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A
ADs
Aileron Trim Tab
Aileron Bellcrank
Air Box Repair
Air Duct/Spar
Air filter Gasket
Air filter mods
Airfoil story
Alternate Parts sources
Alternate Air Door
Alternator
  Bracket
  '68 CB
  Circuit Breaker
  Circuit Breaker kit
  Debug
  Troubleshoot
  Whine and noises
  OV switch
  Standby
Ammeter blip
Amsafe Install
Antenna Mount
Annual Inspection
Autopilot
  300AP transistors
  300AP hints
  Bellcrank
Avionics Air Scoop

B
Back seat removal
Baffle Mods
Baffle Rebuild
'68 Baffle Mods
Baggage door seal
Baggage latch spring
Baggage Bulkhead
BAS seat belt
Battery lid mod
Bellcrank, Aileron
Belly Cleaning
Bike Rack
Brackett Air Filter
Brake hose FG
Brake master FG
Brake master rebuild
Brake hose RG
Brake Swivel (RG)
'Braly Mod'
Boroscopes
Bulkhead repair ('68)
Bungee (Steering)
Bus Bar repair

C
Camera Windows
Carb Data
Carbon Monoxide
Case mods
CAT tubing replace
Charging Debug
Chart desk/table
Compass leaks
Concorde Lid Mod
Console Repair
Connector options
Console: add-on
Cntrl Column Bearings
Cntrl Column Bushings
Cooling Cylinders
Cooling in Climb
Cover review
Cowl
  '71 mods
  Baffle
  Bumper
  Bumper 2
  Camloc Fasteners
  Camloc Issues
  Camloc Evolution
  Chafing Mods
  Eyelets
  Flap cable replace
  Flap exit ramp
  Flap fences
  Flap bumpers
  Flap Exit
  Flap Effectiveness
  Grommets
  Rubs on Spinner
  Southco fasteners
  Screws
  Custom Inlets
  Inlet Fences
Cylinder Cooling
Cylinder cooling details
Cylinder "doghouse"
Cylinder inspection

D
Data Plate
Dash cover fab
Defroster fan
D Engine Swap
  FG details
  RG details
  IO390 install
  Governor modifications
Display repair
Door
  Fuse damage
  Handles - inside
  Handles - outside
  Handle spring
  Hinge reinforcement
  Hinge repairs
  Latch Clutch
  Lubrication
  Locks
  Pin alignment
  Seal replacement
  Seal source
  Spring replacement
  Tightening
Doubler repairs
Drilled yoke
Dual Speaker (overhead)
Dual Mag install
Dukes Fuel Pump

E
Elevator: see Stabilator
Electrical Noise
Electrical Parts
Electrical Connectors
Elevator Trim Rod clearance
Engine baffle mods
Engine Cables
Engine Gages
Engine mount
Engine swap (D)
Engine Upgrade '68
  180 HP O-360
  IO-360 RG engine
Exhaust fairings

F
FG Gear Adjust
FG fuel pump rebuild
FG Strut Rebuild
FG Strut Rebuild 2
Firewall Forward mod
FG Jacking
FG Fuel Flow
Flap:
  Adjustment
  Adjust Problems
  Follow-up cable
  Follow-up cable Options
  Motor source
  Noise
  Operations
  Rigging
  Rigging hints
  Slow
Flood light
Fuel Caps
  Flush Cap rebuild
  Monarch thoughts
  Monarch Install story
  Replacement Options
  Types
  Umbrella dissection
Fuel
  Aux Tanks
  Dipstick
  Drain valve
  Dukes Pump(RG)
  Dukes Pump Option
  Feeding unevenly
  Flow FG
  Gage info
  Header Tank leak
  Hose replacement
  Indicator repair
  Pump (Weldon)(RG)
  Pump rebuild (FG)
  Quick Drain (FG)
  Shutoff issues
  Shutoff rebuild (FG)
  RG Selector Valve rebuild
  FG Selector Valve rebuild
  Tip Vent
  Vent leak (crossover)
  Weldon Fuel Pump (RG)
'68 Fuse Repair

