Would it matter unless you had a high percentage of = alcohol? Gasohol is supposed to be bad for some fuel components, but I have never = heard that there was any difference in mogas and avgas as far as being = corrosive for fuel systems…??

Bill B

From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Christopher Barber
Sent: Saturday, June 21, = 2008 3:48 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: = Site gage tube tore like wet cardboard, YIKES

Yes, the manual covers the site = gages but it is not written for a rotary install using auto fuel instead of = 100LL.

Chris

-----Original = Message-----
From: Rotary motors in aircraft = [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]On Behalf Of Bill Bradburry
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, = 2008 10:35 AM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: = Site gage tube tore like wet cardboard, YIKES

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

Bill B

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

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