Brake fluid reservoir

[MarkCFI]

I have an RV-6 with top mounted rudder pedals.

I realize the attached photo won’t be very helpful but long story short I have some weeping brake fluid where the plastic fitting screws into the firewall mounted brake reservoir. Just enough to be aggravating.

The problem is that the cockpit side of the reservoir is above where the remote avionics are located and I can’t easily get at either the nuts that hold the reservoir in place or the plastic fittings themselves. Not without removing the shelf that holds all the avionics.

If the reservoir was mounted on the passenger side it would be no problem to access. Below are what I think my options are.

1) Move the reservoir or add new reservoir to the passenger side.
2) replace firewall mounted reservoir with individual a-600 cans. Is that possible with my current config?
3) wear sacrificial galoshes when I fly

I would really rather not pull the avionics shelf out as there’s no cowling access panel but I’m thinking I am going to have to do that.

Thoughts?

 

[TS Flightlines]

I have an RV-6 with top mounted rudder pedals.

I realize the attached photo won’t be very helpful but long story short I have some weeping brake fluid where the plastic fitting screws into the firewall mounted brake reservoir. Just enough to be aggravating.

The problem is that the cockpit side of the reservoir is above where the remote avionics are located and I can’t easily get at either the nuts that hold the reservoir in place or the plastic fittings themselves. Not without removing the shelf that holds all the avionics.

If the reservoir was mounted on the passenger side it would be no problem to access. Below are what I think my options are.

1) Move the reservoir or add new reservoir to the passenger side.
2) replace firewall mounted reservoir with individual a-600 cans. Is that possible with my current config?
3) wear sacrificial galoshes when I fly

I would really rather not pull the avionics shelf out as there’s no cowling access panel but I’m thinking I am going to have to do that.

Thoughts?

Plastic fitting is the operative word here.

 

[gasman]

The builder did not follow the instructions. Move the reservoir to the passenger side I.A.W. Van's instructions... he wanted it there for a reason.
You also have a leak in both masters.... so it's really time to just do a complete OH of your brake system.

 

[MarkCFI]

The builder did not follow the instructions. Move the reservoir to the passenger side I.A.W. Van's instructions... he wanted it there for a reason.
You also have a leak in both masters.... so it's really time to just do a complete OH of your brake system.

Yep

Just getting the old reservoir off is going to be a big uncomfortable project due to the remote avionics tray.

I just don’t see a way around pulling the avionics tray.

Thanks

 

[gasman]

Whoever installed the tray knew that access to the fittings on the back of the reservoir would be a problem in the future....
And the future is now.

Just abandon it in place and put it on your to do list when you upgrade that area of the panel.

 

[Stevea]

The builder did not follow the instructions. Move the reservoir to the passenger side I.A.W. Van's instructions... he wanted it there for a reason.
You also have a leak in both masters.... so it's really time to just do a complete OH of your brake system.

The original -6/6A plans show the reservoir mounted on either the left or right side of the firewall...…depending on single sided or dual sided brakes. The system will work fine with the reservoir on either side. (Mine did not leak for 10+ years with the reservoir on the right and only pilot side brakes. Just recently added right side brakes. Full disclosure: I did originally use a brass elbow for the tubing to cylinder connection, not the plastic type shown. But, the plastic ones can work fine at that location.)

The leaks are coming from either the cylinders (past the piston rod on top), or the elbow (past the pipe threads into the cylinder), or the plastic tubing to elbow connection (tired o-ring in the elbow, or not enough free play in the tubing as the rudder pedals move). Then again....it could be a combination of any of the three. Hard to tell from the photo. Looks like things have been leaking for a while.

Fix the leaks. Leave the reservoir where it is.

 

[MarkCFI]

The original -6/6A plans show the reservoir mounted on either the left or right side of the firewall...…depending on single sided or dual sided brakes. The system will work fine with the reservoir on either side. (Mine did not leak for 10+ years with the reservoir on the right and only pilot side brakes. Just recently added right side brakes. Full disclosure: I did originally use a brass elbow for the tubing to cylinder connection, not the plastic type shown. But, the plastic ones can work fine at that location.)

The leaks are coming from either the cylinders (past the piston rod on top), or the elbow (past the pipe threads into the cylinder), or the plastic tubing to elbow connection (tired o-ring in the elbow, or not enough free play in the tubing as the rudder pedals move). Then again....it could be a combination of any of the three. Hard to tell from the photo. Looks like things have been leaking for a while.

Fix the leaks. Leave the reservoir where it is.

I snugged up the lower fittings but it looks like the leak at the top is at the T fitting where it screws in to the reservoir.

And I can’t get on that without removing all the avionics. That’s why I was considering going to the reservoirs on each cylinder directly and ditching the remote reservoir.

I’m going to see if I can somehow get a crow foot or basin wrench on it but I think I’m going to wind up dropping the remotes.

Thanks

 

[MarkCFI]

Plastic fitting is the operative word here.

Sounds like you are aware of some options instead of plastic fittings.

Given that I would like to make what should have been a simple repair a once in a lifetime event can you post or PM me what can replace the plastic ?

Thanks

 

[Stevea]

Ah, got it.

Sounds like you are stuck with “removing one thing, in order to get to a second thing that also has to come out, so you can finally get to the thing that needs repair.” Working on airplanes sometimes goes that way.

It’s probably all doable, just a lot of work. Good luck.

 

[Radioflyer]

That plastic fitting going into the plans brake fluid reservoir seems to be a very common, eventual, leak point, as I have also found out. If you can access the fitting to remove it (not the reservoir itself) , I wonder if it might be possible to replace with metal tubing extension and/or metal fitting with proper thread sealants .
The individual reservoirs mounted to the master cylinders is viable although you would have to assess mechanical or foot interference issues.

 

[MarkCFI]

That plastic fitting going into the plans brake fluid reservoir seems to be a very common, eventual, leak point, as I have also found out. If you can access the fitting to remove it (not the reservoir itself) , I wonder if it might be possible to replace with metal tubing extension and/or metal fitting with proper thread sealants .
The individual reservoirs mounted to the master cylinders is viable although you would have to assess mechanical or foot interference issues.

Correct.

I’m going to post a picture later that shows the only access route to the fittings. I can touch it with my fingertips but can’t really as of yet get a wrench on it.

Also haven’t as of yet been able to get on the nuts that hold the reservoir on. If I could it think I could turn the reservoir to possibly tighten but then don’t think I could get to the nuts to reattach.

I’m thinking about the individual reservoirs as the quickest route to fix. Pancake breakfast season up here in the north is upon us and after a slow winter I’d like to get to as many as possible.

Thanks !

 

[MarkCFI]

Better shot at what I am dealing with.

By reaching through the panel and then the hole in the cowl support I can touch it with my fingertips. No access from below as the avionics tray blocks the path upward.

I’m going to see if I can get on the nuts with an extension and a swivel or use a crows foot on the plastic T.

If not I’m probably going to go with the A-600 individual reservoirs and deal with the bigger job later.

I appreciate all the prior comments.