Flight:
I'd like to hear from anyone with Fiberglas /plastic tanks in 180-182 .My fuel bladders (not leaking) need R&R .Called Hartwig fuel and was shocked by price for there (Monarch ) plastic tanks -North of $4,000 -way too high .I thinking about either Aluminum or plastic tank STC so we can use auto fuel without problems.Talked to engineer who makes motorcycle tanks and boats from poly plastic and he can make molds and produce to Mil Spec specializations. I'd like to see how many folks would be interested in such a product? Ball park estimates (for standard 60-65 gallon)tanks would be about $2,500 a pair .Bigger tanks ,80 gallon (total)would be about 4 grand .

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Bill Reid PAMA>AMT>VHPA>
A&P/I.A.CPA Rigger,Pilot AZ50
"Have tools can travel"

Poly plastic? Rotomolded PEX or UHMWPE might be a thumbs up for me. Fiberglass would be a thumbs down.

My LR bladders are coming up on a dozen years, knock on wood. No leaks or spidering yet, and they look fine, but...it would be nice if there was a permanent alternative that costed around $3k-ish, and it would be nice if it required less labor than a bladder replacement.

What are the chances?

I would pay 3K for poly in mine. But what does a DER to do the support work for 337 cost?

I've been using the red 5 to 6 gallon plastic jugs to carry E10, E85, and 100% biodiesel for 10 to 15 years and they are still in good shape. I think they are HDPE and have always thought that if made to the shape of the wing bay, they'd make a great fuel tank in my 180. I have the slant tanks that hold the least(55 usable). I'd be interested.

Is this the process you were thinking of?


Blow molding is a conversion process wherein heat and pressure are applied to pelletized thermoplastic materials that are extruded into a cylindrical tube called a "parison". The molten "parison" is suspended within an aluminum mold closing around it. The mold halves are held together with a large hydraulic press while air is injected into the center of the part, forcing the plastic to push outward and replicate the cavity of the mold. In addition to the actual part cavity, the molds have water lines to assist in cooling and solidifying the part.

It is also possible to incorporate added design features that typically cannot be formed in a traditional blow molding process. These added features can include plastic or metal mounting tabs, injection molded fill necks, hose barbs, threaded pump mount rings, vents, valves and threaded fasteners. This process is called insert molding. Some injection molded plastic or metal features can be inserted into the mold prior to the blow molding process. These "inserts" are captured in the wall of the part as the plastic wraps and forms around them during molding and cooling process.

Once the finished product is removed from the mold, the next step is the de-flashing process where excess material is trimmed and removed from the molded part. Any excess material, or "flash" is ground up using a dedicated grinder positioned at each machine to ensure that each specific material is not mixed with dissimilar plastics from adjacent machines. The "regrind" material is conveyed to a blending unit where it is accurately metered and blended with the prime material and reused into the next part. Because our customers rely on us to provide only the highest quality product, Agri-Industrial Plastics Company uses certified prime virgin materials, unless recycled materials are preferred.

I have a friend in Prescott Az. who is a rotomolder who could do this project if somebody wanted to cough up the money for the mold. The mold is the expensive part, the molded parts are relatively inexpensive to produce. He makes a multitude of products, anywhere from trash cans, large water tanks, spray rigs, round gas cans, etc. He's a motor head, so he's familiar with what would be needed to produce a qualified part.

Michael Brothers Rotational Inc.
(928) 636-1010

One thing to bear in mind is that plastic tanks occupy more space in a wing bay than do bladders. An example from a C 206: 88 gallons useable before Mon Arc tanks, 75 after.

And, the certification process you're going to have to go through is pretty huge, I'd bet.

MTV

Motor head does not an approved part make. I am pretty sure a high dollar DER would be involved.

mtv wrote:88 gallons useable before Mon Arc tanks, 75 after.

Ouch! I really couldn't take the hit on range. I use my LR tank capacity a lot. If it were 1/2 hr, maybe. If it was a whole hour...probably would not. 15% seems like a lot to lose...

I don't remember that the Monarch slant tanks took much a hit if any on capacity compared to the bladders. When I installed the Monarch caps on my bladders, I think I gained because the original sump with a lid caps caused the middle top of the bladder to be depressed quite a bit and the Monarchs raised that up an inch and a half or more.

182 STOL driver wrote:Flight:
I'd like to hear from anyone with Fiberglas /plastic tanks in 180-182 .My fuel bladders (not leaking) need R&R .Called Hartwig fuel and was shocked by price for there (Monarch ) plastic tanks -North of $4,000 -way too high .I thinking about either Aluminum or plastic tank STC so we can use auto fuel without problems.Talked to engineer who makes motorcycle tanks and boats from poly plastic and he can make molds and produce to Mil Spec specializations. I'd like to see how many folks would be interested in such a product? Ball park estimates (for standard 60-65 gallon)tanks would be about $2,500 a pair .Bigger tanks ,80 gallon (total)would be about 4 grand .

--------------------
Bill Reid PAMA>AMT>VHPA>
A&P/I.A.CPA Rigger,Pilot AZ50
"Have tools can travel"

Yes.. I would be interested

mtv wrote:One thing to bear in mind is that plastic tanks occupy more space in a wing bay than do bladders. An example from a C 206: 88 gallons useable before Mon Arc tanks, 75 after.

And, the certification process you're going to have to go through is pretty huge, I'd bet.

MTV

Thats interesting about the before and after, granted I have the extended Monarchs but I still have 91 total 88 useable. 27.5g in the main inboards (55) and 18g in each outboard (36) Its written on all 4 tanks the amount.

aktahoe1 wrote:

mtv wrote:One thing to bear in mind is that plastic tanks occupy more space in a wing bay than do bladders. An example from a C 206: 88 gallons useable before Mon Arc tanks, 75 after.

And, the certification process you're going to have to go through is pretty huge, I'd bet.

MTV

Thats interesting about the before and after, granted I have the extended Monarchs but I still have 91 total 88 useable. 27.5g in the main inboards (55) and 18g in each outboard (36) Its written on all 4 tanks the amount.

Had to look back at the paper...U206 original USEABLE fuel: 84 gallons. After Monarch tank install max useable fuel: 75 gallons.

To install requires that wings be removed. Not a simple process. Wonder why they (Hartwig) no longer makes them?

Again, good luck getting something like this approved.

MTV