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This may be one of these "known issues" that I was
just clueless about, but a couple of weeks ago I arrived at the hangar to the
strong smell of fuel in the air. Uh oh. I went to the plane and
found about a 1/4 inch of fuel in the fuselage. What gives? I had
just removed the old engine (13b) to build a new one when I found coolant in the
rotor housings. I thought that perhaps moving the fuel lines around behind
the firewall may have allowed fuel to flow in a wired way and it drained into
the cabin.....not sure, but first things first, lets clean the fuel
up......anyone got a cigarette???? <g>
After all was clean and no more fuel was
leaking I put the issue on the back burner to think about it and to check all
the lines. I am waiting for the PSRU to come back from Tracy so I am doing
some major "clean up" of "proof of concept" wire runs etc.
As I was re-running the wire that goes to the
strake (Velocity SE) fuel sender I had to move the wire around the "clear"
tubing that is used as a site gage in the strake luggage area. To my shock
the tubing ripped with just a slight touch. In my dismay I pressed it with
my fingernail and my nail cut clean through it. I looked and found a crack
on the pilot side tubing. Hmmmmmm, since I checked all my aluminum
connections inside the cabin and all were secure and, the sump was still full of
fuel I am guessin' I found my fuel leak.
Is this common? What did I do wrong? My
first thought is this clear tubing is NOT compatible with auto gas. I have been
fuel with local auto gas from the local station. I don't remember but it
MAY have some ethanol included. I do not have much concerns there is issue
with the tanks themselves as they were coated with Jeffco way back
when.
What tubing would y'all recommend for this use,
that is clear AND not subject to deteriorating? Really, it tore like wet
cardboard. I must have completely missed earlier discussion on this
problem. But, alas, would much rather find it now. I got some
regular black fuel lines to use until I find a solution so I can continue my
engine development as my PSRU arrived back today.
Thanks all.
All the best,
Chris
Houston
Velocity SE/FG w/ rotary
13b
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