G
Gages
Gap Seals
Garmin 500 install
Gear Indicator lights
Gear Leg Adjust (FG)
Gear Light Secrets
Gear Magnets
Gear Mirror
Gear pump brushes
Gear pump Diagnosis
Gear pump 'bumps'
Gear Pump Light
Gear pump rebuild '78
Gear wobble (FG)
Governor bracket mods
Governer control lube
Governer plate
Gov plate: One Mech's View
Governer Surge
Grab Handle Clip
Green Goo

H
Handicapped passengers
Handle Clip
Headrests
Headlights
Headlight Replacement
Headliner R & R
Heater improvements
  Exhaust fan
  Bulkhead seal
  Aux heat tube
  Tailcone mods (RG)
  Flow Improvement
  Underseat fans
Heavy Wing
Hoisting
Horton STOL
Hose Standoffs
HP Plus Mod
Hydraulic Hoses (RG)

I
Ignition: Lasar
Injection system
Injector Clamps
Intake Manifold Seal
Intake Manifold Drain
Intercom noise
Interior parts
Interior Rework

J
Jacking the FG
Jacking the RG
Jack options
Jack buying
Jack building
Jacks: my design
Jon's Workbench

K
King display repair
Kinzie presentation
Kinzie install


L
Landing Gear (FG)
Landing Lights
Landing Light Replacement
Lasar Ignition
LED Lights
 Courtesy lights
 Dimming filter
 Gear indicators
 Tail Beacon
 Wing tips
Light (flood)
Lighting troubleshoot

M
Magnets (gear)
Mag Install (dual
Magneto points
Manifold Pressure gauge
Manuals
Master cylinder rebuild
Mixture cable (Cablecraft)
Mixture Cable Attach
Monarch Fuel Cap Install
Muffler
  Bracket Removal
  Clamp (RG)
  Cracks

N
Nav Light Indicator
Nose Gear
  Actuator rebuild
  Arm pad
  Drag link cracks (RG)
  Door Hinge (RG)
  Door wear
  NG Door Grommets
  Door Grommet option
  Door Bumper
  Scissor bolt shearing
  Shimmy
  Strut Rebuild (RG)
  Strut Rebuild (FG)
  Strut Rebuild 2 (FG)
  Swinging
  Door Triming
  Uplock Roller (RG)

O
Oil Canister issues
Oil Cooler Baffle (RG)
Oil Cooler Info
Oil Cooler Hoses
Oil Cooler gap (RG)
Oil Cooler upgrade (RG)
Oil Draining tricks
Oil Filter (D) Adapter
Oil Filter Cutting
Oil leaks
Oil line: prop
Oil Paths
Oil Pump
Oil Separator
Oil Screen (FG)
Oil Screen (RG)
Omni antenna
Overhaul
Overhead Console Repair
Over Voltage Sensor
O/V switch wiring
Owner Maintenance

P
Panel forming
Panel Project
Panel Tilt
Paint
  Colin's Paint Story
  Hints and Tips from Guy
  RG Colors
  FG Colors
  Painting templates
Pitot-Static Troubleshooting
Placards
Plane Power VR
Preflight Inspection
Prop control lube
Prop oil line
Prop oil line fitting
Prop Surge
Prop Torque
PTT options
PTT in Yoke
PWM filter
Pump rebuild: gear

