REFLECTOR: Uneven Fuel Flow

Jim Agnew jim_agnew_2 at yahoo.com
Thu Sep 29 13:56:08 CDT 2011 

You should also drill a small hole on the back side of the vent tube a little above the cut off in case something plugs the front side so you will still get some venting 1/8" is fine.
 
Jim

James F. Agnew
Jim_Agnew_2 at Yahoo.Com
Tampa, FL
Velocity 173 Elite Aircraft Completed & Flying

From: John Abraham <john at velocityaircraft.com>
>To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list' <reflector at tvbf.org>
>Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 2:19 PM
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Uneven Fuel Flow
>
>Your vent should be cut at a 45 degree angle with the point facing backwards (prop).  This allows air to ram into the vent.
> 
>From:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Juanita Londenberg
>Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 1:50 PM
>To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Uneven Fuel Flow
> 
>When you say " If you were to cut your
>vent flat or scarf it backwards" --  what is the correct orientation of the vent?
>
>Juanita
>
>--- On Thu, 9/29/11, John Abraham <john at velocityaircraft.com> wrote:
>
>From: John Abraham <john at velocityaircraft.com>
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Uneven Fuel Flow
>To: "'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'" <reflector at tvbf.org>
>Date: Thursday, September 29, 2011, 9:36 AM
>Above the fuel cap is a low pressure.  This creates a vacuum on the tank if
>the cap is loose.  If it is loose enough you will see fuel coming out of the
>tank.  Have you ever flown a piper when a fuel cap came off on take-off?  An
>entire tank will be sucked out in a matter of a minute or so.  Your fuel
>vent line is pressurizing the tank with ram air.  If you were to cut your
>vent flat or scarf it backwards then you can also create a vacuum on the
>tank that will not let the tanks feed very well.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>Behalf Of Jones Nick
>Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 10:16 AM
>To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Uneven Fuel Flow
>
>I'm with you on this one. I hope someone can explain this.
>
>Nick Jones
>XL-RG
>N10CN
>
>
>________________________________
>From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of
>Brooke Wolf [bwolf1 at tds.net]
>Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 09:41
>To: reflector at tvbf.org
>Subject: REFLECTOR: Uneven Fuel Flow
>
>
>
>Ok, at the risk of showing my ignorance, I need to chime in here.
>
>How could a minute leak in a fuel cap affect fuel flow out of a tank when
>that same tank has about a 3/8 inch hole in it vented to the outside (aka
>fuel vents)?
>
>Brooke
>
>
>
>
>From: "John Abraham"
><john at velocityaircraft.com<mailto:john at velocityaircraft.com>>
>Date: September 29, 2011 8:06:09 AM EDT
>To: "'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'"
><reflector at tvbf.org<mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>>
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Reflector Digest, Vol 78, Issue 80 Uneven fuel flow
>Reply-To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
><reflector at tvbf.org<mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>>
>
>
>Just an additional note to what Mark said.  If you have uneven fuel flow,
>you should also check the lip of the fuel ring on your tank.  When you fill
>up your tank or have an FBO do this for you if they hit the ring hard enough
>with the nozzle and either dent it or score it your cap will also not close
>properly.
>
>5-7 gallons different per side is acceptable.  The tanks are fighting each
>other by gravity pressure.  Also as a result of this if you are slightly out
>of rig; even half a ball, over the course of 2-3 hours on a trip you will
>have uneven feeding.  More than half a tank difference is unacceptable and
>you need to land to see what is going on with your system.  You do not want
>to wait until you are down to 3 gallons on one side while you have a full
>tank on the other side anticipating for it to feed.
>
>You also want to make sure that your low fuel warning light works.  You can
>test it in flight without draining your tanks down.  Sometimes when you hit
>turbulence it will flash the light on and off a few times.  Also, if you
>stomp on the rudders back and forth 2-3 times it will make the switch
>trigger, flash the light and go out.
>
>Safe flying,
>
>John
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org<mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org>
>[mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Mark Riley
>Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 8:56 PM
>To: reflector at tvbf.org<mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Reflector Digest, Vol 78, Issue 80 Uneven fuel flow
>
>On my XL I had uneven fuel flow and asked Duane Swing to take a look when we
>stopped in Sebastian on the way to the Bahamas. He noticed two problems I
>never would have caught. The O rings on the filler cap had minute flecks of
>primer paint on them, which prevented them from creating an airtight seal.
>Andy Millin and I spent an hour picking it off with our fingernails then
>greasing them up with fuel lube. He also noticed that the gap around the
>filler caps was too tight, so that it prevented the cap on one side from
