Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #56150
From: <Sky2high@aol.com>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] Dukes fuel pump problem follow-up
Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:10:56 -0400
To: <lml@lancaironline.net>
Russell,
 
Interesting.  Those of us that feed the boost pump from a full header tank are less likely to have your experience because there is a small fuel head pressure that helps prime the pump. 
 
Booster pump placement in a low wing airplane (with no header to feed it) is more critical and it seems that the most successful installations are with the pump on the floor of the cockpit since this is typically below the fuel level in the wings.  Thus, there is no need to "suck" the fuel in an environment where the pump is located above wing fuel.
 
Scott Krueger
 
In a message dated 9/8/2010 10:49:12 A.M. Central Daylight Time, N2AA@att.net writes:

Everyone thanks for your response.

 

After lengthy evaluation and communications with Dukes and CJ aviation I have learned the following.

 

The Dukes pump is designed for “intermittent duty only” and is not a self priming pump. It does not have a thermal overload relay. I also found out that the tolerances in the pump are not well controlled.

 

Unfortunately I have been unable to reproduce the failure that I experienced last week. All electrical connections check out properly. The aircraft only has 140 hours on it.

 

I have decided to replace the Dukes pump with a Weldon pump.

 

The Weldon pump is designed for “continuous duty” and is self priming. These are two big advantages over the Dukes. Also the tolerances are well controlled.

 

I have ordered the Weldon pump with electronic controller from CJ Aviation. I will have the pump by the beginning of next week. Which is a much better delivery time than getting a Dukes.

 

 

Regards

Russell Steiner

N2AA, legacy

 

original posting.

Has anybody run into this problem?

Yesterday after flying into a field the Dukes of electric fuel pump would not run at all. I was forced to leave the aircraft at the field because I couldn't get the engine started.

The field elevation was 1300 feet and it was close to 90°. The density altitude was about 3000 feet for the day.

Today I returned to the field tools in hand to carry out a rescue. Surprisingly the electric fuel pump worked!? Why?

I was able to fly the aircraft home.

I concerned about flying the aircraft until this issue is diagnosed and resolved.

 

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