]

Re: large wing tank questions

update to my issues...the wires on the left tank came but with a cussing the female threaded piece was 3 different sizes for 4 wires so 3 custom wrenches to be modified....one side the wires came out easy enough the wing cut open and the tank wrestled out...the other side is when i found the different size wrenches needed on each wire.....the wires would not budge...further inspection revealed that they were zipp tied together where they cross.. wrestled with tank was able to lift roll and rotate it out of the wing.........to pressure test the tanks i plugged the holes cleaned the outside and used a coffee can on a tall tubing through the filler hole and then filled the tank with blue avgas......the leaks were very apparent quickly.....one was a cracked threaded insert where the valve would go the other had some issues in the same area...ill take some pick later