Fuel Filler Neck Grommet / Seal

I guess this is a long-shot, but here goes:

I'm aware of the fuel filler neck trim rings such as supplied by George Race, but I lucked out and my 750's filler necks fit fairly symmetrically in the pre-cut holes in the top skins of my wings. Consequently, I just caulked the area with a paintable caulk.

What I did not foresee is that the fuel tanks would expand and contract just enough to cause the fuel filler neck to ever-so-slightly work up-and-down through the top skin hole! That caused the paint to crack between the filler neck and the edge of the top skin hole. It's not too unsightly and can only be seen by the person fueling the tank (me), but being a typical type-A builder, I think it would look better and provide a seal if a rubber grommet was at the juncture of the filler neck and the top skin. I also think a black grommet would look good against my "Gecko Green" paint. I "think" I've seen these used on Pipers, etc.

The filler neck is 2.3" o.d.. Probably a grommet with a 2.25" i.d. would stretch-over the filler neck and work. Anybody been there/done that? Searching the "aviation departments" of the auto parts stores doesn't work very well - most of the time, they don't list the i.d.'s of the grommets,  instead, they just want to know the year and make of automobile you're trying to fit the grommet to!

John

N750A

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lawrence Van Egmond on July 26, 2013 at 10:58pm

The rubber seal between your toilet tank and toilet fits nicely over the filler neck and it is black.

Permalink Reply by John Austin on July 27, 2013 at 7:21am

Hey, not such a long-shot, after all!

 

I'll browse the "aviation department" at Lowes and see what I can find. Might be a good idea to really saturate it with a UV inhibitor before installation.

 

"Tanks" (pun intended!),

 

John

N750A

Permalink Reply by Jon Crew on August 1, 2013 at 5:50pm

John:  I have had on occaision been forced to make Orings from stock material.  The Oring kits for making them come with a special glue which turns out to be just methylmethacrylate.  super glue.  You can buy a grommet or some weatherstrip material and make the right size by cutting them, cleaning with acetone and gluing together. I have seen grommets on filler necks before on vehicles and the such but can't remember where.  You may want to venture into a upick autowrecking place and look at the multitudes of cars they have available. Most filler necks are the same size I believe.  Many cars also have nice  lighted rockerswitch subpanels that can be used in the plane as well. 

Jon

Permalink Reply by Tim Smart on April 7, 2014 at 1:23am

Hello John,

Did you ever come up with a grommet?  I'm about to cut the filler neck hole in my top skin and was wondering about a grommet to install. 

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