Original Posted By: "Ted Brousseau"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Spiral Fuel Gauge Interest GroupGroup:Thanks for your quick response. I visited, in person, with a customer service rep. and an engineer yesterday about the inverted spiral fuel gauge. Theyhave experimented a little with the idea and think they can make the adjustments for us without too much retooling. This is a large company and a verylimited production run on an item they have never had a request for. In orderfor them to produce the item, I will have to purchase at least 10 units at a time. In order to do this, I will make the purchase through my family's hardware store in Silverton, Texas, once they've committed to manufacturing them. I amsupposed to hear back from them on Monday or Tuesday of next week.The cost should be about $45 per unit plus tax and shipping charges to your destination. I will ship them out to you on demand.Please email back to confirm your order.Max L. DavisArlington, TX.817.516.1116________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Spiral Fuel Gauge Interest Group
Re: Pietenpol-List: Spiral Fuel Gauge Interest Group
Original Posted By: Andimaxd(at)aol.com
Max,I am sorry I didn't respond to your request for a picture. I just got a chanceto sit down and read a week's worth of email. You have seen the gauge by nowand it has been described very well already by Chris and others. I can see noreason it won't work, if the readout can be reversed.However, I would like to throw out a thought and see if others have had a similarconcern or have a solution. The deepest part of the wing tank is usually somewhereabout 1/2 way between the front spar and rear spar. It would seem thatis where the gauge has to go. Here is my concern. When the passenger is gettingin and out their head and back come pretty close to the bottom of the centersection. I have not figured out where to place the gauge so it didn't takea chunk out of a skull or back. I like the Stearman gauge but have rejectedit for this reason. I hope to fly with a passenger tomorrow and will closelyobserve how they get in and out vis a vis the bottom of the wing and reportback.If someone has a thought on how to overcome this I would love to have this upsidedown gauge on mine too.TedPS my tank is not 6" deep. I assume that 6" is measured from the very bottom ofthe spiral to the very top of the gauge that is outside of the tank and thatonly 4 1/2" is inside the tank? ----- Original Message -----
Max,I am sorry I didn't respond to your request for a picture. I just got a chanceto sit down and read a week's worth of email. You have seen the gauge by nowand it has been described very well already by Chris and others. I can see noreason it won't work, if the readout can be reversed.However, I would like to throw out a thought and see if others have had a similarconcern or have a solution. The deepest part of the wing tank is usually somewhereabout 1/2 way between the front spar and rear spar. It would seem thatis where the gauge has to go. Here is my concern. When the passenger is gettingin and out their head and back come pretty close to the bottom of the centersection. I have not figured out where to place the gauge so it didn't takea chunk out of a skull or back. I like the Stearman gauge but have rejectedit for this reason. I hope to fly with a passenger tomorrow and will closelyobserve how they get in and out vis a vis the bottom of the wing and reportback.If someone has a thought on how to overcome this I would love to have this upsidedown gauge on mine too.TedPS my tank is not 6" deep. I assume that 6" is measured from the very bottom ofthe spiral to the very top of the gauge that is outside of the tank and thatonly 4 1/2" is inside the tank? ----- Original Message -----
Re: Pietenpol-List: Spiral Fuel Gauge Interest Group
Original Posted By: Waytogopiet(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Spiral Fuel Gauge Interest GroupIn a message dated 2/28/2004 9:21:49 PM Central Standard Time, nfn00979(at)naples.net writes:> However, I would like to throw out a thought and see if others have had a > similar concern or have a solution. The deepest part of the wing tank is > usually somewhere about 1/2 way between the front spar and rear spar. It would> seem that is where the gauge has to go. Here is my concern. When the > passenger is getting in and out their head and back come pretty close to thebottom > of the center section. I have not figured out where to place the gauge so it> didn't take a chunk out of a skull or back. I like the Stearman gauge but > have rejected it for this reason. Ted:The gauge is six inches overall. An inch and a half or so is outside of the tank (the readable part). AS&S has a coupling and a flange just below the gauges in question that would allow you to adjust the height of the gauge to someextent. My tank is flat on the bottom, so I could have a larger fuel capacity. It is probably 4-1/4" in the rear and probably 5" or 5-1/2" in the middle. I would mount this gauge or a stearman type over to the side (right side) so as to be out of the way and as far back as possible. I personally, am concerned primarily about satisfying the FAA rules for a gauge, having a safe gaugethat cannot leak or be broken off by an accident and knowing where or when "empty" is. Most of the stearman type gauges in current use on Piets, is as close to the right rear cabane as is allowable; from what I have seen. At anyrate, this gauge does not hang down near as far as a 6" stearman type.Max________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Spiral Fuel Gauge Interest GroupIn a message dated 2/28/2004 9:21:49 PM Central Standard Time, nfn00979(at)naples.net writes:> However, I would like to throw out a thought and see if others have had a > similar concern or have a solution. The deepest part of the wing tank is > usually somewhere about 1/2 way between the front spar and rear spar. It would> seem that is where the gauge has to go. Here is my concern. When the > passenger is getting in and out their head and back come pretty close to thebottom > of the center section. I have not figured out where to place the gauge so it> didn't take a chunk out of a skull or back. I like the Stearman gauge but > have rejected it for this reason. Ted:The gauge is six inches overall. An inch and a half or so is outside of the tank (the readable part). AS&S has a coupling and a flange just below the gauges in question that would allow you to adjust the height of the gauge to someextent. My tank is flat on the bottom, so I could have a larger fuel capacity. It is probably 4-1/4" in the rear and probably 5" or 5-1/2" in the middle. I would mount this gauge or a stearman type over to the side (right side) so as to be out of the way and as far back as possible. I personally, am concerned primarily about satisfying the FAA rules for a gauge, having a safe gaugethat cannot leak or be broken off by an accident and knowing where or when "empty" is. Most of the stearman type gauges in current use on Piets, is as close to the right rear cabane as is allowable; from what I have seen. At anyrate, this gauge does not hang down near as far as a 6" stearman type.Max________________________________________________________________________________
Re: Pietenpol-List: Spiral Fuel Gauge Interest Group
Original Posted By: dave rowe
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Spiral Fuel Gauge Interest GroupIn a message dated 2/28/2004 10:11:14 PM Central Standard Time, Andimaxd(at)aol.com writes:I like the Stearman gauge but have rejected it for this reason. MaxMy Stearman gauge was mounted just forward of the front windscreen. If I were to use the magnetic unit I would like to use the existing fitting which is welded into the tank bottom. It is a 3/4" female NPT. There is about 4-3/4 " inside the tank at that point ( I will have to take an exact measurement. If anadapter is used,there may be a bit more clearance at the top. Do you believe my existing Stearman mount could be used ? Don ________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 16:47:31 -0800
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Spiral Fuel Gauge Interest GroupIn a message dated 2/28/2004 10:11:14 PM Central Standard Time, Andimaxd(at)aol.com writes:I like the Stearman gauge but have rejected it for this reason. MaxMy Stearman gauge was mounted just forward of the front windscreen. If I were to use the magnetic unit I would like to use the existing fitting which is welded into the tank bottom. It is a 3/4" female NPT. There is about 4-3/4 " inside the tank at that point ( I will have to take an exact measurement. If anadapter is used,there may be a bit more clearance at the top. Do you believe my existing Stearman mount could be used ? Don ________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 16:47:31 -0800