Section 18 - Fuel Tank (left leak test; right ribs etc. prep)

Completed the first-pass leak test for the left tank, as well as a number of odds-and-ends on the right tank.  A couple hours each day can get a lot accomplished ... even when my 80 year old mother visited (her nap time was a great chance to go back into the shop).

Prepped parts for first Proseal event for right tank:

Countersunk filler flange (prior to last pic):

Acetone/MEK-cleaned right skin; placed in cradle:

Riveted bearing, doublers and nutplates to right attach bracket and scuffed mating surfaces:

Riveted AD6 rivets to tooling holes and covered with Proseal (right outboard rib):

Same for right inboard tip rib:

Prosealed right fuel ports/flanges:

Prosealed right fuel filler flange:

Prosealed right stiffeners:

Other side:

Prosealed right fuel drain:

First-pass leak test using soapy water and balloon for LEFT tank:

Closeup:

Had to tape the left fuel filler cap b/c of air leak during leak/pressure test:

Back-riveted right fuel flange:

Squeezed rivets on fuel drain port:

Back-riveted right stiffeners:

Other side:

Back-riveted right fuel filler flange:

Riveted a bunch of crap on right, aft inboard rib:

Re-cleaned all these parts with acetone and MEK (mating surfaces only):

Encapsulated shop heads with Proseal (right):

Ditto:

Prosealed right ribs to skin, and put a large fillet seal on the inside seams of the outboard and inboard ribs:

Other side: