Fuel smell in RAF cabin

[Hoges]

I think I have narrowed down a fuel smell in my RAF cabin to the fuel level sensor (photo attached) in my seat tank.
Has anyone had any experience with these leaking? It may just be the thread not sealing.
I am not sure how to remove it as the internal sensor hits the inside of the tank when trying to unscrew it. Does it need to be dismantled to remove it?
Any help appreciated.
Scott
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[Harry_S.]

Hi Scott,

That's a different model sender than what I have installed. Mine sits about 1 1/2" above the tank.

Some builders installed a vent line and routed it outside the cabin. That could eliminate your problem.

I don't fly with the doors but I do wrap her up with a big sheet, clothespinned around the door opening, when she's hangared. When I remove the sheet prior to the pre-flight, I do get a whiff of gas smell but it dissipates right away. I didn't consider it a problem and I don't have a vent installed either. If I flew with doors and had your problem, I would probably install a flex line and vent it outside.


Cheers :)

[Hoges]

Thanks Harry,
It doesn't appear to have a vent anywhere obvious but next time I'm at the hangar I'll have a look.
Do you have any pics of your setup?
Scott
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[Harry_S.]

Don't have a foto available, Scott.

I'll make one, next time I'm at the strip.


Cheers :)

[birdy]

My old RAF tank breathed through the cap.

[Hoges]

Hi Birdy,
Yeah, mine does too but it's developed an extra lung in the cabin somewhere and I think it's this fuel gauge.
Did you have the same one?
Scott
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MARIJUANA VAPORIZERS (http://weedvaporizers.info/)

[dragonflyerthom]

Scott

I have the same smell but I think I have it gassing at the neck where the rubber connects it to the tank. But that is just mine.

[Harry_S.]

Thanks Harry,
It doesn't appear to have a vent anywhere obvious but next time I'm at the hangar I'll have a look.
Do you have any pics of your setup?
Scott



Scott,

Took this foto today. I didn't know it was this dirty or I would have cleaned it up a bit, altho, that is about 10 yrs. accumulation. :rolleyes:

Another thing I hadn't noticed as you can readily see in the foto, is the fuel vapor stain at the guage mounting and the fuel tube at the top and bottom.

Do you have the plug that is to the right of the tank sender? My seat tank is the one piece plastic original version. I believe the fellas that installed an overboard vent used that hole. I wonder if they have those vapor stains with the vent tube?!

One other point...I have only had a full 23 gal. fuel load twice in ten yrs. and not over a 15 gal. load in the past 8-9 yrs. so it couldn't be from fuel sloshing in the tank methinks.


Cheers :)

[birdy]

Did you have the same one?
Yup, zactly same.
Mine used to stink me out occasionaly too, but its usualy coz of material shrinkage over time. Just run over the systm and tighten all clamps, theres a good chance youll find one thats abit slack.

[lanichol]

I have 4 connections. fuel guage, fuel filler, fuel return, & fuel filler pump. I have similar discoloration. And don't trust these plastic fuel tank connections if the gyro were to have a roll over.

I would rather have something like Stan is doing on his heli fuel tank.

Has anyone built connections similar to Stan's on a RAF?

[Harry_S.]

Scott,

I just took another look at your foto and noticed you have considerable dis-coloration of the fabric at the filler tube?!

When assembling the tank, did you grind away the plastic shoulder inside at the top and bottom of the filler neck?

I read somewhere, it may have been in the manual, that if that shoulder was not removed for a smooth fuel flow...when adding fuel, it's possible to slosh back off that shoulder and have an accumulation at that point with the filler hose?!

Your dis-coloration spread seems a bit more than just vapor stain.


Cheers :)

[Hoges]

Harry,
The fuel stain is an old one as this was the first thing I checked. I didn't like the idea of my EFI return fuel constantly running over a spigot the 'wrong' way (I'm a plumber) so I altered the filler to fit inside the tank neck a bit so there was no chance of leakage from this down facing rubber socket/tank spigot joint.
Interestingly, I can't see the small fitting next to the gauge connection in your photo. The seat cover must be over it and I can't feel the nut through the cover. I'll bet that's the where it's coming from. Will pull the seat cover back to have a look.
Birdy,
all the joints seem nice and tight but I'm not looking forward to replacing them under that seat tank one day.
Scott
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[Harry_S.]

all the joints seem nice and tight but I'm not looking forward to replacing them under that seat tank one day.
Scott



Me neither. :(


Cheers :)