Check Out This Crap!

[fiveboy]

Long story short - I decided that since I bought my ship used and it needed a fuel gauge - I might as well take the seat off and flush the main tank real well and replace all the fittings while I was mucking around with installing a sensor....

Good thing I did. This is what I found. This stuff was all impacted into the elbow that sends fuel from the tank bottom to the fuel line. I mean it was packed in. I had to use a tweezer. I found even more after I took these photos!!

The aircraft must have been flying with one third the actual fuel flow it should have.

I cant wait to see how she performs now!

What a wake up call.

Rob

 

[gyroplanes]

Long story short - I decided that since I bought my ship used and it needed a fuel gauge - I might as well take the seat off and flush the main tank real well and replace all the fittings while I was mucking around with installing a sensor....

Good thing I did. This is what I found. This stuff was all impacted into the elbow that sends fuel from the tank bottom to the fuel line. I mean it was packed in. I had to use a tweezer. I found even more after I took these photos!!

The aircraft must have been flying with one third the actual fuel flow it should have.

I cant wait to see how she performs now!

What a wake up call.

Rob

It looks like debris from the grommet hole drilling process.
Someone didn't follow directons.

 

[Fl90]

As long as you had the correct CHT and EGT, the engine was getting the fuel it needed. If you have an electric fuel pump, it will have less workload.

Glad you found that how you did. Finding it after a fuel starvation would have been the pits.

Phil.

 

[automan1223]

last 1 %

last 1 %

Rob,

I have mentioned it before. Building, maintaining and flying experimental aircraft is not for the lazy, or carefree.

It is that last 1% that will get you. A good reason to have 2 drains so that they wont get clogged unless you have a large load of gunk in your tank. I also like to drill and tap a larger end into the remaining end of those push in metal fittings. I also drill out the larger end i.d of the fitting so that it has a solid 1/4" to flow.

once a year it is a good idea to pull all the fittings, place new gromet in the hole, blow some air thru the fitting, inspect etc.

I am also using fast dry 3m marine grade 5200 to perfect a better seal around the gromets o.d when they go in the tanks.

Jonathan

 

[M. Pearce]

Rob,

Dude, thank God you decided to investigate and check things out while your down with the fuel gauge.

Goes to show that when we buy second hand we can't take anything for granted.

I rebuild tractors just for kicks and found a decent fuel sediment bowl on ebay for the Ford 9N tractor.

These sedement bowls have a prefilter screen.

I might use one of these on my build.

I like to see what my engine is getting.


Check it out;

https://cgi.ebay.com/2N-9N-8N-NAA-F...ryZ63974QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


It might fit.

 

[fiveboy]

Elaborate Please

Elaborate Please

Rob,

I also like to drill and tap a larger end into the remaining end of those push in metal fittings. I also drill out the larger end i.d of the fitting so that it has a solid 1/4" to flow.
Jonathan

Jonathan - elaborate on what you mean here please. Also - is there some trick to getting those fittings to seat eaily into the grommet once they are in place? I was pushing so hard I nearly caved in my seat tank... I know that spit or soap might help but is there some old timer trick I need to know?

Rob

 

[automan1223]

The fix.

The fix.

I take a 1/4 " drill bit and drill out the inner diameter of the larger end. It is stepped inside and is not fully open to 1/4"

Then I mill off the smaller end and drill to accept a 1/8" pipe tap to thread a 5/16 or 3/8 barb with male 1/8 pipe thread end.

Will try and take a photo or 2.

Spray silicone works like magic on push in fittings.

Do not use any oil, lube grease etc.

Jonathan

 

[GyroChuck]

is there some trick to getting those fittings to seat eaily into the grommet once they are in place?

Dick Wunderlich used to put the rubber grommets in his cup of hot coffee. After they were heated up he would put them in the tank along with the fitting. Worked really well.

 

[Timchick]

Rob,
The elbow on my seat tank has a metal screen on the end that goes up into the tank. I think I got it from Tom Milton but I could be mistaken. It would prevent that from happening to the elbow. Of course, the real way to prevent that from happening is not to let that junk get into the tank.

 

[fiveboy]

Roger that!

 

[fiveboy]

Quick Work

Quick Work

Dick Wunderlich used to put the rubber grommets in his cup of hot coffee. After they were heated up he would put them in the tank along with the fitting. Worked really well.

I also found that by putting the fittings in with my sodas and letting them cool down really well - I could then get them into the grommets really easily and all the way by spraying them with silicone, then using a wood block and a quick mallet tap.