HELP PLUMBING POLYURETHANE FUEL TANKS

[John Reinking]

Purchased 2 MINIMAX polyurethane fuel tanks for DE "TINKERBELLE".  They will "feed" a small header tank.   Anyone point me in the direction of learning how to drill and plumb these tanks?   They fit perfectly into the bay between Ribs #1-#2.   A bit close for front to back but will use plastic pieces (made from wife's old cutting boards) between tank and Wing Attach bolts on the front/rear spars.

Will be installing capacitance-type fuel gauges in them.    Thanks fellas.  John Reinking/Woodinville, WA

[Dan_]

You might find something here:

https://air-techinc.com/topic_no_cats.php?ptid=37&pmid=12

[scottiniowa]

Purchased 2 MINIMAX polyurethane fuel tanks for DE "TINKERBELLE".  They will "feed" a small header tank.   Anyone point me in the direction of learning how to drill and plumb these tanks?   They fit perfectly into the bay between Ribs #1-#2.   A bit close for front to back but will use plastic pieces (made from wife's old cutting boards) between tank and Wing Attach bolts on the front/rear spars.

Will be installing capacitance-type fuel gauges in them.    Thanks fellas.  John Reinking/Woodinville, WA

John,  I have not found a better way to install fuel outlet bungs than what Ran's Aircraft sells and uses for poly tanks.  (absolutely no problem to buy them)
 Drill hole, (deburr)  insert inside piece with gasket on somewhat stiff wire, (we use a bit of fuel pipe dope here to help ourselves) 
 get your wire through the drilled hole via the fill hole in tank   (some get the wire through the hole and slide the pieces down the wire to the hole  I have done both ways...)   Don't let the 2nd person try looking up close in the hole for the wire for obvious reasons
   with fuel piece sticking through the hole, attach outside nut/washer,
 get snug to about the point, the piece turns,
 pull wire, insert Allen wrench in center piece bung, finish tighten nut. 
your done. 

1000's have been installed and used, simple and effective.   Very light too!

Best of success.
Scott

[scottiniowa]

It came to my attn that I posted how to do it, without saying exactly what I was using to do it with.

Here are the parts numbers
6. Tank Withdrawal Fitting   KPFS0017  
  31. 0-Ring                           KSFS0009
above are inside tank
outside of tank
32. Rubber Washer             KSFSOOI 0 
33. 112" Thick Washer         AN960-816
 locktite blue
34. Nut-Flared Tube Bulkhead     AN924-5D

into which you can screw either a 90 or strait bulk head fitting  8342 8330     the first being the 90

You can go to the Rans Parts site, and go to the fuel tank systems on any craft that used the poly fuel tank or poly header tank...   6's 7's  18's and 21's   I'm sure there are many more.

The parts breakdown sheets look a bit vast, but when your kicking out 4-5 planes a week  for many years, it is the only way for them to do... and has worked for them.

[John Reinking]

That's okay, thanks for taking the time.   You and your family have a nice 4th.   Cordially,  John Reinking (and) family

[John Reinking]

Okay, I'm here to apologize to you all about some of my comments relative to locating information about fuel tanks.  DUHHH Tony Bingelis SPORTPLANE CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES, pgs 32-106 "Fuel Tanks... Where and Why"  Brainmelt.

Second:   Tony Bingelis, THE SPORTPLANE BUILDER, pg268-275.   (Sure pays to look at your bookshelf for idea sources!)  Will post other sources as I go along because there are other new builders wondering about fuel tank builid systems and parts.