lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> In a message dated 12/27/2001 10:26:35 PM Mountain Standard Time, lancair.list@olsusa.com writes: << I'm about to apply bottom wing skins to my 320. I see no mention in the manual regarding installation of fuel level senders. I would like to have fuel indication for both wing tanks as well as the header tank. What have other builders done about this? >> I have. I am using 24-inch capacitance fuel probes in each wing, and a 12 inch probe in the header tank (trimmed to fit). The uppermost 5 (or is it 7??) inches of the 24 inch probe is bendable, and the rest must remain straight. I have mounted the probe to the inboard side of the BL-50 rib that's attached to the wing. I have a large access hole in the BL-50 rib attached to the stub wing. Referring to the BL-50 rib attached to the outer wing, I floxed the metal plate (into which the probe is mounted) to the surface of the rib that's submerged in fuel. I then overlapped this plate with a 2-or-3 BID for extra strength and sealing (same technique as all the little threaded brass blocks we've installed elsewhere in the fuel tanks). I then scooped out the honeycomb where the probe head goes so that there's room for the probe head between the two BL-50 ribs. I closed out that area with micro and 2-BID, too. The 24 inch probe gets a pretty significant U-shape so that the sensing portion of the probe is at the bottom of the fuel tank. The probe bends upwards and terminates just inboard of the "anti-slosh" rib. That outer bay of the 2-bay tank has no fuel probe. Some guys use 4-foot probes and drill a hole through that anti-slosh rib. No in-flight comments yet -- I'm still building. Let me know if you need more info (or a sketch). - Rob Wolf LML website: http://members.olsusa.com/mkaye/maillist.html LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair Please remember that purchases from the Builders' Bookstore assist with the management of the LML. Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.