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#1
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Rubber fuel cells
I have a Helio Courier with four fuel cells holding 30 gallons each. My
typical flight uses ~35 gallons so I would like to leave the outer (aux) tanks empty most of the time. I understand that leaving them empty will reduce their life expectancy. How much should I expect the life expectancy to be reduced? It there a proceedure to coat the inside of the bladders with something that would preserve them? Thanks! Mike MU-2 |
#2
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Spray MMO inside them.
Jim "Mike Rapoport" wrote in message ink.net... I have a Helio Courier with four fuel cells holding 30 gallons each. My typical flight uses ~35 gallons so I would like to leave the outer (aux) tanks empty most of the time. I understand that leaving them empty will reduce their life expectancy. How much should I expect the life expectancy to be reduced? It there a proceedure to coat the inside of the bladders with something that would preserve them? Thanks! Mike MU-2 |
#3
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One of those air gun spayers. The kind that you hook to your shop air hose
with a suction tube that you stick in the container. Usually used to spray solvents and wash engines. Attach a hose to the end of the tube so you can insert it into the bladder and aim it around. Jim |
#4
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"Jim Burns" wrote in message ... One of those air gun spayers. The kind that you hook to your shop air hose with a suction tube that you stick in the container. Usually used to spray solvents and wash engines. Attach a hose to the end of the tube so you can insert it into the bladder and aim it around. Jim Thanks Jim! I already have the sprayer and the MMO (I use it for air-toll lubrication). I may even have the hose! I assume that you spray the stuff inside and drain any liquid out the drain valve? Is MMO viscous enough to remain attached to the bladder walls? Mike MU-2 |
#5
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Yep.
Yep. You can also use a piece of coated copper electrical wire to tie your hose in a U or L shape to coat the top sides of the bladder. Wrap the tail of the wire around the hose several times and it makes a handy handle to direct the hose in all directions. It's cheap and easy and you can re coat them any time you want. Jim |
#6
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I had bladders on my 182 and now have them on my Bonanza. Obviously the
best is to leave them full. I never had full tanks unless I was going a long way, just wasn't going to put up with the decrease in performance lugging around all that weight. What really hurts the bladders is to be left outside in the baking sun, second is the temp change associated with being outside. If there is any condensation as night falls now you have water on the top of the bladder. This doesn't help bladder life. The next best thing to keeping them full is an insulated hangar so there's no sun damage and the change in temp is slow. New bladders now a days last about 30 years, not keeping them full using the above methods will reduce that to 25, so go for it. I didn't coat the bladders with anything. Mike Rapoport wrote: I have a Helio Courier with four fuel cells holding 30 gallons each. My typical flight uses ~35 gallons so I would like to leave the outer (aux) tanks empty most of the time. I understand that leaving them empty will reduce their life expectancy. How much should I expect the life expectancy to be reduced? It there a proceedure to coat the inside of the bladders with something that would preserve them? Thanks! Mike MU-2 |
#7
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Thanks. I assmued that the lifespan was pretty long no matter what you did
to them. Since I use the out tanks so infrequently, I will probably coat them with some preservative. Mike MU-2 "Newps" wrote in message ... I had bladders on my 182 and now have them on my Bonanza. Obviously the best is to leave them full. I never had full tanks unless I was going a long way, just wasn't going to put up with the decrease in performance lugging around all that weight. What really hurts the bladders is to be left outside in the baking sun, second is the temp change associated with being outside. If there is any condensation as night falls now you have water on the top of the bladder. This doesn't help bladder life. The next best thing to keeping them full is an insulated hangar so there's no sun damage and the change in temp is slow. New bladders now a days last about 30 years, not keeping them full using the above methods will reduce that to 25, so go for it. I didn't coat the bladders with anything. Mike Rapoport wrote: I have a Helio Courier with four fuel cells holding 30 gallons each. My typical flight uses ~35 gallons so I would like to leave the outer (aux) tanks empty most of the time. I understand that leaving them empty will reduce their life expectancy. How much should I expect the life expectancy to be reduced? It there a proceedure to coat the inside of the bladders with something that would preserve them? Thanks! Mike MU-2 |
#8
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On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:07:05 -0600, Newps wrote:
I had bladders on my 182 and now have them on my Bonanza. Obviously the best is to leave them full. I never had full tanks unless I was going a long way, just wasn't going to put up with the decrease in performance lugging around all that weight. What really hurts the bladders is to be left outside in the baking sun, second is the temp change associated with being outside. If there is any condensation as night falls now you have water on the top of the bladder. This doesn't help bladder life. The next best thing to keeping them full is an insulated hangar so there's no sun damage and the change in temp is slow. New bladders now a days last about 30 years, not keeping them full using the above methods will reduce that to 25, so go for it. I didn't coat the bladders with anything. At least one in the Deb is original from 59. One main was changed when I hit the Deer and the impact split the tank. I don't remember if the aux tanks have ever been changed. I think one has, but I'd have to dig out the books. So, I have one that's a tad over 47 years and no leaks. Being paranoid about gas I almost always have the mains and auxes full. OTOH that's only 70 gallons. I often fly in crappy weather and would rather leave most anything behind except gas. Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member) (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair) www.rogerhalstead.com Mike Rapoport wrote: I have a Helio Courier with four fuel cells holding 30 gallons each. My typical flight uses ~35 gallons so I would like to leave the outer (aux) tanks empty most of the time. I understand that leaving them empty will reduce their life expectancy. How much should I expect the life expectancy to be reduced? It there a proceedure to coat the inside of the bladders with something that would preserve them? Thanks! Mike MU-2 Roger |
#9
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Fat Albert has the original cells still in service with the internal
markings from manufacturer in 1956 looking like new in yellow stencil... Being hangared other then when on trips has been the major factor in my estimation along with always being partially full.... denny |
#10
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On 16 Sep 2005 04:02:28 -0700, "Denny" wrote:
Fat Albert has the original cells still in service with the internal markings from manufacturer in 1956 looking like new in yellow stencil... Being hangared other then when on trips has been the major factor in my estimation along with always being partially full.... Yup and the only time they are more than an inch or two down from the top is only for a short time. The tanks are *almost always full when it's in the hangar. IRoger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member) (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair) www.rogerhalstead.com denny |
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