Sealent for the gas tank hatch?

[abl1111]

When I went to re-install my fuel hatch, most of the screw holes in the floor ( not the hatch ) were oversized from years of use. I did not want to use larger screws - the heads would be too big.

So, I took some extra cured, 1/4" thick fiberglass sheet I had laying around and cut several, about (10) or so, 1/2" x 1" pcs out of it ( enough pcs for each hole ). I took some 80 grit sand paper and roughed up the under sides of the oversized holes a bit - and one side of thses pcs I just cut.

I mixed up some epoxy and cabosil to a mayonaise consistency and put a dolop on each small pc of fiberglass I had cut and placed them under each hole where I had just sanded.

The epoxy kicked in 24 hours. Those pcs of small fiberglass "became one" with that lip where the screws go through. I then put the hatch in place and drilled pilot holes thru to the those fiberglass " patches " I made.

Then installed screws w/ caulk life. That hatch is not going anywhere! Ever ! It's a great fix for a common problem...

alan