Q

R
Radio noises
Rain leaks
FG gear adjust
Retractable Gear (RG)
  (Also see 'Gear')
  Alternate Air Door
  Ammeter blip
  Brake Swivel
  Configuration (by year)
  Downlock rebuild
  Early switches
  Gear Leg removal tool
  Gear Lights
  Gear Magnets
  Gear Mirror
  Gear Selector Rebuild
  Gear pump 'bumps'
  Gear pump diag/light
  History
  Hoisting
  Internal Leak
  Jacking
  Leg pin removal tool
  Lock Valve rebuild
  Light design
  Light socket
  Main Gear Pin
  Main Rod End
  Main Rod End Sources
  Manifold
  Mechanical switches
  MG up-bumper
  MG Saddle Replace
  MG Saddle Repair
  MG actuator bracket
  NG Door wear
  NG drag link
  NG Hoses
  NG Swinging
  NG Switch wire
  NG arm pad
  NG Door Trim
  Parts (by year)
  Pressure Switch
  Pump brushes
  Pump Bump
  '78 Pump bypass leak
  Pump Internals
  '71-3 Pump Manifold
  Pump rebuild '78
  Pump Shuttle Valve
  Reed switch
  Reed switch rebuild
  Rod End
  Rod End sources
  Schematics
  Selector Rebuild
  Service Bulletins
  Speaker (gear warn)
  Squat switch wire
  Shuttle Valve
  Switch rebuild
  Throttle switch arm
  Throttle switch example
  Troubleshoot
  Uplock Roller (RG)
  Warning cam
  Warning horn
Rear seat removal
RG stall switch repair
Rigging
Rope trick
Rosen Sun visors
Royalite Replacements
Rudder shimmy
Rudder trim

S
SCAT tubing installation
Screw Removal
Seats, rear
Seat belts for 2
Seat pivot
Seat rails
Serial numbers
Service Bulletins
Shimmy dampener
  RG rebuild
  FG issues
  Solutions
  More FG
  FG solution
Shimmy
Shoulder harness
Sniffle Valve
Sill seal installation
Sound Proofing
Sound Insulation
Southco fasteners
Spar
  AD inspection
  Cap inspection
  Cap cracks (177)
  Cap cracks (210)
  Carrythrough
  Carrythrough AMOC
  Carry-thru Bottom inspection
  Attach Pins
  Carry-thru Repair
  Repair avoidance
  Replacement
  '68 Bracket Crack
  Servicability
Speaker (overhead)
Speed mods
Spinner Baffle
Spinner Issues
  '68 Spinner
  Paul's Spinner
  Chuck's Spinner
  Rubs on Cowl
Stall switch rebuild
STD Temp
Sticking Valve
Stinger Screw Map
Steering Bungee
Squat Switch
Springs
  Wing Tiedown Ring
  Door holdopen
Squat Switch
Stabilator
  Balance
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  Bracket inspection
  Bracket rework
  Bracket fasteners
  Bushings
  Bushing fabrication
  Creaking noises
  More Brackets
  Trim Rod clearance
  Trimming
  Wobble
  '68 Stab attach
Stall switch
Standby Alternator
Standoffs
Starter Troubleshooting
Static System Troubleshooting
S-Tec autopilot
STCs
Step removal
STOL kit
Strobes, adding
Strut rebuild (RG)
Strut Rebuild (FG)

T
Tach cable
Tailcone Bird cover
Tailcone Screw Map
Throttle cable
Throttle cam
Tiedown Ring spring
Tilt in Panel
Turbocharging
  Air Foil Bearings
   Primer
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  Operations Manual
  Vacuum Seal
  Vince's pics
  Keith's pics
Type Cert Data

U
Uplock Actuator (RG)
  Umbrella fuel cap
Uneven Fuel Feed

V
Vacuum Seal
Valve sticking
Vent Hoses
Vent window crank
 Vent Example
Vernatherm Details
Vernatherm Theory
Vernatherm Tool
Vernatherm Fix
Voltage Drop: starter
Voltage Regulator
Voltage low on bus
Vortex Generators
VG Installation

W
Water leaks
Wheelchairs
Wheelchair lift
Wheel Pant Upgrade
Wheel hub cracks
Whisker antenna
Windshield leaks
Window replacement
Window crank, vent
Wing Air Inlets
Wing Pins
Wing removal
Wing Rigging
Wing smoothing
Wing Tiedown Ring
Wing tip mods
Wing Vent hoses
Wing wiring plug
Wire Standoffs

X

Y
Yoke Drilling
Yoke Bearings
Yoke Bushings

Z
  

Installing Monarch Fuel Caps

One of the best things you can do for your Cardinal, your passengers and yourself is to do something about those flush fuel caps. Many of us have sampled substantial water from our fuel, replaced rusty fuel drains and had various other problems caused by water getting into the tanks.

