1941 BC12 useable fuel

[r webster]

Could anyone tell me what the useable amount of fuel is in the main 12 gallon tank on my 1941 BC12. Someone told me that it was only 9 gallons.

[Mark Julicher]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

Ron,
This thread has been around before, so you may get a better answer searching the archives. However with that said, all 12 gallons are available in level flight to get you where ever you want to go. On a steep climbout, it is possible to unport the fuel outlet with only three gallons remaining, this is especially true with an 85 hp engine.

So don't go beating up the traffic pattern with less than three gallons and especially with an 85 hp engine, but for cross country fuel reserve calculations, the last three gallons are definitely "in play"" in my humble opinion.

[r webster]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

Thanks for the information.
Ron

[Robert Lees]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

Is there a possibility that "unusable fuel" has been used to keep the cg forward on some models?

[Richard Boyer]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

That is a really good point. On my Oshkosh trip, I found that if I got below 30 minutes of fuel (3 gallons) that my CG would be too far aft. At least on paper.....Of course the regs like for you to have 30min remaining anyways; which I almost always do.

This was in a fully loaded situation. and I mean FULLY loaded.......

I have completely drained the main tank while on the ground before in the 3 point attitude. There was no fuel left in the tank at all.

Richard

[Karl Rigdon]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

Part of this requirement for 3 gallons of fuel is to maintain proper fuel head for sufficent fuel flow. I saw the requirement for the Stromberg carb at one time and do not want to say for sure the value however it was some where in the 14 to 16 in. range. As they told me in ADR school in the Navy, GTFB and RTFB. That had to do with obtaining publications on the equipment involved. I was taught to not apply torque settings and other specs. from memory. Get the BOOK!!!

[Tom G]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

a friend of mine with a '46 BC12D landed once and took 11 gallons! I think at least in the BC12D they are all usable. Actually if you look at the tank considering gravity and the outlet being the lowest point, they should be.

[flyguy]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

Who wants to volunteer to run one empty. Right over the field of course. And at about 10 thousand feet with both wing tanks full Then we would all be sure. Ho Ho. I really have to get some sleep.
Darryl

[Rick_Utley]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

I know of a BC12-D that took all of the 12 Gals that the gas pump was set to deliver and still did not fill to the filler neck. So........

[Karl Rigdon]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

I am sure the Taylorcraft will burn the tank totaly dry in level flight. As someone said before in a steep departure climb you may unport the tank outlet with less than 3 gallons. The point I made before of sufficent luquid head to insure fuel flow during full power climb. Those that have been around early Luscombes with the fuel tank behind the cabin will remember they were placarded for carb heat during takeoff. I am open to correction on this, I had assumed this was to reduce engine HP and fuel flow on takeoff due to less than aduquate liquid head to keep the proper carb float bowl level. I will gladly accept another reason for this placard.
I am too advanced in years for the excitement of fuel starvation. Although 35 years ago when my instructor soloed me his last words were "If it quits go straight ahead and land in someones garden."

[alwaysoar]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

R Webster, Another Vermonter! Welcome to the forum. I flew over Sugarbush a couple of days ago, looking for the TCraft I'd heard was there. I'm at Shelburne, I'd like to see your plane some day.

Ed @BTV VT
TF 527

[AlvinMcIver]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

If it quits go straight ahead and land in someones garden.

On the evening of July 3rd of this year my friend was killed when he, apparently (the investigation is still pending), stalled it in trying to return to the airport after engine failure shortly following lift off. I know what to do; I just wonder whether I will do it. Too bad the simulator flight companies only have emergency recurrency for the more exotic guys. Having had the opportunity to fly the Northwest Airlines 747 simulator (the checkerboard approach into Hong Kong) prior to 9/11, I know the reality of the experience and I would really appreciate the opportunity to see what I would do in emergency situations in my Taylorcraft.

As to this thread, I have always landed with at least 3 gallons in the main fuel tank. It would be nice to know how much is usable as I have always wondered how long the prop would continue to push air once the bottom of the red zone on the fuel wire guage reached the top of the fuel cap.

[Dano"T"]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

The old timer who sold me my 1940 BC-65 said once the wire bottoms out you got 20 minutes....Wonder how he knew that????? The next story had something to do with landing on a Railroad Track. In his words "Ever land on a railroad track young feller????....ROUGH. Next question....."Ever take of from a Railroad track???......ROUGHER THAN HELL.

[flyguy]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

Time saving sugestion. This works for 85's where you can see the float and might work with the cork and wire 65's ect.
Check the gauge accuracy as in above reply, then hold the cap and wire up a little and note how much of the float is above the fuel level, that is 1/4th or 1/3 or half ect. Unless there is some new law of Physics then anytime in future that you see it is up the same amount then your original calibration is still good. Right?

[alwaysoar]

Re: 1941 BC12 useable fuel

My fuel consumption is almost exactly 4.2 gph, which is what the book says. No guage is precise, so figure your consumption by time. I would never do a take off with less than .7 remaining, and even then only for one trip around the pattern.