Here's the video of my recent successful tank ports installation:
http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoex...-Fuel-Tank-Inspection-Ports-Five-Minute-Video
http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoex...-Fuel-Tank-Inspection-Ports-Five-Minute-Video
E-29 Fuel Tank replacement/Repair/Inspection Ports
- Thread starter Don Kerr
- Start date
markvone
Sustaining Member
Further Follow up on Fuel Tank O-rings
I suspect my original O-rings did not weep fuel when I first installed them because I had less than half a tank of fuel. After adding more fuel, to ~ 3/4 tank, sometime in summer 2017, I started to notice a slight fuel weep from my cover screws but not weeping out the edge of the cover. I just replaced the original 70 durometer Buna-N o-rings with harder 90D Buna-N O-rings so I could torque down the screws a little more. The original 70D O-rings also were soft enough to squeeze out from under the screws more than I liked.
I also noticed that I had fuel on top of my cover gasket (under the cover). This fuel had to travel up the threads to get to this area since my cover gasket is a solid piece with no center hole cutout and I didn't have edge leakage. Since I had all the screws out to change the O-rings, I also added thread sealer to each screw as well. I'll report back on the results of this change once I get out sailing this spring. If I were to do it again I would start with just thread sealer on the screws and see how that works.
Mark
I suspect my original O-rings did not weep fuel when I first installed them because I had less than half a tank of fuel. After adding more fuel, to ~ 3/4 tank, sometime in summer 2017, I started to notice a slight fuel weep from my cover screws but not weeping out the edge of the cover. I just replaced the original 70 durometer Buna-N o-rings with harder 90D Buna-N O-rings so I could torque down the screws a little more. The original 70D O-rings also were soft enough to squeeze out from under the screws more than I liked.
I also noticed that I had fuel on top of my cover gasket (under the cover). This fuel had to travel up the threads to get to this area since my cover gasket is a solid piece with no center hole cutout and I didn't have edge leakage. Since I had all the screws out to change the O-rings, I also added thread sealer to each screw as well. I'll report back on the results of this change once I get out sailing this spring. If I were to do it again I would start with just thread sealer on the screws and see how that works.
Mark
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When I cut my inspection ports I sealed them with tapped 10-32 machine screws and lots of Permatex Aviation Form-A-Gasket Liquid Sealer.
No issues. However, the fuel sender was fastened in its hole with sheet metal screws, and they recently began leaking after 30+ years.
I think you're right, the sealer might do the trick. It forms a gummy, diesel-proof gasket around each thread.
In my case the screw holes were buggered, so I tapped them to the larger size of machine screws.
No issues. However, the fuel sender was fastened in its hole with sheet metal screws, and they recently began leaking after 30+ years.
I think you're right, the sealer might do the trick. It forms a gummy, diesel-proof gasket around each thread.
In my case the screw holes were buggered, so I tapped them to the larger size of machine screws.