You can read more about this problem and the various solutions on several pages here on the Cardinal Flyers Web Page: Read about your Fuel Cap options, reasons for wanting to change on this page and read a few comments from someone who installed them.

Let's say you're ready to do it, convinced that it's important and ready to go. If you're like most of us, the next question is 'just how much of a hassle is this going to be? Is it easy or hard? What do you get when you order a set? What are the steps? How does it all come together?

You've come to the right place, because we're going to explore all of those things.


Note that you can load a larger version of each of these images by clicking on it. (except for the first image of Bill) The image will load in a separate window.

First, a word about the Monarch company. Bill Barton, pictured to the right, was the mastermind behind these fuel caps. The company has several products, among them a fuel tank insert that replaces fuel bladders in some applications.

When I talked to Bill around 1998 he pointed out several differences between his product and the parts available from Cessna for this purpose. The quality of construction is the first clue. The fuel inlet has a raised lip, rather than the the depression of the flush caps or the lowered seam of Cessna's replacement.

The Monarch caps actually rise above the tanks slightly, so it's always an uphill path for water to get to the tanks. As one side effect, it's said that you can get a bit more fuel into the tanks with Monarch caps, although no one would recommend that you count on that.

There are several other details worth noting, but this page is about installation, not a design review of the product. Suffice it to say, Bill put a lot of thought and effort into making this an excellent design. His many satisfied customers would tend to agree.

Update: Bill has since passed away and the business has been sold to Hartwig. They have been carrying forward the legacy and making improvements along the way. You can call them at (800) 843-8033.

But if you have them, it's time to install them. Let's start the project!

The parts arrived quickly, well packaged and with everything needed for installation. Two plates and caps assemblies with keeper chains, the stainless screws required for installation and the sealant in a clever mixing bottle.

The package also included all the paperwork required for installation. These caps are STC'd, so it should be easy for the feds to approve. No need to ask the feds to accept a 337 from another district and take the chance of someone taking exception to how it was done elsewhere.

aparts.jpg The instructions include a single page for each of several aircraft. If you are hoping for a step-by-step explanation of how to proceed you will not find one. This system is designed to be installed by someone who can put the right steps together. Luckily common sense is enough, and this web page will help fill in the blanks if this is all new to you.

You won't need much in the way of special tools for this project, but it's a good time to have an excellent ladder, good lighting, a clean working environment and plenty of time. The fuel system is not a good place for slipshod workmanship.

There is also a step that should be completed before you start, and that has to do with the amount of fuel in the tank. Most people will want to drain the tanks, although I worked out a way to avoid doing so that I'll describe below.

In either case you'll want to burn the fuel down to a pretty low level. This is a good time to have a sample tube or dipstick calibrated to your tanks in order to know just how much fuel is left. Check out this page if you don't have such a device.

Please avoid the error of one of my neighbors, who went out for a little flight before a similar project on his 337. He found someone to fly a little formation with, decided to check out the fall colors just a few miles further north, and ended up in a corn field with empty tanks.

If you do decide to drain the tanks, be aware that this is a very dangerous operation. Running fuel creates electron flow, which creates sparks, which is bad around running fuel. I've known of a few bad stories that started with draining fuel.

If you do drain the tanks, just be sure to use a metal fuel can, a metal funnel and ground everything together and to a solid earth ground. Don't mess with this one!

b1rem.jpg OK, we have the fuel empty or way down, a good ladder to work on and excellent light. Where do we begin? The first step contains the only significant challenge for the project. The short version is to simply remove the screws around the old cap. But the odds of each and every one of those screws wanting to some out is slim.

Start with a large handled phillips screwdriver with an excellent bit of the right size. Most people will naturally go for a smaller bit than the screw is designed for. The bit should fully engage the screw. Snapon makes a bit with serations to help hold the bit in, if you have one this might be a good time to use it.

