REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

Thu Jun 9 01:16:41 CDT 2011

Tom, Whatever makes you feel comfy!. I'm comfortable with the tygon, clamps and the fact that only 1/3 of the tubing is visible, but not accessible in my application. That's the great part of this.... you can adjust things to your desires... Unfortunately, if you keep adjusting... you never finish :) 

 Kurt 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Falls <tomfalls6 at gmail.com>
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list' <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Wed, Jun 8, 2011 8:17 pm
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

Thanks Kurt . . . I like simple!! As an improvement I think I’ll see if I can find a good clear hard tube that is slightly larger diameter than the tygon to protect it from accidental damage. I’m with Brett and Jim. The tygon by itself makes me nervous. I think your cover provides some protection, but for my comfort it needs a little more.

Tom

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of nmflyer1 at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 6:51 PM
To: reflector at tvbf.org
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

Tom,  

Ridiculously simple really.  I have the stock elbows and tygon tubing. Tubing clamps are the low profile plastic ones that lock/ratchet together when squeezed. 

To make the covers:  I found PVC pipe that was about the right diameter to give me room to cover the sight gauges, then cut it to the length needed. Then I just laid it up on a bench using the PVC as a dummy form. 

Once done, I did the usual release & sand. 

Painting:  I went to Home depot with a sample of my material that I wanted to match. They made me a very good match in one of their sample latex packs (bout a pint). Sprayed it with an airbrush.  Cost:  $1.99. Matches great and I have used that for areas around the door pins, covers, etc. Once done and labeled, you can hit it with a coat of clear to lock in the labels & gloss it up a bit if you like. 

Ways to hold them in place:  Dab of silicone (clean well before hand). or Velcro. 

I have LED lighting in the top of the baggage area shining down. That gives plenty of non-glaring light to see the tubes.. also makes it easy to load the aircraft without powering it up (runs directly off 1 battery thru a 1A fuse). 

Hope that helps.   Kurt 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Falls <tomfalls6 at gmail.com>
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list' <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Wed, Jun 8, 2011 3:50 pm
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

Kurt,

Your installation looks fantastic and would work great for me. Can you share more detail about the construction including tubing material and the type of tubing clamps you used?

Thanks much,

Tom

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of nmflyer1 at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 7:24 PM
To: reflector at tvbf.org
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

Tom,  

Here is how I did mine. I have not labeled them yet since I haven't done the W&B with fuel loading. Copy & paste if the links do not work.

http://tinypic.com/r/2441biw/7    

http://tinypic.com/r/121qtxw/7 ;

Kurt 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Falls <tomfalls6 at gmail.com>
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Tue, Jun 7, 2011 8:53 am
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

I guess I missed that. I do plan on using auto fuel, so it's the factory design for me.  

For those with the factory style sight gauges, could please send pictures of how you did the interior around them to make them more pleasing to the eye?

Thanks much,

Tom

On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 5:00 PM, vance atkinson <nostromo56 at tx.rr.com> wrote:

On 6/5/2011 12:45 AM, Al Gietzen wrote: 

As I’ve mentioned previously; if you intend to use auto fuels, don’t use the Atkinson gauge. The white plastic background material is not compatible – unless it has been changed within the past couple of years.

Al

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Tom Falls
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 6:11 AM
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
Subject: REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

On the topic of sight gauges (from Low fuel warning thread), I've heard rumblings of issues with the Atkinson gauges. I'm getting ready to install them. What are the watch-outs and/or improvements to make sure they remain effective and useful for the life of the plane? Or is it a matter of avoiding certain fuels?

Tom

They are not approved for auto fuel anymore and for the past several years the mfgs have been putting things in the fuel (and not telling the public) that can make the gauges crack and also soften.  The gauges  are certainly NOT to be used with ethanol.  I just use Av gas in my COZY, and for 25 years have had NO problems.  

I usually tell builders if you HAVE  to use auto fuel (no ethanol in it) then put it the tank and use it up right away on your flight.  don't let it sit there for a month.

Vance Atkinson
EAA Tech and Flt Advisor

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