It is getting closer to the time when I put some fuel in this plane. The sump viewing and access hatch needs to be sorted out.

I made this years ago. The idea is that the sump hatch has to be accessible because I am putting a big Holley Hydramat fuel cell pickup filer (11″ x 11″ and 15 microns) in there and one day it may need to be replaced. I also wanted to be able to look inside the sump to check the filter.

After quite some research I settled on the Gasket Dresser and old school cork 1.5mm thick to seal the window area.

This means two cork gaskets. I just cut them from a sheet., The cork is impregnated with Nitrile so not fully old school.

This is the sandwich.

Here’s the sandwich ‘deconstructed’ just before I put it all together. I used the gasket dresser material smeared on both sides of the two corks for the four bonding surfaces.

Assembly was slow but simple.

I was careful to tighten the nuts in a cross pattern. I did get a little squeeze out as I went. I am confident this hatch has a good sealed window now.