Wet Wing Reseal

ktup-flyer

ktup-flyer

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ktup-flyer
Has anyone on here use Houston Tank Specialists? I'm trying to decide between them and SEAL down at FXE. Paul New said he only works on Columbias/TTx's now, so that option is out.
 
ktup-flyer said:
Has anyone on here use Houston Tank Specialists? I'm trying to decide between them and SEAL down at FXE. Paul New said he only works on Columbias/TTx's now, so that option is out.
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I heard he has a 12 month waiting list, and pretty sure Paul still works on Mooneys. I haven’t but search here and Mooneyspace.com. I’ve seen them mentioned before.
 
Wetwingologists in Minnesota is one of the places Mooney owners go for tank reseals. There's another in Florida that's really good, you can do a search n Mooneyspace, it'll come up quick. That said, were I you I'd look into getting bladders. They're more expensive and you loose some useful load, but they're a permanent fix. The ones in my Mooney are 20 years old and not a leak to be seen. Had they been resealed 20 years ago I'd not have bought this airplane.
 
steingar said:
Wetwingologists in Minnesota is one of the places Mooney owners go for tank reseals. There's another in Florida that's really good, you can do a search n Mooneyspace, it'll come up quick. That said, were I you I'd look into getting bladders. They're more expensive and you loose some useful load, but they're a permanent fix. The ones in my Mooney are 20 years old and not a leak to be seen. Had they been resealed 20 years ago I'd not have bought this airplane.
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Bladders are not forever parts. They need regular replacement.
 
Tarheelpilot said:
Bladders are not forever parts. They need regular replacement.
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True. Keeping them full and wet helps with life expectancy.

When bladders leak, they’re a known and easy repair with a fixed cost and life expectancy.

Given the variables of a wet wing and seal job, the odds of success are better with a bladder.
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
True. Keeping them full and wet helps with life expectancy.

When bladders leak, they’re a known and easy repair with a fixed cost and life expectancy.

Given the variables of a wet wing and seal job, the odds of success are better with a bladder.
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I mostly agree with you.

Seal tanks require more attention to detail by the mechanic. A properly sealed tank will be just as durable as bladders. Poorly installed bladders are bad. It really comes down to the mechanic I think.
 
Tarheelpilot said:
Bladders are not forever parts. They need regular replacement.
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This is patently false. If bladders leak or fail in some way they can be refurbished in situ for about an AMU. This from Joey Cole, who runs one of the more established Mooney service Centers in the country. I've seen the things, they're quite robust.
 
steingar said:
Wetwingologists in Minnesota is one of the places Mooney owners go for tank reseals. There's another in Florida that's really good, you can do a search n Mooneyspace, it'll come up quick. That said, were I you I'd look into getting bladders. They're more expensive and you loose some useful load, but they're a permanent fix. The ones in my Mooney are 20 years old and not a leak to be seen. Had they been resealed 20 years ago I'd not have bought this airplane.
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You also loose tankage, about 8-10 gallons.
 
steingar said:
This is patently false. If bladders leak or fail in some way they can be refurbished in situ for about an AMU. This from Joey Cole, who runs one of the more established Mooney service Centers in the country. I've seen the things, they're quite robust.
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I don't speak Latin but I assume in situ is Latin for "band aid."
 
We’re talking a late legacy 182 here.

Bladder tanks were changed by Cessna to wet wings presumably to address marketing concerns with the prior “killer caps” and bladder folds holding water that didn’t show during sumping. ADs on that.

I am not even sure the newer wet wing could be converted to bladders.

My fuel capacity is 80 gal. (182P w/bladders), I believe his is 88 or 90 (182R wet wing). How much more fuel ballast do we need, lol?!
 
steingar said:
This is patently false. If bladders leak or fail in some way they can be refurbished in situ for about an AMU. This from Joey Cole, who runs one of the more established Mooney service Centers in the country. I've seen the things, they're quite robust.
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I’m curious how he does that ...
 
Timbeck2 said:
I don't speak Latin but I assume in situ is Latin for "band aid."
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It is Latin for "in the place". It basically means doing something right where it is. In this case the bladders are restored right on the aircraft instead of being removed and sent somewhere.
 
Mine is 92 gallons. 88 usable. There's no way I'd go to bladders.

You can patch wet wings, too. The quotes I've gotten so far have averaged around $2-4k for a complete strip and reseal
 
ktup-flyer said:
Mine is 92 gallons. 88 usable. There's no way I'd go to bladders.

