REFLECTOR: Fuel Shut Off Valves

Mon Jan 29 15:58:51 CST 2007

I have mostly aluminum lines but with a short piece of rubber hose and screw 
clamps on each connection.  However, these rubber hoses aren't long enough 
to pinch them off with a C clamp.  So I don't try.

I have found an easy way to drain the system however:

After having a problem with the sump's drain valve leaking (and it was 
protruding from the bottom of the plane - a NO NO), I removed the header 
tank, relocated it higher so that the sump valve didn't poke out the bottom. 
I found slivers of fiberglass in the valve keeping it from shutting 
completely off.

Now, I drain the system by removing the drain valve using a deep well 
socket, then quickly installing a 1/8" pipe nipple, then slipping rubber 
hose over the nipple.  Do it quickly and very little gas is lost.  Now the 
entire system can be drained into 5 gallon containers with very little 
trouble.

When refilling the system, I check my capacitance fuel level probes by 
putting fuel in one tank at a time, 5 gallons at a time.  I found that the 
amount of fuel that transfers to the other tank through the sump tank is 
small compared the 5 gallon marks for my fuel stick and capacitance probe 
accuracy - so I don't worry about the little bit of fuel that is going to 
the other side.

By the way, my fuel flows evenly from both tanks - by keeping the O rings in 
the fuel caps lubricated.  You can check for leakage by connecting a long 
hose to the single vent hose coming out the bottom of the fuselage and 
blowing air into it - don't use compressed air - you can easily rupture a 
tank.  Then spray soapy water on the gas caps.  Any leakage will cause big 
bubbles.

Ronnie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alex" <alex157 at pwhome.com>
To: "'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 3:56 PM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Shut Off Valves

>I have hard lines all of the way to the sump-
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
> Behalf Of michalk
> Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 10:51 AM
> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Shut Off Valves
>
> Good comment.  If for mantenance, use something that weighs nothing in the
> air.
>
> If for in-flight use ... well, make sure it works.
>
> Scott Derrick wrote:
>> this is a better price than the one mentioned by Brian,
>>
>> but a far simpler method is to use a C-Clamp.
>>
>> I have the standard black rubber fuel lines running from my mains to
>> the sump.  If I need to remove the sump I just clamp the lines with a
>> C-Clamp.  If I see cracks in the line when I do this I know its time to
>> change the lines.   I've also just pulled the line off from the sump
>> side and plugged it with a dowel.  You spill a bit but if you get set
>> up with a coffee can and rags before hand it will be less than a few
>> tablespoons and no spills into the plane.
>>
>> How many times will you need to shut the fuel of?. Most likely not
>> more than once every 5+ years if that.
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> John Tvedte wrote:
>>
>>>Jorge,
>>>
>>>Try...
>>>http://www.hilborninjection.com/product.asp?Id=168&CatId=50
>>>
>>>John
>>>XL-FG-5
>>>
>>>________________________________
>>>
>>>From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org on behalf of Jorge Bujanda
>>>Sent: Sun 1/28/2007 12:19 PM
>>>To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders
>>>Subject: REFLECTOR: Fuel Shut Off Valves
>>>
>>>
>>>I would like to install shut off valves between main and sump tank for
> maintenance.  If there is such a thing, can anyone recommend a reasonably
> priced, 3/8 shut off valve with flared ends to minimize use of fittings?
>>>
>>>Regards,
>>>Jorge Bujanda
>>>Velocity XL FG
>>>Palmdale, CA
>>>Website:  http://members.dslextreme.com/users/jbujanda/
>>>
>>>"Make your best case... not the best case."
>>>"Spare the noise... convince through silence."
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>> --
>>
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>>
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