Building upon the ankle tube thread, I have an idea about improving my Cub's fuel tanks and wonder if anyone has done anything similar whether in a Cub, a Mooney, or any other airplane. The reason I mention Mooney is because there is a process to do this mod.
I'm considering building a shell to duplicate my fuel tanks, or maybe use my tanks, but cut the tops off and install a custom made fuel bladder inside, then re-attach the top. The idea is to provide flexibility to the fuel cell to minimize the risk of fuel leaking from a tank rupture or seam failure should the wing get bent. Eagle Fuel Cells says they can make me a cell and that the idea has merit. They told me about how Mooney wet wings can be repaired by dropping in a bladder. Anyone have any experience with something like this?
I'm considering building a shell to duplicate my fuel tanks, or maybe use my tanks, but cut the tops off and install a custom made fuel bladder inside, then re-attach the top. The idea is to provide flexibility to the fuel cell to minimize the risk of fuel leaking from a tank rupture or seam failure should the wing get bent. Eagle Fuel Cells says they can make me a cell and that the idea has merit. They told me about how Mooney wet wings can be repaired by dropping in a bladder. Anyone have any experience with something like this?
I've had wet wings and bladders in different Cessnas. I prefer bladders. I changed both in my 180 early on as one developed a leak. These are nearing 20 years old and have almost never had more than half capacity fuel in them parked in the elements in Alaska. If I got that kind of life in the new plane they'd outlast any interest I had in them. I don't recall the weight of bladders other than kinda heavy but my Cessna cells are 39 gallons a side so much bigger than what I'm proposing for the Cub. I guess weight will be a tradeoff to consider. Capacity isn't a big issue. If I lost 20% to the bladders I wouldn't miss it for most ops. I doubt the bladders weigh much more than that 4 4-1/2 gallons a side lost, either. The reason to keep the tanks as shells is for cavity contour and tank retention. I've got to get some dimensions for Eagle. I'll get a price and weight estimate and will scratch my head a little more about the pros and cons. It's just an idea. I appreciate the comments.
