Does the Velocity kit not have instructions = regarding=20 the fuel tank sight glass? How to? Materials, etc?=20

Bill = B

From:=20 Rotary motors in aircraft = [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On=20 Behalf Of Christopher Barber
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 = 6:54=20 PM
To: = Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Site gage = tube tore=20 like wet cardboard, YIKES

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

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

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

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

What tubing would y'all = recommend=20 for this use, that is clear AND not subject to deteriorating? = Really, it=20 tore like wet cardboard. I must have completely missed earlier=20 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=20 so I can continue my engine development as my PSRU arrived back=20 today.

Thanks=20 all.

All the=20 best,

Chris

Houston

Velocity SE/FG w/ rotary = = 13b