Main Tank fuel shut off valves

[Hank Jarrett]

OK, I have been bitten by the off topic bug. We recently were haveing a discussion on the control arms for the shut off valve under the 12 gal nose tank and Forrest posted a picture of the pre war cast valve. I offered to post the picture of my 45 valve with the arm for it but now I can't find the thread we were talking in! I'll post my picture here and hopefully we can move discussion of the valves to THIS thread so it is under a correct title so we can find it in the future.
Forrrest, if you still have some of those cast lever arms (and if anyone has one of the valves so I don't have to get out of my plane to turn it off) let me know.
Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

Stumble thumbs strikes again. The picture didn't attach. Trying again.
Hank

[jpowell]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

That picture is exactly like the one on my 46 BC12-D.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

They were used up till the cast one came out...... however ;
a tip: It is recommended that you reach up under the tank to shut it off if it has not been done in a while. You can feel the pressure to turn the valve rather than grabbing the knob and PULLING , you could rip the valve out of the bottom of the tank. Use it once in a while to see tht it works in case you need an emergency shut off sometime....

[jpowell]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

That has not been a problem for me since I had the carb rebuilt and a new steel needle and seat installed. If I don't shut it off, the carb float bowl overflows and leaks. Since I don't have a mixture control, a minute before shutdown, I shut off the fuel and let the carb run out of gas and then turn off the mags. Had the same problem with my old Ercoupe with a C85-12.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

Forrest,
Not a problem on my 41 since I ALWAYS reach under to shut it off. The shutoff valve is mounted 90 degrees out so the shaft is facing towards the seat and there is no rod or knob. That's why I am looking for a replacement valve, handle, rod and knob. If I ever needed to shut off the fuel in flight I would have to climb out on the strut to reach the knob.
I'm a little afraid of in flight fire and not being able to shut the fuel off. Funny part is not one A&P, IA or instructor has seemed the slightest bit worried that the handle can't be turned in flight.
Is my safety background out of control or are these guys all just missing what is obvious to me?
Anybody got parts to sell so I can replace mine?
Hank

[jpowell]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

Like I said, mine is exactly like the picture of yours. The shaft is aimed to the left side. The rod attaches to one side of the lever (rear) and a spring attaches to the front side. The spring is not very heavy but is strong enough to keep the valve from shutting itself off in flight. The spring clip on the knob also helps in that plus it keeps you from pulling the fuel off mistaking it for carb heat knob. In my set up, carb heat knob and fuel shut off knob are side by side.

[jpowell]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

Correction, I should have said, "the rod attaches to the long pin on the lever and the spring to the short side pin.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

It is extremely important that you can shut her off in flight, a shoe lace would do it ..... It is merely a rod with a long bolt in one end for the knob and a flattened end to do over the pin... may send pic if I have one.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

Inderstand. I HAVE a full set up (valve, lever, rod, knob and safety clip) for the 45, I just hate to rob parts from the 45 to get the 41 up. If anyone has any of the parts I know I will need another full set eventually and want to go ahead and get them.
Either way, the 41 won't fly til I have a fuel shut off on the tank. Not worth the consequences if aything goes wrong.
Hank

[Guest]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

Hank, mine is a tube a Forrest described with nut brazed on one end to screw the knob into and the other end flattened and drilled. If you had a knob fabricating a tube is quite simple.

[Guest]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

I think I have a couple of feet 3/8x.027"

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

I have the 45 knob and rod parts sitting on the seat so I have a good example of the design, I am just a tad lazy and would rather buy than build (spent a whole day today getting the carpet done and reworking the nose bowl, those cast grills polish up real nice when you get the 20 coats of old silver paint off!)
The big problem is really the valve and lever. Can't really "make" those (can, but don't think I want to "make" a valve and I would like to keep it original.
Hank

[jim cooper]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

Pardon me for my denseness. We are talking about main tank shut off valve? under the panel? I've never turned it. Why is it important that it turn off in flight? Very curious about this! What am I missing? My T-Craft has push-pull knob under panel for on-off fuel. I usually leave it on all the time. Never leaks. Why do I want to be able to turn it off in flight? JC

[lfries]

Re: Main Tank fuel shut off valves

"FIRE" comes to mind.