You may have to tap the screwdriver to get it fully seated into the screws. Years of accumulated paint, wax and dirt will tend to make it a tight fit.

Why all the fuss? Why not just grab a handy driver and give it a go? One simple reason: once it slips the first time the edges get rounded and your odds of success go down rapidly, even with the right tools. Do it right the first time and with luck you've have the chance to wonder what all the concern was for.

b5remove.jpg Most likely you'll find at least one screw that resists removal. In my case one screw on each side initially resisted my efforts. I got one out by resetting the phillips bit and being VERY careful about staying straight and fully engaged with maximum weight on the bit.

But the other required more substantial efforts. As you can see in this picture, I used a dremel tool with one of those tiny cutoff disks to cut a notch across the screw head. It takes two passes to make a wide enough notch, which gives you the opportunity to give each edge a slight undercut. That will give the screwdriver a good solid edge to grab.

Keep a thought for where your grindings are going in this process. It's good to keep that abrasive residue away from the fuel inlet. And remember the safety glasses... those little disks have a way of grabbing, fracturing and embedding themselves in anything within their plane of rotation.

Luckily you won't be using the old cap plates, so if you cut a little extra deep and notch the plate it's not a big deal.

b6remove.jpg Again pick out a screwdriver with a clean, sharp end, the right size and tip width for the job. For some reason a longer screwdriver seems to offer a better engagement and torque. Perhaps it's just an illusion but I tend to go for longer drivers in tough situations.

Most likely the screw will give up at this point and back out happily. If not, there are a few more things you can try:

b7remove.jpg Alan Valenti suggests using 'Drive Grip', a product containing diamond dust in an oil solution which helps hold the bit to the screw. Others in the past have suggested valve lapping compound, and there are special bits with ridges that help hold on to the screw.

Worst case there is always the drill and easy-out. Check the nutplates, however, as they are captured and not designed to accept a drill all the way through. Don't drill too deeply or you'll be replacing those nut plates as well, and they are a little hard to get.

Luckily, in most cases this turns out pretty well, with limited hassles.

b8remove.jpg This is a good time to pull out the power tools. Once the screws are loose they will spin right out and there are a lot of them.

Keep in mind that you're working on a fuel tank here, and use battery tools that do not generate sparks. Of course the old fuel cap is still on, but don't forget the explosive nature of your project and keep the sparks and the fuel well separated.

Be sure your driving bit is fully engaged in the screws and have a finger on them when they pop out. This is a heck of a time to send a big scratch across the wing with a runaway power screwdriver.

At about this point I was thinking how glad I was that I would not be re-using the old screws.

Next comes the fun part: lifting the plate. It will be your first glance inside the tank, and will increase the need for cleanliness. It would be good to flush away the loose bits before going to this step.

b9remove.jpg Before you lift the plate, think about where the fuel vapors will be going once you open it up. Do you have a space heater in use? Hot water heater near the airplane with an open pilot? Airport bums hanging around with cigarettes dangling from their lips?

Remember that fuel vapors are heavier than air, and will flow down a wing and across the floor to reach whatever ignition source may be near by. Far too many aircraft and hangars have been lost to inattention to these details, so give it some thought, ventilate well and keep the fuel covered as much as you can.

In most cases the plates can be lifted by removing the gas cap, inserting a few fingers, grasping whatever you can get hold of and pulling gently.

If the plate resists removal, I'd start with a broom handle stuck in the hole to add a little lifting force. Don't try to pry the edge up, you are much more likely to dimple the wing skins. If you apply a slow, steady force the sealant should release. Just be patient and careful and something will give.

If you are tempted to resort to more dramatic means, say adding a little heat, remember that you have several gallons of fuel a few inches away and don't do anything that will create a spark or involves an open flame. Even empty tanks are a risk, in fact they are somewhat more of a risk. It's just a bad place for heat all around.

Alan Valenti reports that adding heat worked well for him. He did not say what he used to supply that heat. If it were me I might consider a heat lamp, something that would provide energy without a source of ignition.

