REFLECTOR: Site gage tube tore like wet cardboard, YIKES

[Keith Hallsten]

Chris,

 

I looked at the site gauge setup that came with the kit and started looking
for something more robust.  Vance Atkinson makes a nice permanent site gauge
- I believe that they are available through Velocity as well as directly
from Vance.  A Google search will bring up several builder sites with photos
and info.

 

Keith Hallsten

 

 

  _____  

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Christopher Barber
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 3:54 PM
To: COZY Mailing List; FlyRotary aircraft; Velocity Aircraft Owners and
Builders list
Subject: REFLECTOR: 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

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