After a successful 3200 mile roundtrip flight to Oshkosh last July, I mistakenly thought all was going well with my 1946 North American Navion. About 2 weeks ago I went on a short flight and after I landed observed a puddle under the airplane that turned out to be a running fuel leak. Not a big deal you might think .
Now, on this airplane the fuel tanks are inside the wings and the only way to access them is to unbolt the wings from the fuselage then separate the two wings from each other. Only 24 bolts hold the wings to the fuselage but all the interior has to come out, the control cables have to be disconnected; fuel, oil and hydraulic lines have to be disconnected at two places; all the wiring bundles have to be disconnected , the fuselage has to be lifted from the front and rear and the wings have to be supported, landing gear retracted, and then the wings can be lowered from the fuselage........did that yesterday.
I'm now less than half way done. Tomorrow I start on separating the wings after which I pull the fuel tanks, send them out for overhaul, and start the cleaning and painting process for the fuel bays inside the wings. While the wings are off, I will install a fuselage beef-up kit which will allow an engine upgrade from the current 225 BHP to over 260 BHP (more like 300). This involves riveting in doublers, stringers and bathtub brackets (probably over 100 rivets) to the main longerons and frames.
All in all, I'm probably looking at at least the next 6 months of fun. Not exactly what I had planned as these tanks were worry free for 69 years......I guess they just don't make things like they used to.
Anyway, just a little venting.
Now, on this airplane the fuel tanks are inside the wings and the only way to access them is to unbolt the wings from the fuselage then separate the two wings from each other. Only 24 bolts hold the wings to the fuselage but all the interior has to come out, the control cables have to be disconnected; fuel, oil and hydraulic lines have to be disconnected at two places; all the wiring bundles have to be disconnected , the fuselage has to be lifted from the front and rear and the wings have to be supported, landing gear retracted, and then the wings can be lowered from the fuselage........did that yesterday.
I'm now less than half way done. Tomorrow I start on separating the wings after which I pull the fuel tanks, send them out for overhaul, and start the cleaning and painting process for the fuel bays inside the wings. While the wings are off, I will install a fuselage beef-up kit which will allow an engine upgrade from the current 225 BHP to over 260 BHP (more like 300). This involves riveting in doublers, stringers and bathtub brackets (probably over 100 rivets) to the main longerons and frames.
All in all, I'm probably looking at at least the next 6 months of fun. Not exactly what I had planned as these tanks were worry free for 69 years......I guess they just don't make things like they used to.
Anyway, just a little venting.
It doesn't, look like a driveway job.
Luckily, you don't have to pay anyone to do it for you, Cecil.
That would make the job, really suck.
