I'm starting to countersink the fuel tank attach screw holes in the spar. The nut plates that came with my -14 Sky Designs ER tank kit are MK1000-08. The distance between the rivets on these nut plates is much smaller than the K1100-08 nut plates Vans uses. If I countersink to the depth Vans recommends, the countersink hole would extend into the rivets used on the smaller nut plates for the ER tank attach holes. Did you just countersink into the rivet heads???
Yes you do. In most instances, the rivets on nutplates are just there to keep the nutplate from rotating when you insert a screw - and the screw is what bears the actual load. So as long as the rivet is enough to keep the nutplate from rotating, it's good enough.
I'm building a -14 using the standard tank size. You did an excellent job of keeping the inside of the tank clean. The tank sealant gunk is really sticky stuff. Where did you buy the nut plate ring?? Where did you buy the CIES fuel tank sending units for the $600 price?? Please reply to my email address. Thanks.
I don't have your email address, so I'll just reply here. I contacted CIES directly for the RV10 senders, and I got the nutring here: www.airpowerinc.com/1716008-1. Note that you'll need 5/8 10-24 hex screws to secure these things and you'll have to upsize the existing holes.
They help when it comes to inspection, removal of the torque tube, riveting the bottom skins, etc. But in the case of the new one I cut out, this is to access the bolts which will be used to attach the wider fuel tank. The fuel tank basically bolts onto the wing spar and if I ever want to remove them, I'll need access to them...
It was a bit unclear why you needed to drill out 80 rivets. If the plan was always to install long-range fuel tanks, the wings should have been assembled with modified (shorter) leading-edge skins on the outer sections of the wings from the start.
I decided to get the extended range tanks after I already put the leading edge on one of the wings. It wasn’t my plan to add them originally. In fact, I think they came out after I put the first wing together, but I might be wrong on that.
I considered and performed the homework on including the Sky Designs extended range tanks for my RV-14 project. For me, I concluded that I would seldom top-off to the factory designed 50-gallons. 50-gallons gives right around 4-hours including reserves. Staying well hydrated when I was flying 6+ hour legs, there was no way to pass on Nature's Call after three hours - max. So, for me, I took a pass on extended range tanks. Will you be adding an additional fuel sensor per tank?
Yes, I have two senders per tank. I'm not sure how often I will fill up to the full 83 gallons or use 6 straight hours of flight time. I mostly just wanted the option...
You don't have to take on fuel every time you land to answer the "call of nature" if you have extended your range with extra fuel onboard. That means a quicker turn around on the ground AND the option of picking and choosing when and where you refuel. Isn't that the underlying advantage of extended-range fuel tanks?
@@philipritson8821 Guess it all comes down to personal preferences and flight planning, right? Land with too-much fuel (i.e.: weight) given the prevailing weather conditions, will you be able to take off again?
@@EJWash57 I haven't flown one of these yet, but supposedly the engine is powerful enough that takeoff - even with a full load at a high density altitude - is probably not going to be a problem. If I have a full fuel load, it will be almost 500lbs, so that would leave me with less usable load for other things.
@@philipritson8821 yeah, that's one of the things I like about the ER tanks - it gives me options. I can also have more flexibility with filling up at places that have cheaper fuel and not necessarily having to fill up at every stop - like places with expensive fuel. I think it will just give me more options.
Its been a while! Was looking forward to your updates.
Thanks for sharing this! I bought the ER tanks for my -14 but haven't started on the wing kit yet.
It’s a great kit, very doable.
I'm starting to countersink the fuel tank attach screw holes in the spar. The nut plates that came with my -14 Sky Designs ER tank kit are MK1000-08. The distance between the rivets on these nut plates is much smaller than the K1100-08 nut plates Vans uses. If I countersink to the depth Vans recommends, the countersink hole would extend into the rivets used on the smaller nut plates for the ER tank attach holes. Did you just countersink into the rivet heads???
Yes you do. In most instances, the rivets on nutplates are just there to keep the nutplate from rotating when you insert a screw - and the screw is what bears the actual load. So as long as the rivet is enough to keep the nutplate from rotating, it's good enough.
@@buildingthe10 Thanks for the reply. You are a great resource for others who are building the ER tanks!
I'm building a -14 using the standard tank size. You did an excellent job of keeping the inside of the tank clean. The tank sealant gunk is really sticky stuff. Where did you buy the nut plate ring?? Where did you buy the CIES fuel tank sending units for the $600 price?? Please reply to my email address. Thanks.
I don't have your email address, so I'll just reply here. I contacted CIES directly for the RV10 senders, and I got the nutring here: www.airpowerinc.com/1716008-1. Note that you'll need 5/8 10-24 hex screws to secure these things and you'll have to upsize the existing holes.
Great video! I am curious what dremel attachment are you using to grind away at the skin? (Showed in your video at 26:47)
It’s a Dremel 115 high speed cutter. People use it on wood, works great on aluminum.
www.dremel.com/us/en/p/115-26150115ac
What are the inspection plates in the bottom of the wing skin used for? Is it to get access to the stall warning assembly?
They help when it comes to inspection, removal of the torque tube, riveting the bottom skins, etc. But in the case of the new one I cut out, this is to access the bolts which will be used to attach the wider fuel tank. The fuel tank basically bolts onto the wing spar and if I ever want to remove them, I'll need access to them...
It was a bit unclear why you needed to drill out 80 rivets. If the plan was always to install long-range fuel tanks, the wings should have been assembled with modified (shorter) leading-edge skins on the outer sections of the wings from the start.
I decided to get the extended range tanks after I already put the leading edge on one of the wings. It wasn’t my plan to add them originally. In fact, I think they came out after I put the first wing together, but I might be wrong on that.
I considered and performed the homework on including the Sky Designs extended range tanks for my RV-14 project. For me, I concluded that I would seldom top-off to the factory designed 50-gallons. 50-gallons gives right around 4-hours including reserves. Staying well hydrated when I was flying 6+ hour legs, there was no way to pass on Nature's Call after three hours - max. So, for me, I took a pass on extended range tanks. Will you be adding an additional fuel sensor per tank?
Yes, I have two senders per tank. I'm not sure how often I will fill up to the full 83 gallons or use 6 straight hours of flight time. I mostly just wanted the option...
You don't have to take on fuel every time you land to answer the "call of nature" if you have extended your range with extra fuel onboard. That means a quicker turn around on the ground AND the option of picking and choosing when and where you refuel.
Isn't that the underlying advantage of extended-range fuel tanks?
@@philipritson8821 Guess it all comes down to personal preferences and flight planning, right? Land with too-much fuel (i.e.: weight) given the prevailing weather conditions, will you be able to take off again?
@@EJWash57 I haven't flown one of these yet, but supposedly the engine is powerful enough that takeoff - even with a full load at a high density altitude - is probably not going to be a problem. If I have a full fuel load, it will be almost 500lbs, so that would leave me with less usable load for other things.
@@philipritson8821 yeah, that's one of the things I like about the ER tanks - it gives me options. I can also have more flexibility with filling up at places that have cheaper fuel and not necessarily having to fill up at every stop - like places with expensive fuel. I think it will just give me more options.