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.=20 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 ------=_NextPart_000_0081_01C8BB26.8BBD4ED0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

A few more options:

Bing alcohol reistant fuel line (not = sure if it is=20 translucent)

http:= //www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/bingfuel.php

Polyurethane tubing

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/polyurethanetubing.php=

(though in the web page it is not = listed as such in=20 the paper catalog it is listed as"unafected by fuels and = oils")

more polyurethane fuel = line

http:= //www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/fuelline.php

Tygon F-4040-A tube

http://www.hoseline.net/h= ose/fgpvc.htm

Michael in Maine

----- Original Message -----
From:=20 Christopher Barber =
To: Rotary motors in = aircraft

Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 = 5:53 PM

Subject: [FlyRotary] Site gage = tube tore=20 like wet cardboard, YIKES

This may be one of these "known = issues" that I=20 was just clueless about, but a couple of weeks ago I arrived at the = hangar to=20 the strong smell of fuel in the air. Uh oh. I went to the = plane=20 and found about a 1/4 inch of fuel in the fuselage. What = gives? I=20 had just removed the old engine (13b) to build a new one when I found = coolant=20 in the rotor housings. I thought that perhaps moving the fuel = lines=20 around behind the firewall may have allowed fuel to flow in a wired = way and it=20 drained into the cabin.....not sure, but first things first, lets = clean the=20 fuel up......anyone got a cigarette???? <g>

After all was clean and no more = fuel was=20 leaking I put the issue on the back burner to think about it and to = check all=20 the lines. I am waiting for the PSRU to come back from Tracy so = I am=20 doing some major "clean up" of "proof of concept" wire runs=20 etc.

As I was re-running the wire that = goes to the=20 strake (Velocity SE) fuel sender I had to move the wire around the = "clear"=20 tubing that is used as a site gage in the strake luggage area. = To my=20 shock the tubing ripped with just a slight touch. In my dismay I = pressed=20 it with my fingernail and my nail cut clean through it. I looked = and=20 found a crack on the pilot side tubing. Hmmmmmm, since I checked = all my=20 aluminum connections inside the cabin and all were secure and, the = sump was=20 still full of fuel I am guessin' I found my fuel leak.

Is this common? What did I do = wrong? =20 My first thought is this clear tubing is NOT compatible with auto gas. = I have=20 been fuel with local auto gas from the local station. I don't = remember=20 but it MAY have some ethanol included. I do not have much = concerns there=20 is issue with the tanks themselves as they were coated with Jeffco way = back=20 when.

What tubing would y'all recommend for = this use,=20 that is clear AND not subject to deteriorating? Really, it tore = like wet=20 cardboard. I must have completely missed earlier discussion on = this=20 problem. But, alas, would much rather find it now. I got = some=20 regular black fuel lines to use until I find a solution so I can = continue my=20 engine development as my PSRU arrived back today.

Thanks all.

All the best,

Chris

Houston

Velocity SE/FG w/ rotary=20 13b

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