Fuel tanks

Matt,

Thanks much, great info, drained the fuel today from the header tank, will move it to another hanger for the repair. Bob Kaba, my IA and local FAA examiner for new A&P's is into the Ercoupe books already on the repair but any advice for him and me is most welcome.
Clay

Drilling the top panel off is easy, but how are you planning on riveting back in place ?you would need the header tank out of the way to allow you to buck the rivets, Only way is out the bottom.

I have been looking at my 415-C with the prospect of removing the tank. It isn't leaking, but removal would facilitate riveting in the stainless sheet over the top. It doesn't look like a small job. I would have to:
Remove the control column, which requires disconnecting the yokes at the u-joints, removal of the floor boards to access the base swivel bolts, and maybe any large instruments or radios installed along the bottom of the instrument panel to get clearance.
Remove any control cables that are in the way, throttle, mixture, and carb heat in my case.
Disconnect the fuel tank supply line from the pump, the return line, and the supply to the carb, and get them moved out of the way.
Loosen the two turn buckles on the straps that hold the tank in place, then drop the tank down and pull it out.
I am thinking I could get it out in one long day. 2 days to put it all back.

For those that have actually done this, am I missing anything? Would it be easier to remove the top panel and pull it out that way?

you have all ready started by figuring it is coming from the header, next thing is to figure out where, but the only way to find that out is to take the tank out, it could be coming from a corrosion pit, a bad rivet, a worn spot. any of those would require pulling the tank to fix.

My Ercoupe N91N has a header tank leak, light fuel drips in the cockpit in flight, wet fuel on the tank on the ground etc. I have grounded the plane until we can fix it. Please give me any and all advice on how to fix. I have a great IA mech in Mr. Bob Kaba who has been doing most of my Coupe restoration. We just need advice and recommendations on where to start and what to do.

Yours,

Clay T. McCutchan
McCutchan Airport 8FL6
11175 Highway 90
Milton, FL 32583