Pressure Tested Fuel System

 

 

Today I retested the fuel system.  I mixed a small quantity of soap solution and applied it to the fittings throughout the system.  I found a leak at the tubing connecting the fuel supply tank fitting to the fuel return tank fitting.  I took them apart and put new Teflon tape on the fittings and reinstalled them.  I also found a small leak at the fitting on the forward side of the fuel shut off valve body and the tubing connection.  I took them apart, applied new pipe dope to the fitting and reinstalled it in the fuel valve body.  I reinstalled and tightened the flared fitting.  The air pressure in the fuel system held much longer, but after several hours it went from 30 psi to 8 psi.  I need to do some additional testing.

Skin Stiffeners and Instrument Stack Components

 

This morning I riveted the forward skin stiffener into the fuselage.  I also separated the various parts for the instrument stack.

Pressure Tested Fuel System

 

 

The parts I ordered from Van's arrived yesterday so this morning I went to Home Depot and purchased the fittings and tubing to close-off the fuel system.  I connected a piece of tubing between the fuel supply and return lines at the tank connection location.  I installed the pressure gauge on the return line fitting at the firewall shelf and installed the cap fitting on the gascolator.  I used a tire pressure fitting to put air into the system.  It took an hour to lose pressure from 27 psi to 3 psi.  Not good.  I will need to do a soap bubble test on each of the fittings to see if I can determine where it is leaking.  I guess that will have to wait until I am back from our trip to Gilbert for Christmas. 

 

The last thing I did today was drill, deburr and rivet the mid firewall cowl hinges on each side of the firewall shelf.

Antenna Shelf & Upper Firewall

 

I finished riveting the nutplates to the antenna shelf.  I then riveted the antenna shelf to the upper firewall.  This is the shelf where the GPS and XM antennas are mounted.  The shelf extends out so the antennas are under the fiberglass cowl and not shielded by the aluminum skin.

After riveting the antenna shelf I prepped and primed the battery and oil tank brackets.  They will be finish painted and then assembled and mounted to the firewall.

 

 

This afternoon I mixed up some tank sealer (ProSeal) and put a thin layer on the bottom flange of the upper firewall and clecoed it in place.  I then riveted the upper firewall to the lower firewall.  I also sealed all of the rivets in the firewalls with tank sealer.  What an ugly mess.

  

Upper Firewall Hinges

 

 

 

This morning I match drilled the #40 holes in the upper firewall cowl hinges.  I removed the hinges and deburred them.  I then primed the hinges and riveted them to the upper firewall doubler.

 

After riveting the hinges to the upper firewall doubler I dimpled and then riveted the nutplates to the firewall.  Some were riveted to the aft side and some were riveted to the front side.

 

I then prepped, primed and finish painted the antenna shelf which will be attached to the forward side of the upper firewall.  I also clecoed and riveted the nutplates to the antenna shelf.  After riveting the antenna shelf to the upper firewall the firewall will be ready for installation on the fuselage assembly.