Thread: Wing Tape Tear

My apologies if I'm posting on a previously discussed topic.

During pre-flight this weekend I noticed that the tape on top of the wing where it meets the fuselage had pulled apart with an 1/8" to 1/4" wide gap in the tape going from the leading edge of the wing to the back. The tear in middle of the tape was the same on the top of both wings - front to back.

Clearly there's been some flexing of the wings against the fuselage to cause the tear and I'm wondering if others have had this occur, and if it's normal or not?

Thanks,

Philip

Philip Ross
N860LS

Hi Philip,

The tears in the Bolus maxi tape can be normal if it was pulled tight or strectched when being applied and it is cold out. When you apply this tape just lay it down don't try and pull it tight. On the front leading edge I put a double layer about 6" back from top and bottom. This helps keep it looking nice instead of the wind pressure caving it in and splitting it. When the tapes come off the stabilator I use the Bolus tape there too. When you put it on the trim tab gap lift the stabilator all the way to its full up position to apply it to the under side and the full down position when you apply it to the top. This allows the tape to flex as you move the stabilator up and down and won't tear or crack the tape. I use the 1" tape for wings, stabilator and under-fin.

Roger, the devil's in the details. Good info to know about setting the stabilator up and down before apply the tape and to apply the extra layer to the front-of-wing gaps. Thanks.

Dick

Roger,

I really appreciate your comments about the tape. I'll be sure to apply the tape as you suggest, and also not "worry" that the wings were going to fall off! : )

Thanks Roger,

Philip

I just got some Bowlus one-inch. Now, with what does one remove the glue left over when the old tape is removed? - WF

The only thing that worked for me was acetone.........

Go to Ace Hardware or Home Depot and get some "Goof Off". It will take the old tape residue right off. If you have the old cloth type tape it takes just a little elbow grease. Acetone is too harsh a chemical.

From Mike Bowlus (inventor of the tape):

Originally Posted by Mike Bowlus

"Any adhesive residue should always be cleaned up with lighter fluid, never MEK, acetone or lacquer thinner. Lighter fluid will not harm paint, gel coat or canopies. Never get anything near any airplane that will harm the canopy! I have heard of guys dropping a container and having lacquer thinner splatter on a canopy, NIGHTMARE!"

Goof Off is just like lighter fluid. It won't hurt the glass. Even smells a lot like it.

I had the old cloth tape on the lower dorsal fin of my plane which left the yellow adhesive. The Goof Off will soften this and there's another product called De-Solv-It which may work a little better than Goof Off. Both are sold at ACE hardware. Actually, I ended up softening the adhesive with De-Solv-It and then took my pocket knife to what remained. Using a very shallow angle with the blade and sitting in a chair, I gently scraped it all off. It took a couple of sessions to get both sides. The epoxy paint is pretty hard and didn't show any (maybe a few shallow) scratches but all were covered when the new bolus tape was applied.