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
-----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.
Velocity SE/FG w/ rotary 13b