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From: "Bill Bradburry" <bbradburry@bellsouth.net>
To: "'Rotary motors in aircraft'" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
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Subject: Intermittent fuel pressure loss
Date: Mon, 27 May 2013 10:09:06 -0400
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Has anyone had an instance of intermittent failure of the fuel pumps?  A
couple of days ago the engine started to intermittently lose power and
changed tanks. (both tanks were low, about 5 gal in right and 10 or so in
left)  The problem stopped so I thought I had unported the right tank.
Several minutes later it started again on the left tank and I turned on the
other fuel pump.  That seemed to stop it again.  I still suspected that I
had unported the tanks.

A couple of days later, I took off with about 45 gal and after about a 30
min flight, the engine lost power again twice.  I turned the other fuel pump
on and the problem stopped.

My fuel system goes thru a Gascolator then to the two pumps, then to a fuel
filter.  I assume that the Gascolator or the fuel filter could be getting
clogged, but I don't think that the other pump would bring the pressure back
if that were the case.  I only have about 70 flight hours on the pump and
maybe about 100 hours total including ground runs.

Also on the flight back, I had both pumps on and showing 40 lbs of pressure.
I then turned the secondary pump off and the pressure held at 40 lbs.  This
strikes me that it is an intermittent pump failure.  I plan to clean the
Gascolator, replace the fuel filter, and replace the pump.

Any thoughts, suggestions, experiences?  

My wife was with me on the last incident and I don't think she is interested
in trying to join Ed's glider club!

Bill B