I have drilled a total of five 1/2" diam. holes through each of the fuel tanks and installed associated tank fittings. A combination of Loctite and teflon thread sealant is used to ensure fittings remain tight and do not leak. Rans recommends leak-testing the tanks to 1 psi. To do this, I decided to pressure up the tank with air and adapt a home-made manometer. I adapted short lengths of tubing to 3 of the 5 fittings with bolts insert to plug holes. I adapted a ball valve and tubing to the fitting that I inputed air and hooked up a manometer to the fitting where air would output. My pressure source was a refillable compressed air reservoir with an inflator needle (like used for footballs, etc.) . My first attempt resulted in numerous air leaks at locations where the bolts were inserted to the tubing. This was solved by filling threads with thread sealant and tightening up the hose clamps. I pressured up the tank again to 2.3 feet of H20 (1 psi), as observed by the differential distance between water levels in the manometer. To date on the first tank, I'm only able to maintain about 20" of water over 48 hours. I've applied soapy water to all fittings and cannot identify any physical leaks. I will inquire with Rans....
As a side note, Christmas yesterday brought me a brand new Bose X headset from my wife! A complete surprise, apparently this headset is the best active noise reduction set on the market. This will give me a nudge to increase production on the project and get flying. I have tentative plans this Summer, however, to make a road trip to Rans in KS to obtain flight and instruction and get current in an S-7S. I have not flown in close to 5 years and fear I will lose acquired skills permanently. Perhaps I can demo the headset then....