Richard Markee reports that when he was faced with this issue someone suggested using a thin knife slipped between to supply a little extra force in just the right spot. He found that to work well and didn't mention heat being required. Creative, these CFO members!

c1catch.jpg It's time to spend a few minutes thinking about how we're going to catch the little bits of debris that the next few steps will generate.

Whether you drained the fuel or not, it is not good to dump a lot of trash down into the tanks. I used a piece of cardboard cut to size and folded to fit down inside the tanks.

Three lengths of safety wire were used to hold the cardboard in place, since I had about 10 gallons of fuel remaining in my tanks.

It was enough to simply bend the wire over the edge of the opening, no need to wrap it around anything. That way the wires could be moved out of the way during the subsequent cleaning steps.

c2catch.jpg OK! The plate is off, the cardboard is in the tank and ready to catch falling bits, and we have the chance to step back and see what we have.

The sealant on my original Cessna plates was very rubbery and surprisingly thin. But it hung onto the edges of the sealed area very tightly.

I found that I got my best results by running the tip of a box knife around the edge of the inset area first, releasing the sealant from the corner it was so tightly bonded to. This is a process to be done with great care, since a slip here will send a scratch across the wing.

e1clean.jpg I found that a piece of hardwood was just the right tool for peeling off the old adhesive. A small block like this, with a relatively sharp edge, was quite effective in getting under the old adhesive without scratching or marring the aluminum below.

I went to some effort to avoid letting chunks of adhesive fall into the tank, even with the catcher in pace.

I also found that there was a great temptation to blow the residue out of the way, but blowing would send fragments to the far reaches of the fuel tank. Don't do that!

The sharp tip of the wooded block was also good for cleaning the corner of the inset area. I also used the box knife and a small flat bladed screwdriver to clean out this area.

e2clean.jpg Step by step.. and there is always another step! I've found scotch-bright pads to do a great job of putting the final hard polish on aluminum things like this. No matter how clean they look, after a little elbow grease with one of these pads they always look better.

It is particularly important to avoid letting particles from the pad get into the tank since the are a little harder to filter than the larger chunks of debris.

e3clean.jpg Don't skip the ever present tidy-up steps. A vacuum is the right tool for this job, since compressed air will send stuff everywhere, inside and outside the tank.

The only issue with that is that some vacuums use the air being pulled through the system for cooling the motor that is pulling the air. As an electrical device, that motor is often making sparks, not a good thing when you're slurping up fuel-rich air.

Ideally you'll have a compressed air driven vacuum, many aviation mechanics do. If not at least use a shop vac that has the motor outside the direct air flow, and make sure the shop is well ventilated while you do this.


Vacuum well and often, including down inside the tank. Get every little bit of debris off the cardboard before taking it out of the tank, since you need to tip it to accomplish that task.

So clean up well, remove the cardboard and prepare to fit the fuel plates.

f1fit.jpg It's been said that Cessnas were all build by hand, and part way through this process you will ponder that with a new depth of understanding.

It is very likely that the openings on the wing will not be large enough or even enough to provide a good fit with any insert. In fact they will often be very uneven, such that a uniform plate that fit into the inset would have huge gaps in some areas, tight fits in others.

So this is another time for careful, patient work. Set the plate on the opening and eyeball it. There will be areas of the circumference that look good, others that don't fit. Using a pencil, mark the areas that need to be taken down.

I used a belt sander, although any number of tools from a bench grinder to a mototool could be used. Your goal is smooth transitions, reached through a well controlled and methodical approach. I would not, for instance, suggest metal snips or saws; you want to sneak up on the right shape, not take a big cut and hope you get lucky.

If you do consider a bench grinder you should practice first on a scrap of similar aluminum. I found a grinder to bend a piece of aluminum if it was held directly on the wheel. Make sure you know the impact of your actions before you apply them to the expensive parts.

While you're doing these measurements and careful removal of material, be sure to be aware of the placement of the holes. As you get close you might even install three or four bolts on each fit check to be sure that the positioning you're sneaking up on will match the location of the threads.

