Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Douwe Blumberg"
I was blessed over the Christmas long weekend with a visit from my son,the composites expert. We spent a considerable amount of time out in myshop building a fiberglass fuel tank for the wing center section of myAir Camper project. WHAT FUN! Anyway, we put in all the reinforcedareas for the sump drains, etc. by looking at representative fittings inthe ASS catalog but that got me to thinking. Are there any significantdifferences between aircraft grade fuel fittings and those availablefrom, say, Autozone or NAPA? I was going to locate a filler neck from asalvage yard but am having difficulty finding one with the old stylecap. Any advice?Second question. The fuel tank has to be cut out to leave room for boltheads or nuts that go through the spar to attach the wing spar fittingsand pulleys. One of these bolt locations interferes directly with the3/8" wide compression struts. Is it acceptable to utilize a blind nutin this location so that the compression strut bears directly againstit?Thanks and a Happy New Year to all.Tom Stinemetze, McPherson, KS.____ | ____ 8/ / ________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Jeff Boatright

Original Posted By: "Oscar Zuniga"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Fuel Tank FittingsTom et All, Fuel related reasons are the cause for the majority of off fieldlandings. Therefore, extensive research & design Must be put in to your fuel system.See what works, and what doesn't work. Keep the final design simple. Useonly quality fittings (aviation fittings are 37=BA), and carefully route andsecure all fuel lines. Use 3/8" alum line, and be sure it supplies adequate fuelquantity at the carburetor, with a very tail low attitude, before the firstflight. As for my fuel system, I have two fuel tanks (9.7 gal Wing / 10.6 Cowl),both made from fiberglass and Polyester resin (auto body repair). I think Iwould use West System Epoxy if I would do it again., because they say Alcoholwill effect the polyester type resin, although I've not seen any degradation inthe resin...so far. One outlet in the center of the wing tank at the lowestpoint when in level attitude, with a ball valve right above the passenger'shead, operated by a torque tube type handle. The cowling tank has one outlet,at the lowest point in the center front of the tank, through the firewall, andhas a ball valve on the engine side of the firewall. That's not an acceptableplace for the valve...it should be on the aft side of the firewall. Itdrains down to the gascolator, located on the lowest point in the fuel system forsump. The gascolator MUST be above the bottom of the firewall, in case youwipe out the gear, the fuel system is not violated. There are SO many things that must be considered in the design of areliable fuel system...like to keep a continous downhill flow for water to gettothe gascolator (no loops, or back uphill route) with the fuel lines. I haveNever found any water in my fuel system, but I still sump before EVERY flight.And above all - Keep it Simple.Chuck GantzerNX770CGp.s. My West Virginia Mountaineers are KICKIN' Georgia Butt in the SugarBowl !!!!!!!first quarter - W V U - 21 Georgia - 0YEEEE HAAAWWW !! GO MOUNTAINEERS !!!!________________________________________________________________________________