Wing tank plumbing

[TimHicks]

I'm fashioning new hard lines from the wing tank to the fuel valve below the instrument panel.
Does the path look right? more or less?

Passing between the aileron cable and the frame member (at the bottom right of the line in the picture).

Or is there a better way?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

If I remember correctly mine was bent in a looping arc around the cable, but on my plane there wasn't enough room between the "A" pillar and the cable for the line. IF there is no chance that the cable will rub the line that looks pretty good. If either can flex so that they touch, BAD! You wouldn't want either one to be damaged by the other! You could add a fairlead close to where the fuel line crosses to prevent contact if they are anywhere close. Hard to see how much clearance there is.

Hank

[Robert Lees]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

Tim,

Mine went behind the fabric at the wing roots as per attached photos:

[TimHicks]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

Beautiful.
That's what I'm trying to do. Exactly what Rob Lees did.
Rob, do you have any photos of the bottom end of that fuel line?

[Robert Lees]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

I'm not sure. If I do, Tim, you have them on the cd.

They just route from down the vertical doorpost, then 90 deg to the transverse fus tube immediately below the panel, avoiding the pulley & aileron cable immediately under the panel at the doorpost (as in your photo)

Then direct to a Tee-piece at the header tank.

It's probably easier to do than to describe.

Actually, it must be easy to do, because I did it!!!

[Carrieve]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

Mine goes just like Robert's does but I have a valve on each tank.

[Bravo 6]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

I am in the middle of a minor overhaul. In the process I have relocated the aux fuel line which had been routed 'inside' of the forward vertical tube in front of the door. I have a valve mounted on the wing tank and the hard line going from there to the bottom, aft of the main tank. Any pics of the fuel line/valve at the main tank would be appreciated!

I will be posting pics as I (hopefully!) start with the reinstallation in a couple of weeks. It seemed like such a small project when I started taking things apart!?

[Bravo 6]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

BTW, Robert, really nice, clean installation! I am hoping to incorporate a headliner and am contemplating how to deal with the fuel valve if I don't relocate it?

[Robert Lees]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

BTW, Robert, really nice, clean installation! I am hoping to incorporate a headliner and am contemplating how to deal with the fuel valve if I don't relocate it?

Thanks for the compliment, Greg...I can't help you with the headliner issue, but I'm sure someone else will chime in.

In the interim, here's some pictures of how my plumbing routes under the panel. The viewing orientation is a bit awkward...they're all looking up from the floorboards.

You will note that I use a non-standard fuel valve, and that is because in the UK I am allowed to. I used a 1/4" mini fuel valve on each side under the panel, from Aircraft Spruce, their P/No 05-23325. A nice little unit. There's sufficient brass in them so that when you turn them on, you can feel with your hand the temperature drop as the fuel starts flowing...a comforting feeling when crossing expanses of water or forested mountains.

Hope that helps, Rob.

[Pearson]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

Greg House,

In the middle picture that you posted the fuel line appears to slant upward slightly. This is going to cause problems getting that tank to start draining. If you can possibly route the line so that it is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the plane, it will start flowing easier when you open the valve. If you are unable to make the line level from the valve forward, you may be able to help start the flow in flight by entering a shallow dive. Once it starts flowing it will continue.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

Rob, in your first and second picture so you see the little tab on the fuselage tube just forward of the glove box? There is supposed to be a strap to the glove box so it can't be rotated inboard and jam the control wheel gear. Looks like some pretty stiff glove boxes that would be hard to deflect inboard, but that also means if it DID deflect in you probably couldn't crush the box by pulling the wheel back.

Hank

[Robert Lees]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

Well you learn a new thing every day!

Mine are aluminium, and are screwed quite rigidly to the panel.

Next time I'm under there, I'll rig something up.

Thanks Hank!

[M Towsley]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

And here I thought Hank was going to have a cow over what looks to be copper tubing in Greg's plane.

Rob, what kind of primer is that?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

Not that I like it, but I have never seen anything BUT the small copper lines to and from a primer. The smaller diameter is much more flexible, but I still don' like it, even though I have it too.

Hank

[barnstmr]

Re: Wing tank plumbing

Weren't ALL fuel lines originally copper from the factory. Have there been real service problems with copper fuel lines? Or it it just that some prefer aluminum?