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My filler neck touches the bottom of the stainless steel box. I believe this is normal. How bad is your interference?

Chris,
I think it is hitting the bottom, but I also believe this interference on the bottom is not letting me slide the tank forward all the way. I will have to check the glareshield height. I don't believe I can get a good photo because this is all hidden with the tank in place.

Mine was a very tight fit. I had to sit in the seat and push as hard as I could with my feet. It does not hit the SS filler neck. I did test fit it before I riveted the glare shield and upper firewall. I had to cut the tanks neck to get the cap below the door. Then I installed the glare shield. Then the tank. Then the upper firewall then the straps. If you are installing with the straps bolted and the glare shield off the tank may be sitting high on the aft end causing the interference. I had to use a longer bolt on the aft strap.

Bryan Cotton wrote:It seems like my filler neck is interfering inside the tunnel. Anybody else have this issue?

Same on mine, did not like the fact that mine rested on the relatively sharp edge at firewall. Shimmed up the tank by placing 1/8" strips of plastic on top of forward angle, and making new firewall filler box. Also incorporated spill catch trough into that new box.

David A.

It may take a few good kicks to get the tank into place, but once it is in place I am confident it will seat properly. Even the Sonex instructions show that you have to sit on the seat and push vigorously with both feet. It may not seem like it is going to go in, but it will.

Jake

I waited to drill the rivet holes in my glareshield until after test fitting the fuel tank. The angle of the upper firewall can be tweaked a bit by adjusting the position of the firewall attach angles (the ones between the glareshield and upper firewall) slightly fore/aft in order to have a good fuel tank fitment.

I already have everything drilled. I did push pretty hard with my legs while seated. I was afraid to bend something.

I removed the tunnel and was able to get the tank in. No problem. I bolted up the aft strap temporarily and tried to cleco the tunnel in. No joy. I am pointing to a line of holes that don't line up at all. I got the two clecos in the top, one on the bottom of the other side, and that is it.

Sadly I have no stainless in my stock of stuff. I am going to buy some and make another tunnel with a bit more room.

Hi Bryan,

I had the same problem with the filler neck pushing down on the tunnel.
I beat a relief in the tunnel floor it to make room but apparently not enough.
After flying with it for 60 hours now, I notice the filler hole in the tank is oval shaped!
I believe the front of the tank neck has finally been pushed upwards and has given at the weakest point... the two sides of the filler hole.
Not so much of a problem with the old style tank cap as it fills the gap, but a possible problem for the screw on.

What am I trying to say..? oh yes, it will be worth remaking the tunnel and not having any interferance on the filler neck!

Cheers
Tony