Fuel Sump

[gilligansae]

Anyone ever had a Curtis Drain fail on your gascolator or fuel sump?

I started up the ship after changing oil on Sat, taxied about 1000 ft, went to turn around to go to depart and the engine shut down. On exit from the plane for a restart, witnessed fuel pouring out of the cowling. After a quick fuel shutdown, realized the Curtis drain had failed and was missing the guts.

Anyone ever had one fail? Anyone know a better alternative? Seems strange that the failure mode could allow the valve to fall through the fitting and to the ground.

Could have been worse, could have happened a couple of minutes later and then I would have been a beaver chopping down the trees.

Jeff L.
N43294

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Fuel Sump

Wow,
I have had several Curtiss rubber rings fail, but never lost the entire valve core.

I changed my Curtiss valves for Safe-Air valves. The Safe-Air valve uses a standard O-ring and not the flattened Curtiss style rubber ring. I could not find a local source for Curtiss style rings.

Alternative would be to keep a wad of bubble gum stuck on the Curtiss valve; however, PMA'd bubble gum is getting hard top find.

[Bob Waldron]

Re: Fuel Sump

Jeff,

Years ago, Curtis quit selling replacement 'O' rings, because people replaced the 'O' ring and failed to closely examine the valve itself. The end of the valve often develops a crack, which will lead to the failure that you describe.

Bob Waldron
1939 BL-65
Stillwater, MN

[Richard Boyer]

Re: Fuel Sump

Out of curiosity.....what does a curtis drain look like?

Richard Boyer
N95791
Georgetown, TX

[Don Eide]

Re: Fuel Sump

Just about any aircraft catalog you have should have a picture of the Curtis Drain Valve. Try Aircraft Spruce, Univair, Wag Aero, Wicks, they all have them. I have Curtis Drain valves in every airplane I fly and haven't had any trouble what so ever. I also have Saf-Air drain valves for drains in the bottom of my wing tanks, and they all leak and put a stain on the bottom of the wing.
Go figure.

Don

[Dick Smith]

Re: Pix of Curtis Drain valves

Richard, this link will show what a Curtis valve looks like. http://www.curtissuperiorvalve.com/pipethread.html Dick

[Richard Boyer]

Something I've seen everyday and just called them quick drains!

thanks

Richard Boyer
N95891
Georgetown, TX

[Goneflyin]

Re: Fuel Sump

A few years ago after draining the gascolater I let the valve close and it spit the whole core on the ground, glad I was on the ground. The valve end by the o-ring broke right off.

Bill

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Fuel Sump

Well I guess it's time for me to replace the ones that I have in Manu Sina as I have no idea how old they are. I know that I replaced the "O" ring in the valve on my wing tank about two months ago because it was leaking at the time. I just used a regular "O" ring, and it stopped the leak.