Sealing the Fuel Pickup Tubes
Spent the afternoon, after running all over town to find some “crow feet” wrench adapters (DON’T get me started on Sears!) and other lawn care items, sealing up the last of the tank penetrations. I used a cartridge of B 1/2 and made quick work of the left and right pickup tubes and anti rotation brackets. I also torqued the vent and return line nuts (with the crow foot adapter and torque wrench).
I always wondered how folks were insuring that the nuts on the vent lines, and by virtue my return lines, couldn’t back off. Technically, they are inside the tank and other than losing the high point of the fuel tank on the vent line, the risk is minimal if they did back off, but still…I didn’t like the idea of lines “potentially” coming off over time in a relatively sealed up area of the plane. So…once I had the pickup tube done…I simply gooped up the nuts with some sealant and called it good.
Hopefully, I never have to get them off…ever. I don’t think I would be able without some serious work. That said, I don’t think I have to worry about them ever coming off when I don’t want them to. I’ve done cleaner sealant work, but I have also done worse. I’m just glad I am closer to not having to deal with sealant any more.