You can patch wet wings, too. The quotes I've gotten so far have averaged around $2-4k for a complete strip and reseal
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There are only two places that are competent to do a complete reseal, and both charge way way north of that. You're looking at about 8K for a Mooney, vs. about 12 for bladders.
 
steingar said:
There are only two places that are competent to do a complete reseal, and both charge way way north of that. You're looking at about 8K for a Mooney, vs. about 12 for bladders.
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I couldn’t disagree more. My mooney was done by a local A&p for $3k 5 years ago with no issues. It’s not rocket science, it’s just unpleasant, hard work. Embrace the suck and it’s no big deal.
 
Salty said:
I couldn’t disagree more. My mooney was done by a local A&p for $3k 5 years ago with no issues. It’s not rocket science, it’s just unpleasant, hard work. Embrace the suck and it’s no big deal.
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I've heard the stories of a whole bunch owners who went that route and continued to have problems until they used Weep no More or Wetwingologists. You get what you pay for. Perhaps you're the exception, congrats.
 
steingar said:
I've heard the stories of a whole bunch owners who went that route and continued to have problems until they used Weep no More or Wetwingologists. You get what you pay for. Perhaps you're the exception, congrats.
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I just had to replace one of my drain valves, i had the original, riveted in valves from the factory and one started leaking. We had to pull the inboard access panel to do the work and I did a pre-emptive reseal with the left over sealants. If you use the proper sealants (they aren’t cheap), it’s very hard to do it wrong. It sucked with a capital S, but it didn’t require any skill other than patience. Not a trace of a leak.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if there are A&Ps out there who have never used these sealants before.
 
Salty said:
Pretty sure your poh says 52.
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Pretty sure the STC would require the POH be updated if the capacity changes, I don’t know if you’re required to replace pages or just add an addendum.
 
bnt83 said:
I wouldn't be surprised if there are A&Ps out there who have never used these sealants before.
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I wouldn't either. But if they can follow instructions, it's pretty straight forward.
 
ktup-flyer said:
Has anyone on here use Houston Tank Specialists? I'm trying to decide between them and SEAL down at FXE.
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It was my understanding SEAL was more into jets/business class aircraft, but know of a couple jobs done at Houston with no negative feedback that I recall. But no personal experience.
 
Bell206 said:
It was my understanding SEAL was more into jets/business class aircraft, but know of a couple jobs done at Houston with no negative feedback that I recall. But no personal experience.
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They are, but they said they can do it. $2500-3500
 
bnt83 said:
I wouldn't be surprised if there are A&Ps out there who have never used these sealants before.
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Salty said:
I wouldn't either. But if they can follow instructions, it's pretty straight forward.
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In my experience it's not so much a lack of knowledge on the process, but the task itself that the mechanics I know prefer to pass on. Especially if it's a one-man shop. I've "assisted" on some wet-wing reseals as it was a common task at the day job, but most mechanics in my sphere pass on it or play coy as it's one of those jobs that if not set up for it can be a real pain. From my side of the fence, I prefer to stuff 10lbs of fuel bladder into a 1 lb hole any day vs strip, clean, prep, seal a wet-wing.
 
steingar said:
According to Joey they come out the holes they went in through.
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I miss understood. I thought you were saying he could patch the bladder we’re it was... in the wing. That fancy Latin caused me to think he was able to fix it in place. That price did too...

well if he’s taking it out for a refurb that’s nothing special. If he does that for 1k all in parts and labor you should take him out to supper at a fancy restaurant when it’s all done.

I’m still of the opinion there are pros and cons with both. If you are happy I’m happy ;-)
 
Wet Wingologists said call them... I think I may go with them if they can do it reasonably.
 
ktup-flyer said:
Mine is 92 gallons. 88 usable. There's no way I'd go to bladders.

You can patch wet wings, too. The quotes I've gotten so far have averaged around $2-4k for a complete strip and reseal
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Not that it matters but take a jet that holds 32k pounds of fuel, never in its life will it be completely stripped and resealed, it will be repaired as needed, till it’s scrapped
 
GeorgeC said:
We keep the bladders full in our club 182, but they still don't seem to last very long.
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I wonder if the composition is a variable. Bo owner in hangar next to me just changed out 42 year old bladders (well maintained plane).
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
I wonder if the composition is a variable. Bo owner in hangar next to me just changed out 42 year old bladders (well maintained plane).
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its anecdotal but I have seen the same kind of varying lifespan. I have seen some original stuff last 40 years or more and some later model replacement parts barely make it past the first decade. The worst performance I have seen was a set of new bladders in a cessna 188 that only made it 5 years before they started leaking. The mechanic that installed them cleaned the bays out but did not tape the seams... did a great job cleaning the old tape off. Obviously not the fault of the part.
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
I wonder if the composition is a variable. Bo owner in hangar next to me just changed out 42 year old bladders (well maintained plane).
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My original bladders lasted 31 and 36 years respectively. I'm on 19 and 14 years on my current ones with no issues... I have no fear of bladders and am glad I have them.
 
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