There is a point in this process where a hand file is the perfect tool, especially for those odd little edges of the wing skin that jut out into the inset you're trying to fill. A half-round file will let you shape the plate to match the hole with fewer trips back to the work bench.

Also be aware of the need to have the plate clean before the trial fit on the wing. Dust of various types could be carried into the tanks, and you can't have a cardboard catcher during this phase since the holding wires would be in the way of fitting.

f2fit.jpg The final step in fitting is the smoothing of the edges. Aluminum, the material we're working with here, can be easily sanded with a fine grit sandpaper. Use a file to knock of any burrs, then smooth the edge by hand with sandpaper, as shown here.

You will want to practice this before the final fit to get an idea of how much material will be removed. It's not much, but since we're doing this job why not shoot for perfect!

Be careful not to mar the top surface of the plate with a slip of the file or sandpaper. The Monarch people gave us a beautiful top, let's keep it that way!

I suppose in a perfect world you could protect it with tape, but a word to the wise should suffice.

npaint4.jpg It's time to think about painting. You have two choices: you can paint the plates ahead of time or mask them off after installation and do it on the airplane. Your choice.

In my case I did both, but not by choice. I'll let this unfold.. no reason to get ahead of the story! :-)

Painting is painting, and if you're going to do it you'll need to know more than I can tell you here. Mask off the parts that don't get painted, prep the surface with a good cleaning and use a good primer.

npaint5.jpg There are several things that can go wrong with painting, from fish eyes to kamikaze bugs. But the most likely problem will be that after all this excellent work you'll learn that the paint doesn't match like you thought it did.

I'd recommend that you paint a little bit of something first and check that the shade is a good match before proceeding. White is the hardest color to match, and it changes over time. Enlist the aid of an expert on this, you'll thank yourself later.

My only other advice, other than doing everything required to do a good job, is to allow plenty of time for the paint to dry and/or cure. You might avoid the problem I faced.

mgoop.jpg The metal work is done, the cleaning phases seem complete, the paint is drying and all that's left is the glue and bolt phase. How hard could it be, right?

Turns out the hard part is figuring out the diabolical little mixing device. It is not completely obvious. Just consider step one from the bag that this device arrived in:

"Pull dasher rod toward the neck of cartridge so that the dasher is at the nozzle end of the cartridge."

This might make sense if you knew what a dasher rod was, which end was the nozzle or if you had a clue how this all worked. Luckily you're reading this so I can explain it!

The plastic bottle contains the glue, while a little pocket of catalyst is tucked inside the hollow tube. The idea is to take the solid rod and push it down inside the hollow tube, pushing the catalyst out into the glue.

So you start by pushing the hollow tube into the bottle, then pushing the solid tube down the center of the hollow tube. It might take some force, it appears that there is a membrane or barrier that needs to be broken down.

Push the solid rod in and out of the hollow rod until you're sure the catalyst is out. You probably won't be able to see it yet, but it's there.

Now remove the solid tube and set it aside.

Inside the plastic bottle is a little mixing wheel. The hollow tube will thread into that wheel if you push it in and turn it clockwise. Once the hollow tube has engaged the mixing wheel you will start to see the effects of the catalyst being stirred in as you turn the hollow tube.

Turn the tube as you move it up and down until the adhesive is entirely mixed. They say to mix it for 5 minutes or 50 strokes.

The instructions do not say anything about pot life, but in my experience I had about an hour to work with the adhesive before it started getting stiff.

Pull the hollow rod out as far as it will go and unthread it from the internal mixing wheel. You might have to impede the rotation of the mixing wheel by squeezing the plastic bottle from the outside. Remove the hollow rod.

Now you can thread on the little dispenser nozzle that comes with it and use it to dispense the adhesive without fuss or muss.

That's all there is to it. Not hard at all, right?

minst.jpg One of the challenges of working with adhesives that have a pot life is that you really need to hurry. I was amazed to download the pictures from this project and have NOT ONE picture of the beautiful job I did spreading the adhesive around the inset.

