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N12055 SN79 Coming Back http://thorp18.com/thorpforum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=7876 |
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Author: | dan [ Sun Dec 27, 2015 10:57 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
Hi John, MY valve is on the tank bottom also, Stainless ball Valve. I welded a reinforcement washer (1/8) thk around and to the tank bung, shaped it to the tank first it's about 3" OD. Obviously it was not needed as that area is curved and rigid. I have no HArd Fuel lines, all Neoprene high grade Fuel hose, 1/2" to the Gasgalator , 3/8" to the Carb, Gravity fed. I do have fire sleeve on everything firewall forward, simple few parts & very effective ....Dan |
Author: | Tony Ginn [ Wed Dec 30, 2015 12:09 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
That shut off valve looks just like the one I had to rebuild before Christmas. It had a very slow drip in my 1947 Aeronca SuperChief. First drip in 17 years of ownership. On 27 December my T-18 turned 23 years old (so of course we went flying!). It has a SS ball valve that has never dripped or seeped or even got tough to turn. -- Tony |
Author: | Rich Brazell [ Wed Dec 30, 2015 3:59 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
Attachment: This looks similar to the beast in question ? RB |
Author: | TonyNZ [ Wed Dec 30, 2015 6:54 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
Agree with John. My set up is the same and has caused no problems in 26 yrs. I think where a problem can occur is when the valve is turned off and on at each flight. If the valve is stiff to turn the cyclic left/right loading may fatigue the tank outlet. Just a thought that's all. Tony S ZK-VMS T18C |
Author: | lance38dt [ Wed Dec 30, 2015 7:56 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
Good info rich always good to have pic to go along with text. |
Author: | jtwigg [ Sun Jan 03, 2016 10:33 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
pilotjk, good luck with your engine rebuild. When do you think you'll have it flying again? |
Author: | Fraser MacPhee [ Wed Jan 13, 2016 11:48 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
Interesting - I've never heard of a cockpit controlled gascolator fuel drain. If it were me, I would stay away from that setup and just put it on the checklist to manually drain the gascolator sump when you do your walkaround. This way you can see visually see the presence of any water, sediment, body part, or a stray sock that could plug the fuel system or find themselves trapped in the gascolator sump. Stay safe |
Author: | jrevens [ Wed Jan 13, 2016 12:42 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
The cable control is in the engine compartment, not into the cockpit, Frase. A spring loaded, cable operated valve is necessary. The valve that's on there now probably has a 1/8" npt thread... it unscews and can probably be replaced with what you are talking about. The usual reason for doing the cable system would be because the valve was difficult or impossible to get to without removing the cowl - a bigger deal with a Cessna than with most Thorps. The valve could also be replaced with one that is just pushed, rather than the one you now have that is pushed & turned (& will remain open if you want it to). If you can reach it, I think that I would keep what you have like Frase said. |
Author: | Fraser MacPhee [ Wed Jan 13, 2016 12:55 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
Ah yes - I do remember those now that you mention it - dunno why I was thinking in the cockpit......mussbee getting old....been awhile since I was in a cessna.... |
Author: | ljkrume [ Wed Jan 13, 2016 2:38 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
The gascolator on N48LK is similar to the picture you show, and I think a lot of others are too. Mine is recessed also, above a small access hole in the cowl, and it's a safety thing I read about one time. In case of failed gear and a belly landing it's less likely to break off and get fuel everywhere. I use a short piece of 3/4" alum. tube with a couple of notches in one end to push on the valve tangs. The fuel drains down inside the tube to a sample cup for preflight. I was thinking about this just today with such cold temps here. After opening a fuel selector that's been off, any water in the tank would take a while to get through the plumbing and gascolator. It's smart to drain a good amount for preflight. Les Krumel Albuquerque |
Author: | Rich Brazell [ Wed Jan 13, 2016 5:08 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
Hey dude ! You found my sock ! RB |
Author: | jtwigg [ Wed Jan 13, 2016 9:00 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: N12055 SN79 Coming Back |
Wow! Fraser - yes, it's in the engine compartment. I may have to do the manual drain like was suggested by ljkrume with the notched tube. jrevens - I hadn't considered the push-type valve and that would suit me well. I wouldn't mind crawling around under the engine to push a tube up against a push valve - it seems like it would be easier. I have to replace that existing push&turn valve anyway. After all these good suggestions, I think I'll skip trying to hook up that cable to the gascolator and just replace the little valve on the bottom of the gascolator with a push-type valve that has a little pipe nipple below it and I'll use ljkrume's tube idea to drain the fuel into a bottle where I can check for water. I think that's better than the old' Cessna habit of just pulling on the cable and letting the plane "pee" on the ground where you don't have a chance to check for water. This is an excellent forum, guys, and I appreciate all the help. The education for me from this one thread is: 1) a simpler set up with less parts to go wrong or maintain, 2) less risk than what I was considering because of some sort of lever connected to the cable that could encourage leaking, 3) I would actually be able to see the water in the fuel, 4) less weight by eliminating the unused cable, and 5) less cost because I only buy a little valve that needs replaced anyway. I still don't know how Cessna engineered it, but I'm going to our Chapter meeting on Friday and I'm going to take a peek. Rich - you probably didn't want that sock back anyway! jrevens - are the valves in the link below what you had in mind? http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/ep/ ... afair.html |
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