Looking for info on who sells replacement fuel bladders for a Cessna 180 (1959), and about how much they cost?

Thanks!

Steve
cabinflyer

cabinflyer wrote:Looking for info on who sells replacement fuel bladders for a Cessna 180 (1959), and about how much they cost?

Thanks!

Steve
cabinflyer

Look up Aero Tech services on internet --------Santa Fe Springs ,CA.

http://www.aerotechservicesinc.com/

Try Floats & Fuel Cells.

www.ffcfuelcels.com


I've had good luck in the past.

I always get the brand new fuel cells. They are alot more flexible and way easier to install. The refurbished ones sometimes are tough to get installed. but are usually cheaper.

Good luck

Changing my bladders. Is one better than the other??

182 STOL driver wrote:

cabinflyer wrote:Looking for info on who sells replacement fuel bladders for a Cessna 180 (1959), and about how much they cost?

Thanks!

Steve
cabinflyer

Look up Aero Tech services on internet --------Santa Fe Springs ,CA.

http://www.aerotechservicesinc.com/

I used these guys a couple 2-3 years ago left side 55 ga. bladder $800 all was/is good

Just changed my right cell last month. I used Eagle Fuel Cells and cost was $875 if I remember correctly.

X3 for Eagle

Darinh and L-19, do either of you have the early slant tanks. I replaced my right one last Fall before it got too cold. The first one that came from Eagle had both the vent and outlet nipples in the wrong place. I sent it back and installed the second one and am using it but the vent is still too far rearward and is in a bind where is comes through the hole in the butt rib. Am going to see if I can send it back when it warms up enough to deal with it and get that corrected. John says their jig is right but I know my original unmolested wing is different. Put in a Burl's finger strainer also which I like.

My 180 is a late 1957 so mine are not the slant tanks. My cell fit like a glove but like all of them required some serious arm stretching to install.

My bladders are original! Still not leaking! Fuel bladder company actually said they wouldn't replace them till they leak and the old one where made better than the ones now days. Does this sound right?? I'm down and apart now and trying to do everything I can think of preventative wise. Just didn't want to get back in the air to be shut down again in a short time. Opinions?

With the old school angle tanks the right one goes in and out real easy... It'll take longer to drain the gas, move the headliner, and pull the caps than it will to replace the bladder.

If you're still original, when you do the left one you have to move the vent from the roof to behind the strut. This means finding a backing plate and inspection panel to add, drilling a hole in a rib which gets a doubler, and adding a bit of tube and a couple Adele clamps. It's not rocket science, and I have the service kit paperwork that will show you everything if you decide to do it. No one will sell you an original bladder as it is an AD.

Don't get a wise idea and just do the right side, because when you go tugging on the vent tube you are most likely going to crack the 60 year old rubber on the other side

Take care, Rob

Oh and BTW, if you're not leaking, and the nipples at the wing root are not too dry rotted, I'd probably wait till you really needed to do it. The only down side to this approach is that it's not likely to show up as a tiny seep, they are just going to flat fail, leaving you grounded till you fix them.

There are a couple of old threads on this subject, If it ain't broke don't fix it it's a real pain in the ass to do the left side even for a A&P.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7803&p=100779&hilit=fuel+bladders#p100779
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7445&p=96331&hilit=fuel+bladders#p96331

The main reason I went with Eagle fuel cells is because they are made from Nitrile that is happy with ethanol. If I ever get the STC to run AGE85(88% ethanol) that part of the equation is taken care of. I think FFC in Memphis makes their's out of the same material and maybe some others.