You'll have to trust me on that, it was a thing of beauty. But by the time I had it done the glue was starting to stiffen and I got to it, pictures be hanged!

This is where your careful fitting earlier will pay off. The plate will fit nicely into it's inset without any tearing of hair or D'oh! sounds, because you checked it twice before the glue was all mixed up and spread out.

Just imagine if you had to pull the plate off and fit it now! But no need, we're set.

Tighten the screws down in a criss-cross pattern, assuring that the plate sits down evenly and smoothly. As you tighten the screws the adhesive will squeeze out in a nice bead around the plate. That's your sign that it sealed properly.. it's a good thing.

You will, however, need to clean up the squeezed out portions before they set. I found that Stoddard solvent cleaned it up nicely, needing just a few dozen paper towels to get it looking good.

This is a good time to have the fuel opening masked off, so as to avoid dumping stuff down into the fuel tanks.

Now for the rest of the story. Since my paint was not yet 2 hours old, the stoddard solvent nicely remove it as well! So after all my nice work as documented above, my project was not over.

paint1.jpg Masking of the plates on the airplane is really pretty simple. I used two methods and found one to be superior for a couple of reasons.

My first idea was to use plastic electricians tape to follow the curve of the plate. That worked pretty well but had two problem. First, it tended to lift and return to it's straight form, requiring extra effort to get it to lay flat.

Second, when I removed it I found that it pulled little flakes of paint off my wing! Perhaps the paint was not as solid as it should be on that part of my airplane, and the paint is getting old, but I was not pleased to see the impact on the surface.

paint2.jpg The second method went much better. I used a wide paint masking tape and just taped over the top, then cut the curves out with a box knife. That was easier and better in all respects.

Be sure to use plenty of newspaper and seal the edges. Overspray really travels across a flat surface like that and a good primer will stick to anything, including windows and antennas.
paint3.jpg Finally we do a good cleaning of the surface, prime and cover coat. All the same rules apply, but luckily this is a broad, flat surface, on top, and pretty easy to do.

A day or two for curing and finally we get to see the results! Naturally we go back to the first painting advice I gave, which was to check for a color match before painting.

Since I did not follow that fine advice myself, I learned that the white paint that used to match my airplane no longer seems to match. So my project is STILL not over. I'll post a followup once I get it right. It won't take much to lift the paint back off and do a better job.

xdone1.jpg If I had it to do over again in the timeframe I had available I would probably still have gone ahead with this paint. Why? Because it's the closest paint I had, and I would not want to send the airplane out without paint on the plates. Weather does bad things to raw aluminum while you're getting around to getting the right paint.

So even off color paint is better than no paint. Perhaps this is the excuse I needed to repaint the entire airplane..??

Then the last step: application of the proper placard for your aircraft. We've all heard the stories of over-zealous Feds who ground any airplane without the proper placards, and although the risk seems low it's still good to have the right labels. Just wait for the paint to cure out a little before putting them on.

Finally it's over! The total time used was a long afternoon, with several interruptions from neighbors, visitors and the other normal effects of a beautiful fall day at the airport.

The caps look great on there, as least as long as I look from the edge where my paint doesn't show. I'll feel good about parking outdoors again, and will sample my fuel with a little less trepidation.

In the end it was not a bad project at all. My hands didn't get cut up, and didn't have to lie on my back or squint at tiny parts far too close to my eyes. There was no easy way to drop a screw or washer into an invisible place, and all the parts I needed were there.

If you're looking at doing this project I would not hesitate in the least. Just be sure you have a good painting plan before you get started!

Keith Peterson, 1999


These pages are a collection of the ideas and impressions of the Cardinal pilots who frequent this site. This information is anecdotal, informal and may not be completely accurate. The Cardinal Flyers are not certified mechanics and do not guarantee the accuracy of the contents of these pages. Please research and confirm anything that is referenced on these pages with the experts appropriate to your situation.

As always, the Cessna maintenance, operations and flight manuals, and the advice of a certified mechanic and flight instructor, should be your primary sources of information regarding safe maintenance and operation of your aircraft.



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