REFLECTOR: Site gage tube tore like wet cardboard, YIKES

[jewen at comporium.net]

Chris,
Did you use the tubing supplied with the kit?  The tubing that came with my kit was slightly yellow, I believe it is likely tygon.  Tygon should resist fuels OK, while others such as clear PVC will deteriorate.  I like many others have installed the atkins units.
Joe


---- Original message ----
>Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 17:53:55 -0500
>From: "Christopher Barber" <CBarber at texasattorney.net>  
>Subject: REFLECTOR: Site gage tube tore like wet cardboard, YIKES  
>To: "COZY Mailing List" <cozy_builders at mailman.qth.net>, "FlyRotary aircraft" <flyrotary at lancaironline.net>, "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
>
>   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
>________________
>_______________________________________________
>To change your email address, visit http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
>Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
>user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
>Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
>Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html