Mooney Fuel Tank Repair - Weep no more!

As any Mooney Service Center technician can attest, aging fuel tanks have become a part of life. The smell of fuel in the cabin, ugly blue stains, concerns about safety, and the impact on aircraft value are true concerns for many Mooney owners. Though still a problem, there is good news. Mooney fuel tank repair may no longer be a nightmare. We're pleased to report that the literally gruesome job of removing deteriorated sealer has in many cases been reduced to a chemical process.

How does the chemical process work?
The aging sealer found in many Mooney tanks has reached the end of its service life and needs major repair. Most original tank sealers can literally be digested with the use of recently developed chemicals and special application equipment. The result can be a totally clean tank ready to accept new sealer with absolutely no rivet, huck bolt or skin damage. Better yet, the chemical cleaning takes hours rather than days.
Once your tank is clean, preparation for and application of sealer is no different than when sealer was first applied at the Mooney factory. In fact, we're confident that use of an adhesion promoter along with today's improved sealer will provide a product better than the original. Application of sealer requires meticulous care, proper materials, adequate time and experience. The end result is truly a new tank that will provide another long satisfactory life.

Imagine the difficulty in hand cleaning areas that can't even be reached or removing aged excess sealer as shown below. Not a fun thought for anyone.

Transforming such a problem into a liquid solution literally washed from the tank in a period of hours is a good thing.

Prepared for sealer within literally hours rather than days.

Once your tank is clean, preparation for and application of sealer is no different than when sealer was first applied at the Mooney factory. In fact, we're confident that use of an adhesion promoter along with today's improved sealer will provide a product better than the original. Application of sealer requires meticulous care, proper materials, adequate time and experience. The end result is truly a new tank that will provide another long satisfactory life.

Applying just the right amount of sealer becomes an art.

Who does the work?
Years of fuel tank repair have made Paul Beck, our in-house fuel tank specialist, a true professional. Paul's experience — including occasional frustrations — has helped him develop a keen understanding of the most expedient and cost effective fuel tank repair methods. Paul can attest that it's not as simple as repairing the obvious problems. Likewise, sealing over a problem is not the answer. Paul can give you an opinion about the general condition of your tanks, quickly isolate a leak source and recommend the most economical long-term means of repair.
If you're a Mooney owner with tank problems, you need to know the truth. Whether it's a minor repair or total clean and reseal, your Mooney is worth the investment.

Are there any guarantees?
Yes. Willmar Air Service offers a three-year leak free warranty on total clean and reseal projects. In the unlikely event of needed warranty, we reserve the right to require any repair be completed at our Minnesota facility.

What are the risks?
Care must be taken to protect the adjacent interior, and there may be some deterioration of aging paint. A well-established relationship with Custom Aircraft Refinishing, a nearby professional paint facility, creates a wonderful opportunity for completion of any needed minor repairs even further enhancing the value of your Mooney. We have also experienced difficulty in digesting certain aftermarket sealers that may have been previously used in attempts to repair leaks. The recent discovery of another cleaner and cutting tool takes away some of this concern.

Is it expensive?
Yes. But it's an investment in the current and future value of your Mooney. Leaking fuel tanks cannot be tolerated and ultimately result in airworthiness and safety concerns. In the past, labor required to totally clean and reseal a tank has been so significant that many Mooney owners have put off needed repair. Today, we can assure you that chemically cleaning and experienced resealing will result in a literally new tank at a significant savings over previous repair methods. The costs of chemicals and use of specialized equipment are offset by a significant reduction in the amount of labor needed to remove the deteriorated sealer.

How can I learn more about chemical fuel tank repair?

For a personal explanation of fuel tank repair or to make an appointment, CONTACT us.