>seating properly. We just sanded it back ever so slightly until the cap
>didn't rock at all when latched shut. If you try these fixes and still
>wonder about your caps, you can try covering them with duct tape. Even a
>minute problem like I've described can cause uneven drainage from the tanks
>even in a properly rigged plane.
>
>Two more thoughts - first, it is not uncommon for the tanks to drain
>unevenly but catch up to each other. One of my tanks always drains faster
>between about 25 and 17 gallons, then the other one catches up. Second, if
>the tanks get uneven, you can simply slip the plane for 1-2 minutes with the
>uneven tank up. I find that they then drain evenly. I tried this for the
>first time 100 miles from the nearest land on my way back to pick up the
>Millins. Probably better to try it in a more comfortable setting first.
>
>Hope that helps.
>
>Mark
>On Sep 28, 2011, at 8:32 PM,
>reflector-request at tvbf.org<mailto:reflector-request at tvbf.org> wrote:
>
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>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
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>
>
>Today's Topics:
>
>1. Re:  STD RG Trim (Scott Derrick)
>2. Re:  STD RG Trim (Glenn Babcock)
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:05:12 -0700
>From: Scott Derrick <scott at tnstaafl.net<mailto:scott at tnstaafl.net>>
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: STD RG Trim
>To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
><reflector at tvbf.org<mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>>
>Message-ID:
><050fue2q67u5ay5mcgjyf6a6.1317254691797 at email.android.com<mailto:050fue2q67u
>5ay5mcgjyf6a6.1317254691797 at email.android.com>>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
>The unequal fuel born is because of the miss adjusted rudder trim.  The fuel
>is acting as a really big BALL and is moving with the litttle ball.
>
>Glenn Babcock
><glennbabcock at roadrunner.com<mailto:glennbabcock at roadrunner.com>> wrote:
>
>Izzy,
>
>Here's what I did:
>
>- On the ground, level the plane.  Use a rotary laser level to level the
>wings left to right, you can get one for under $100.  Put sawhorses or
>something under the wings to hold the position.  Also level the plane front
>to back.
>- Verify that the wing incidence is correct for both wings using the
>incidence gauge.  While you're at it verify the canard incidence.
>- Verify the strake leading edge position on both sides.
>- If needed, shim the wings and/or canard.  If the strakes are out that's a
>more complicated fix!
>- Now check that the TC is level (mine wasn't, making the problem look worse
>than it was).  The ball should be right in the center.
>- If you made no corrections in the wings or canard, shim the rudder (if you
>made corrections, test fly first to see if it's still out).  I found that
>you can hot glue bits of tongue depressor at the top, middle and bottom of
>the rudder then trim them down as needed.  A small amount of shim makes a
>big difference!  Make sure that the rudder touches all three shims when it's
>resting.
>- Also check the opposite rudder, you may be able to trim a SMALL amount off
>of that side.
>- Once you have the correct amount of shim, fill the gap with epoxy mixed
>with micro glass or flox, then after it cures sand it till it's neat.  It's
>very easy to do.
>
>The fuel not draining evenly may be due to a leaking fuel cap.  Remove the
>cap and coat the O-rings with Fuelube.  Make sure you get the little one on
>the stem as well as the big one on the rim.
>
>Regards,
>Glenn
>
>
>On Sep 28, 2011, at 9:06 AM, Dugas Bellsouth wrote:
>
>I did the same only used 1/16" angle aluminum. I trimmed a 1.5" so when
>placed inside of the winglet it was flush with the airflow surface on the
>fuselage side of the winglet. I the epoxied it to the inside of the winglet
>and flew. Worked great. Still there and did not require all the glass work.
>
>Rene' Dugas
>Sent from my iPhone4
>
>On Sep 27, 2011, at 5:56 PM, Scott Derrick
><scott at tnstaafl.net<mailto:scott at tnstaafl.net>> wrote:
>
>Trim the left rudder out until the ball is in the center.
>
>Tape the vertical with duct tape near the lower part of the rudder.
>Place a shim between the rudder and the vertical, about an 1/8 inch thick.
>Then fill the gap with micro or epoxy glue, about 2 inches long, so it
>sticks to the rudder.  Let cure, clean it up and fly. If that was to much
>file the new tab down a bit and test fly again.  If the ball is still out,
>add another 1/8 inch and test fly.  Do this until the ball is in the center.
>
>
>Once you have the ball in the center, yaw trim, you can evaluate the
>roll trim.   If the plane still wants to roll and the roll trim cannot
>handle that you can shim both or one wing.  You usually want to shim the
>light wing first by taking some of the aoa out of that wing by shimming the
>lower bolt. If thta s not enough add in more aoa to the heavy wing by
>shimming the upper bolts.
>
>Scott
>
>Izzy Brownfield <iznstacy at yahoo.com<mailto:iznstacy at yahoo.com>> wrote:
>
>I'm a new owner of a STD RG with io-360 three blade MT prop At cruise T&B
>indicator is half ball to the left with a slight left turn tendency. Fuel is
>consumed from the right tank at twice the rate of the left tank.
>To center the ball it requires quite a bit of left rudder and light right
>aileron pressure.
