Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.
Re: Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.
Original Posted By: Ken Montoure - GCI
Re: Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.
Original Posted By: BARNSTMR(at)aol.com
Re: Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.
Original Posted By: At7000ft(at)aol.com
Re: Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.
Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Re: Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.
Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Re: Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.
Original Posted By:
Terry,In regards to the expansion question. On all the fuel tanks I have built Ihave had a vent line instlled and on hot days is is not uncommon to seedrops of fuel dropping out. I would be of the opinion that a vent line of1/4" size should take care of any expansion as it will keep in tankpressures neutral.This has been my approach to the question on the 5 fuel tanks I have built.They were all of aluminum and rivited using pro seal.Alex Sloan----- Original Message -----
Terry,In regards to the expansion question. On all the fuel tanks I have built Ihave had a vent line instlled and on hot days is is not uncommon to seedrops of fuel dropping out. I would be of the opinion that a vent line of1/4" size should take care of any expansion as it will keep in tankpressures neutral.This has been my approach to the question on the 5 fuel tanks I have built.They were all of aluminum and rivited using pro seal.Alex Sloan----- Original Message -----
Re: Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.
Original Posted By:
Terry,I built the nose as per prints with the long fuse. I have a flat bottomedtank that just sits on the ply shelf (on felt). Comes in at 14 gallons.Think this might keep the tank outlet a little higher than yours.walt evansNX140DL----- Original Message -----
Terry,I built the nose as per prints with the long fuse. I have a flat bottomedtank that just sits on the ply shelf (on felt). Comes in at 14 gallons.Think this might keep the tank outlet a little higher than yours.walt evansNX140DL----- Original Message -----
Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.
Original Posted By: Jimmy Courtney
Re: Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.
Original Posted By: Rcaprd(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.Terry, and all,Fuel related problems account for the largest portion of engine failures, therefore a great deal of effort should go into the design of the fuel system.You should always assume that any time you re-fuel, that you also pumped in some water. A couple of years ago, Rex Hamilton (a high time pilot) was towingsailplanes out of Gliderport. He re-fueled, and took off with the next sail plane in tow, and at about 50' agl his engine quit. He released the tow rope,and peeled of to the left. The sail plane made an uneventful landing, but Rexhit the trees, and was killed on impact. There was over a gallon of water in the bottom of the fuel tank.Here are the pros & cons of my fuel system: Cowl tank - Fiberglass, Polyester resin, 10.7 gal, 1/4" copper tube J.B. Weld into the filler cap and bent to face into the wing, along with a cork float and wire up thru a small brass tube J.B. Weld into the fuel cap, for a fuelquantity indicator. This all works very well, but I'm at the mercy of strict NO ALCOHOL in the fuel. West System Epoxy is not effected by alcohol. I recently used West System, and will never use Polyester again (especially for fiberglass fuel tanks), although it does cost more. I have a cable operated valve at the outlet of the cowl tank, mounted on the firewall. The cowl tank iscompletely separated from the passenger compartment, to prevent any fuel leaksfrom accumulating in the passenger compartment. I used 3/8" aluminum tubing /AN fittings throughout. The design of any tank should allow any water in the bottom to find it's way out to the gascolator, while the plane is static laden (normal attitude on the ground), so you can sump the water out of the fuelsystem. The gascolator must be mounted in the lowest part of the fuel system (to collect water), yet above the bottom of the fuselage, so if the landing gear is wiped out, it will not knock the gascolator off and cause a fuel leak. Wing tank - Fiberglass, Polyester Resin, 9.8 gal, 1/4" copper tube J.B. weld into the filler cap and bent to face into the wind. Things I would have done different - use West Systems Epoxy for the resin in the fiberglass. I extended the filler tube too far down into the the wing tank (about 1 1/2"). That was too far, and eventually drilled holes into the sides of mentioned tube,so I could put more fuel in it. A good quality ball valve re-plentishes the cowl tank when the wire gets down to a point I marked on my windshield. As for checking fuel flow at climb attitude, Tony Bengalis suggests checking it at the fuel hose fitting on the carb. I figured the fuel has to getthrough the needle valve, so I re-checked the flow to compare it to the hose fitting location. I removed the top of the carb, and held it above a calibratedcontainer, and the needle valve restricts the flow A LOT !! However, it was still more flow than max fuel burn, even with only a gallon, or so, in the tank. I can carry 20 gal of fuel onboard, and I can attest to the fact that it IS possible to pee in a bottle, while flying a Pietenpol !! Come to think ofit...that's probably something that very few people in history have ever done...Chuck GantzerNX770CG________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Nose fuel tank design questions.Terry, and all,Fuel related problems account for the largest portion of engine failures, therefore a great deal of effort should go into the design of the fuel system.You should always assume that any time you re-fuel, that you also pumped in some water. A couple of years ago, Rex Hamilton (a high time pilot) was towingsailplanes out of Gliderport. He re-fueled, and took off with the next sail plane in tow, and at about 50' agl his engine quit. He released the tow rope,and peeled of to the left. The sail plane made an uneventful landing, but Rexhit the trees, and was killed on impact. There was over a gallon of water in the bottom of the fuel tank.Here are the pros & cons of my fuel system: Cowl tank - Fiberglass, Polyester resin, 10.7 gal, 1/4" copper tube J.B. Weld into the filler cap and bent to face into the wing, along with a cork float and wire up thru a small brass tube J.B. Weld into the fuel cap, for a fuelquantity indicator. This all works very well, but I'm at the mercy of strict NO ALCOHOL in the fuel. West System Epoxy is not effected by alcohol. I recently used West System, and will never use Polyester again (especially for fiberglass fuel tanks), although it does cost more. I have a cable operated valve at the outlet of the cowl tank, mounted on the firewall. The cowl tank iscompletely separated from the passenger compartment, to prevent any fuel leaksfrom accumulating in the passenger compartment. I used 3/8" aluminum tubing /AN fittings throughout. The design of any tank should allow any water in the bottom to find it's way out to the gascolator, while the plane is static laden (normal attitude on the ground), so you can sump the water out of the fuelsystem. The gascolator must be mounted in the lowest part of the fuel system (to collect water), yet above the bottom of the fuselage, so if the landing gear is wiped out, it will not knock the gascolator off and cause a fuel leak. Wing tank - Fiberglass, Polyester Resin, 9.8 gal, 1/4" copper tube J.B. weld into the filler cap and bent to face into the wind. Things I would have done different - use West Systems Epoxy for the resin in the fiberglass. I extended the filler tube too far down into the the wing tank (about 1 1/2"). That was too far, and eventually drilled holes into the sides of mentioned tube,so I could put more fuel in it. A good quality ball valve re-plentishes the cowl tank when the wire gets down to a point I marked on my windshield. As for checking fuel flow at climb attitude, Tony Bengalis suggests checking it at the fuel hose fitting on the carb. I figured the fuel has to getthrough the needle valve, so I re-checked the flow to compare it to the hose fitting location. I removed the top of the carb, and held it above a calibratedcontainer, and the needle valve restricts the flow A LOT !! However, it was still more flow than max fuel burn, even with only a gallon, or so, in the tank. I can carry 20 gal of fuel onboard, and I can attest to the fact that it IS possible to pee in a bottle, while flying a Pietenpol !! Come to think ofit...that's probably something that very few people in history have ever done...Chuck GantzerNX770CG________________________________________________________________________________