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Pietenpol-List: Re: Fuel tank installation

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2002 4:13 pm
by matronics
Original Posted By: "DJ Vegh"
Boy, I hope no one else quits this group..... I'd better ask this questionbefore there's nobody left to answer it. Just kidding of course, butseriously, as Mike Cuy said,this is a great group of guys and it would be ashame to lose any of their expertise if more guys bail out. Now for my question: I'm installing a J-3 fuel tank in the fuselage and amwondering about the hold down straps. What thickness (gage) should I use?Can I use 16 gage galvanized steel or do they have to be 4130? I can get thegalvanized stuff locally but would have to order the 4130 steel which wouldset me back a week or so. I'd like to get the tank installed this week ifpossible. What about the adjustment on the straps? How are the ends setup sothe straps can be tightened to secure the tank? I've been at this project for about three years now and at this point thefuselage is on the gear, the wing center section is just about done (I justneed to make a cover or hatch), the tail surfaces are completed, 30 wingribs are done, and I made four I-beam wing spars. My wife keeps asking mewhen will it be finished..... my standard answer is "three more yearsHoney". I've been saying that for the past three years. Sam Marinucci N115SM (reserved number)________________________________________________________________________________

RE: Pietenpol-List: Re: Fuel tank installation

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2002 8:46 pm
by matronics
Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Hi Sam,Most planes use 1" wide stainless steel straps .035" thick to hold down thefuel tank. The straps should be padded with neoprene or wool felt so theydon't chafe against the tank. ACS sells the straps at about 10 cents afoot. They also sell the anti-chafe padding. You should try toiincorporate a turnbuckle or some other means to apply tension to the strapto make sure it really holds the tank down, even under negative g's.JackNX899JP (also a reserved number) -----Original Message-----

Pietenpol-List: Re: Fuel tank installation

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2002 8:49 pm
by matronics
Original Posted By: clif

Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Fuel tank installation

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2002 10:09 pm
by matronics
Original Posted By: Jack Phillips
But, airplanes like Cubs, Champs, and Taylorcrafts have small steel stripsprobably .020 or less, and 1/2" wide to hold the gas tanks in. The ends arejust bent with a hole in them (the champ has a formed end so that the boltpoints in the same line as the strap) I've got a bunch of them somewhere.Stainless is probably easiest, just have someone shear a bunch of strips,you can always use them, but 1" sounds a little large.----- Original Message -----

Re: Pietenpol-List: Horn Fabrication

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2002 12:03 pm
by matronics
Original Posted By: Larry Neal
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RE: Pietenpol-List: More learning

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2002 12:36 pm
by matronics
Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
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> Pietenpol-List: Re: Fuel tank installation

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2002 10:48 pm
by matronics
Original Posted By: Larry Neal

Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Horn fabrication

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2002 11:22 pm
by matronics
Original Posted By: Larry Neal