>What adjustment is needed to be made to correct this?
>Thanks
>Izzy
>5txo
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>_______________________________________________
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>------------------------------
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:32:42 -0500
>From: Glenn Babcock
><glennbabcock at roadrunner.com<mailto:glennbabcock at roadrunner.com>>
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: STD RG Trim
>To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
><reflector at tvbf.org<mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>>
>Message-ID:
><F71FDCA0-9D0C-4A13-88A1-B6991DFA73A4 at roadrunner.com<mailto:F71FDCA0-9D0C-4A
>13-88A1-B6991DFA73A4 at roadrunner.com>>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>It may be that or it may not, or it may be both.  I know that many people
>have chased fuel flow problems all around the aircraft only to find the fuel
>caps were leaking, causing a drop in pressure in one tank and restricting
>fuel flow on that side.  A tiny amount of Fuelube and about 5 minutes effort
>and the problem is solved.
>
>Regards,
>Glenn
>
>
>On Sep 28, 2011, at 7:05 PM, Scott Derrick wrote:
>
>The unequal fuel born is because of the miss adjusted rudder trim. The fuel
>is acting as a really big BALL and is moving with the litttle ball.
>
>Glenn Babcock
><glennbabcock at roadrunner.com<mailto:glennbabcock at roadrunner.com>> wrote:
>
>Izzy,
>
>Here's what I did:
>
>- On the ground, level the plane.  Use a rotary laser level to level the
>wings left to right, you can get one for under $100.  Put sawhorses or
>something under the wings to hold the position.  Also level the plane front
>to back.
>- Verify that the wing incidence is correct for both wings using the
>incidence gauge.  While you're at it verify the canard incidence.
>- Verify the strake leading edge position on both sides.
>- If needed, shim the wings and/or canard.  If the strakes are out that's a
>more complicated fix!
>- Now check that the TC is level (mine wasn't, making the problem look worse
>than it was).  The ball should be right in the center.
>- If you made no corrections in the wings or canard, shim the rudder (if you
>made corrections, test fly first to see if it's still out).  I found that
>you can hot glue bits of tongue depressor at the top, middle and bottom of
>the rudder then trim them down as needed.  A small amount of shim makes a
>big difference!  Make sure that the rudder touches all three shims when it's
>resting.
>- Also check the opposite rudder, you may be able to trim a SMALL amount off
>of that side.
>- Once you have the correct amount of shim, fill the gap with epoxy mixed
>with micro glass or flox, then after it cures sand it till it's neat.  It's
>very easy to do.
>
>The fuel not draining evenly may be due to a leaking fuel cap.  Remove the
>cap and coat the O-rings with Fuelube.  Make sure you get the little one on
>the stem as well as the big one on the rim.
>
>Regards,
>Glenn
>
>
>On Sep 28, 2011, at 9:06 AM, Dugas Bellsouth wrote:
>
>I did the same only used 1/16" angle aluminum. I trimmed a 1.5" so when
>placed inside of the winglet it was flush with the airflow surface on the
>fuselage side of the winglet. I the epoxied it to the inside of the winglet
>and flew. Worked great. Still there and did not require all the glass work.
>
>Rene' Dugas
>Sent from my iPhone4
>
>On Sep 27, 2011, at 5:56 PM, Scott Derrick
><scott at tnstaafl.net<mailto:scott at tnstaafl.net>> wrote:
>
>Trim the left rudder out until the ball is in the center.
>
>Tape the vertical with duct tape near the lower part of the rudder.
>Place a shim between the rudder and the vertical, about an 1/8 inch thick.
>Then fill the gap with micro or epoxy glue, about 2 inches long, so it
>sticks to the rudder.  Let cure, clean it up and fly. If that was to much
>file the new tab down a bit and test fly again.  If the ball is still out,
>add another 1/8 inch and test fly.  Do this until the ball is in the center.
>
>
>Once you have the ball in the center, yaw trim, you can evaluate the
>roll trim.   If the plane still wants to roll and the roll trim cannot
>handle that you can shim both or one wing.  You usually want to shim the
>light wing first by taking some of the aoa out of that wing by shimming the
>lower bolt. If thta s not enough add in more aoa to the heavy wing by
>shimming the upper bolts.
>
>Scott
>
>Izzy Brownfield <iznstacy at yahoo.com<mailto:iznstacy at yahoo.com>> wrote:
>
>I'm a new owner of a STD RG with io-360 three blade MT prop At cruise T&B
>indicator is half ball to the left with a slight left turn tendency. Fuel is
>consumed from the right tank at twice the rate of the left tank.
>To center the ball it requires quite a bit of left rudder and light right
>aileron pressure.
>What adjustment is needed to be made to correct this?
>Thanks
>Izzy
>5txo
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>_______________________________________________
>To change your email address, visit
>http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
>Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery<http://www.tvbf.org/gallery>
>user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose Check new archives:
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>Check old archives:
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