estimate of labor hours to r&r the fuel tank

[N74DV]

anyone able to provide me with an estimate of how many labor hours required to remove and replace the fuselage tank on a BC12-D?

[Guest]

Re: estimate of labor hours to r&r the fuel tank

I guess 3 hours out and 1.5 hours in.

Before you start do search on this forum. I recall that there was thread on this in the last few years and there were some good tips on how to efficiently remove it.

Sorry to hear about your expensive annual. I had one of those too, it hurts.

Dave

[Ragwing nut]

Re: estimate of labor hours to r&r the fuel tank

I guess 3 hours out and 1.5 hours in.

Before you start do search on this forum. I recall that there was thread on this in the last few years and there were some good tips on how to efficiently remove it.

Sorry to hear about your expensive annual. I had one of those too, it hurts.

Dave

It will take longer than that. You have to remove all the engine controls, drop the column, pull the instrument panel, BEFORE you can remove the tank rods and drop the tank. No easy way to remove it. Probably closer to 6-8 hours.

Mike

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: estimate of labor hours to r&r the fuel tank

Basic rule of thumb:

The longer you take to remove it, the faster it will go back in. I can get a main tank out in under an hour. It will take about three months to put it back together.
If I take it out in four hours it will take about 4 to put it back. Take your time getting it out and the total will be a lot lower.
Hank

[Robert Lees]

Re: estimate of labor hours to r&r the fuel tank

You may note in the photo below, a small rectangular hole to the left of the transponder (and to the lower left of the control column hole)... this hole was put in the panel so that we could withdraw the rod that goes through the fuselage fuel tank. This means that the whole panel does not need to be removed to drop the tank.
The hole will be covered by a plate with the "fuel transfer" label attached to it.

[crispy critter]

Re: estimate of labor hours to r&r the fuel tank

Rob,
Once you remove the rods....how do you remove the tank. You must remove the panel to get it out.....don't you? How else will the tank come out?

[N74DV]

Re: estimate of labor hours to r&r the fuel tank

I stopped by the hangar yesterday and my IA was about half way through the removal. Looks like it will take him a total of about 6 hours to remove.

Now that the tank is out we have to figure how to remove the valve that the last IA JB welded to the tank! ARGHH!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: estimate of labor hours to r&r the fuel tank

If you can get the JB cold enough you can fracture it. Hold a little dry ice against it, then "bite it" with some water pumps. Should shatter like glass. Use an X-acto knife (the big one, not the one for a #11) with the 45 degree blade to chip the rest off. Don't be surprised at the "mess" underneath it. They wouldn't have used JB weld unless there was a nasty problem in the first place.
Hank

WEAR EYE PROTECTION! When I say JB Weld shatters like glass, I MEAN it!

[Robert Lees]

Re: estimate of labor hours to r&r the fuel tank

Rob,
Once you remove the rods....how do you remove the tank. You must remove the panel to get it out.....don't you? How else will the tank come out?

Kevin, the tank drops down to the floor (but one needs to displace the H-frame {control column assembly} first).