REFLECTOR: SERG Fuel Lines
Tom Falls
tomfalls6 at gmail.com
Fri Jun 3 21:20:09 CDT 2011
FYI for those that have not built their strakes: I just completed sealing
the interior of my right strake (top still needs to be installed), I did a
test to determine "unusable fuel" in the strake with the airplane leveled in
all directions. Note; I took Scott Swings advice and DID NOT install a fuel
pick-up in the space aft of the gear leg (and just forward of the center
spar). Hence the reason for my test. Per his suggestion, I did create a sump
pit about 3" x 3" forward of the gear leg but aft of the baggage compartment
for the single finger-strainer/ fuel pick-up point. I found that the area
behind the leg/wheel well would hold less than 1 quart (< 1/4 gallon) before
the fuel (water in my test) would flow around forward of the wheel well and
then inward toward the sump/fuel pick-up point. This modification from the
plans is a simpler install and, as tested, has minimal impact on usable
fuel. Thought I'd pass this on so others could benefit from this
modification and understand the tested and verified trade-off.
Also, I did a test of the capacity of my sump tank. It's still in its raw
state (as delivered from the factory), but I filled it full of water while
supporting it with the aft side up and level ( like a brownie pan). It held
exactly 2 gallons. If (a big if in this case) we could get the low fuel
sender at the very top of the sump tank, we'd have only 15 minutes of run
time at 8 GPH (reasonable for a IO-360). Considering the low fuel sender
will not be at the very top of the sump, and if it's susceptible to false
alarms as I've read many do have an issue with, then the low fuel warning to
the pilot once acknowledged to be real, leaves scant little time to find a
suitable landing site and get it on the ground. What are the
options/solutions to getting (or ensuring) a reasonable amount of low fuel
warning?
Thanks,
Tom
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