Bald Eagle Aviation

[51fixer]

None of the tanks in the fus of our Spit are welded. They are all of riveted structure using the De Bergue method of tank building. Both the fuel and oil tanks are of this construction.
Photos I have seen of Merlin oil tanks which hang under the engine seem to be riveted as well.
The wing tanks are flexible fuel cells in each wing leading edge. The 16 Imp or 19 US capacity of each tank gives about 1/2 hr of flying using every last drop. They are fed by air pressure into the main tank by a selector in the cockpit.

I think I need to restate my info.
The lower tank must be welded. I never looked that close but judging from the angles, curves and such it must be welded.



Again, this is the lower groove for the removable part of the bulkhead that separates the fuel tank bay from the cockpit.


The cover.


Quick look at the forward side of the control stick and the brake lever.


Forward side of the panel.

[51fixer]

Some happenings here lately-
Spit Upper Fuel and Oil tanks are silver now-





Pamela Marie is under Annual-




Spark plugs being cleaned-



The SNJ has just had its annual completed.

[51fixer]

I just noticed that we lost a page or so between Oct 16 and Nov 12 in the great WIX black hole.
I vaguely remember we were working on the oil tank leaks at that time.

[maxum96]

Rich, I just wanted to say thanks for all the posts and pictures on the work you do there. I'm just a warbird buff that doesn't know nearly as much as most people on this message board forum. But I really enjoy reading and seeing the work you do and the planes you work on. I really enjoy the detail you go into and luckily I know enough about aircraft ( I went to A&P school 25 years ago, but didn't finish) to understand things when you describe what you are doing. Keep up the good work!

Thanks,
Doug

[davidbray]

I just noticed that we lost a page or so between Oct 16 and Nov 12 in the great WIX black hole.
I vaguely remember we were working on the oil tank leaks at that time.

Yep, that was the deal. You had shown the leaky tanks, around the fittings I believe... By the way I love this thread. Its always my last stop (gotta end with the best.)

[51fixer]

I just noticed that we lost a page or so between Oct 16 and Nov 12 in the great WIX black hole.
I vaguely remember we were working on the oil tank leaks at that time.

Yep, that was the deal. You had shown the leaky tanks, around the fittings I believe... By the way I love this thread. Its always my last stop (gotta end with the best.)

Something like this-

Leaking from belly.

Oil and fuel tanks as seen after cover was removed.

Small space forward of the instrument panel.

Bottom of the oil tank as seen after removal.

Evidence of the leakage on the top of the lower fuel tank.

I got the oil tank in place today and I'm working on solving the Chinese Puzzle to fit the upper fuel tank and it's lines.

[bdk]

That fuel tank isn't very self-sealing, is it?

[davidbray]

Yep, thats the good stuff that we lost Rich. (I may to my best to learn everything I can from the pics you post... never know when that knowledge may come in handy)

[51fixer]

That fuel tank isn't very self-sealing, is it?

Only the bottom tank had the self sealing material applied to it. That tank appears to be welded.
The upper tanks, both oil and fuel, are riveted construction and were not protected with the self sealing material.
It was the oil tank that leaked. I don't know how effective the self sealing material is with fluids other than fuel.
I know some US built A/C had oil tanks made from rubber material similar to the all rubber, self sealing fuel cells.
Does anyone know if it was the same material as the fuel cells and were they self sealing?

[51fixer]

I have made progress in the installation of the oil and fuel tanks-
Oil tank in place-


Fuel tank in place-

This was a source of several new words being invented, It is the interconnecting feed line between the upper and lower fuel tanks.-

I had to repeat them as I had to loosen it and do it over a 2nd time to get the removable bulkhead in its proper location. At least I hadn't forgotten the words.
Lines at the rear of the top fuel tank-

Small one is the vapor vent return from the Stromberg Carb and the larger one is the external vent/pressurization line.
On the L/H fwd part of the upper fuel tank is the connection for the wing tank feeds.

On the R/H side is the vent line that interconnects the lower and upper fuel tanks.

The fuel tank is held in place by 4 1/4" removable pip pins. 2 on each side.

Oil Tank is secured by 8 1/4" BSF nuts along the upper longerons.

Oil return connection from the oil cooler-

This is an Avimo connector. The shells have yet to be installed on the rubber donut.
The oil feed to the engine is a slip on hose connection.

The vent connecting fitting will vent the tank to the cranckcase.

How close they are to each other.

Fuel tank mounted behind the cockpit with self sealing material applied.

Filler for the rear tank.

Last edited by 51fixer on Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Lynn Allen]

Well done on the install. I thought the oil cross flow valve in the wing of the B-25 was a POS to install....WOW

[bdk]

Are those special Whitworth spec hoses?

[51fixer]

Are those special Whitworth spec hoses?

On the Oil Tank Only the Avimo connector is special.
Other hoses are Mil-6000.
Other threaded connections are BSP Which some Chinese and Japanese produced Hydraulic products still use.
I pick up BSP to JIC adapters at the Parker Store off the shelf for test ports and such.

[ZRX61]

What *goop* did you end up using to cure the leaks on the tanks? Did you go with the 3Bond?

[51fixer]

What *goop* did you end up using to cure the leaks on the tanks? Did you go with the 3Bond?

Some gaskets were from the time period of T-Rex. Some hardware was rusted.
New gaskets made and new hardware was used.
1422 was used to externally seal hardware and joints in addition to all the new gaskets and such.
Tanks were pressure tested.
Work performed IAW AP1565Y and modern standards and practices.
A&P sign here