Sight gauges

[capncarp]

Hey Guy's,
My fuel sight gauges are getting pretty discolored. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to use? Also, it looks like lowering the wing to it is the only way.
Glenn,

[capncarp]

Re: Sight gauges

A note to the above thread. My interior is fabric covered with wood closing off the outside of the fuselage to the cockpit.

[astjp2]

Re: Sight gauges

Look at the Atlee Dodge ones he has for the cub. Its glass and should not yellow

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Sight gauges

Only thing that scares me about glass is if it breaks. Can you put shut off valves at the bottom of the glass to stop fuel from running out if the glass is damaged? I know glass works best since it doesn't get (more) brittle and stays clear, but what about a piece of clear plastic tube over it to contain the fuel if broken? Fuel wouldn't touch the plastic cover normally so it shouldn't break down and would still be usable until the glass could be replaced.

Am I worried about a non-problem?

Hank

[M Towsley]

Re: Sight gauges

Hank,

Dick Huish posted once they were made of CAB (cellouse acetete butyrate) tubing . There should be a little cage of sorts that covers the sight glass.

Glenn,

Let me look to see if I have any. I used to have spares to my former L-2. There is somewhere buried in the forum a way to make your own using a form you can make yourself. Someone was talking about doing that with glass at one time, too. The L-2 is even more difficult to find parts for, welcome to the fun of owning one.

[M Towsley]

Re: Sight gauges

Here is a perfect example of responses to this exact question, and old post of mine from 2006. Crickets....... http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread...-2-Sight-Glass

[M Towsley]

Re: Sight gauges

Another more informative thread: http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread...ht=sight+glass

[Edwin Otha]

Re: Sight gauges

Use borosilicate glass. I've made a bunch out of this stuff and no problems.
EO

[n6346m]

Re: Sight gauges

I had new ones made for my L-2B about 20 years ago. The old old plastic one I discovered cracked and broken in flight, but not leaking since the break was above the fuel. The strong fuel odor got my attention. I took it off and super glued it together to make it a model and took it to a local neon sign artist. He made me two new sets of new ones out of that strong neon sign glass and they still look brand new 20 years later. If you decide to go this way, have your glass blower make a little bulge at the ends for the hoses to slip over. When it was all done, he asked me what it was for. I told him that it was for my classic WWII airplane. He then said "that is so f***ing cool -- no charge man".

[warbugdriver]

Re: Sight gauges

I used tubing from purchased from Mcmaster-Carr, Butyrate tubing 3/8 OD, Part Number: 8565K33. Shapes easily. My replacements are about 5 years old. No brittleness or discoloration. Minimum length for order is 4-feet. About $4 plus postage (ships in a tube -- IIRC postage was about $20)

https://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-plastic-hollow-tubing/=18fnxlh

[Bob Coffman]

Hello everyone, I am a new member to the group. I've owned an L-2M for the last 5 years or so, and gradually the fuel seeping past the sight gauges into places where fuel isn't supposed to be has gotten the better of me. I have read the threads that I can find on replacement sight gauge building, any new information, of course, would be appreciated. More importantly, I am having a tough time making sense of the seals, based on the blueprints from the CD's. It looks like some very thin material between the gauge and the metal nipple from the tank, with some more very thin material over both the gauge and the nipple, topped off by a wing nutted hose clamp? What is everyone using in modern available materials, how successful has it been? Thanks - Bob Coffman

[Robert Lees]

Welcome to the Taylorcraft Forum Bob. I can't help you directly with your question; I regrettably know very little about the L-2 models (better and more experienced folk will be along soon).
What are the sight gauges made from? Glass or flexible?

Photos, if you can post them, are always a great help to the ignoramus that I am on these models.

As an aside, if it is flexible tubing, it should be replaced periodically due to becoming stiff & brittle with age.

Rob

[Bob Coffman]

Hi Rob, thanks for the welcome and the reply. The fuel gauges were originally Acetate Buterate tubing, 3/8" O.D., per drawing D-335. There's quite a bit about replacing them with similar fuel-resistant materials here in this thread and an earlier thread in the same forum. Really, it's not the gauge that is so much the issue. I have one that looks pretty good and one that is acceptable, but not great. I have a couple of blow-ups of the diagram D-(A) 310, which indicates a seal between parts D-335 (the gauge) and D-321, the tank. They are simply labelled "seal" and coexist with part B-999 which is labelled "Curtis Clamp," a winged nut hose clamp (I think). It is these seals that are leaking, because in my airplane, the wrong materials were used. One side used Tygon, of an inappropiate diameter, and another used what looked like the rubber tops from an eye dropper, cut down to close to the right size. The only reason the whole assembly stayed somewhat intact is that these messes where covered up with 1/2" fuel line with two skinny sized hose clamps, one on each end of the assembly. There really isn't any way to include a picture, as I have disassembled both fuel sight gauge assemblies. All the photograph would show would be two u-shaped pieces of clear plastic! It's for these seals, that I am seeking information. There is very little room in-between the OD of the gauge, and the fuel tank nipple, maybe .05 or .06, maybe less. 1/8 (.125)" walled Tygon, is definitely a no-go. Let's see what some of the forum experts have to add. Bob Coffman

[astjp2]

Look at a cub wing tank sight gauge, barb fitting and a clear tube, you don’t have to go original if you can find a safe way to accomplish a repair. Tim

[Bob turner]

3/8 OD, huh? That would mean that my Mustang 5/32 ID fuel line would fit, but it is too small. Most fuel lines are specified by ID, and tomorrow I should verify the size. Somebody put slits in both the upper and lower nipples that are welded to the tank - there is just enough for a clamp.

We are going to use the Cub style gauge - not sure how it gets mounted, but pretty sure I want to have hoses on those nipples before I cover the butt rib.

Never thought to get photos - will try before both wings are covered.