wing tank plumbing

[Howard Wilson]

Re: wing tank plumbing

Hi Laz,

The plumbing and headliner were in place when I purchased the plane in 2003. I haven't really checked the exact routing behind the headliner. I do remember having to make up some colorful incantations in order to reach the fittings to take the wings off! h

[Laz]

Re: wing tank plumbing

I have decided to keep my wing tank valves at the wing root since that is hwere they were originally located. I have the 85 STC but cannot see any reason to change.

What I am intersted in is moving the location forward like Howard Wison did. What I Cannot figure out is how to run the fuel line to the valle one past the vertical tube up by the pully. I see fom most post, Jole, Bob Lees etc. that the tube starts on the outside of the cabin fabric. I appers to have to renter to the inside at some point to conect with the valve. If anyone has thpought on this I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

[1938BF50]

Re: wing tank plumbing

It's almost getting discouraging......everytime I move on to another section, a couple more snags pop up. I converted my 15 rib '41 wing back to a 13 rib/'38 wing. I rounded up all the proper round tube aileron hinge brackets a couple years ago. Have them all mounted on the rebuilt wing. Went to trial run cables last night and the aileron cable hits the curved "end cap" of all the aileron ribs. My '38 aileron cove is built up of two small wooded stringers and a curved aluminum cove. The '41 is of course, the one-pc formed aluminum cove. I had torn the crappy 1-pc cove off several months ago, thinking I would make new. Now I have to actually make the whole darn thing....wooden stringers and all.

[M Jones]

Re: wing tank plumbing

Hey Mike, timing is everything huh? Good milestone for you, congratulations!

[1938BF50]

Re: wing tank plumbing

Thanx Mike!

Perfect timing....my IA is coming over tonite to look at fuel valve options as well as the precover for the wings.

[M Jones]

Re: wing tank plumbing

Here are some shots I took yesterday. The push pull tube pictures are a little boring really, but there's not much to them from inside the passenger area.

Also included are a couple pictures of my fuel line running down to the header tank. There's a short section of clear fuel resistant vinyl tubing added that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling seeing the gas draining when I pull the valve open. When the tank quits draining in level flight (by my standards anyway), I probably get another quart or so out of the tank by putting her into a steep side slip. Look closely to see the "magnifying" effect of the fuel as it flows through the vinyl compared to the tube being empty.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: wing tank plumbing

push pull up by your ear is correct for pre - war , I will take picture. I still have lots of the threaded finger screens that screw into the tank , then the valve goes on then the elbow all automotive stuff ..

[1938BF50]

Re: wing tank plumbing

Thanx Mike!

[M Jones]

Re: wing tank plumbing

Well Mike, I got a couple of pictures with my cell phone but they're not good enough to post. I took some while I was flying in turbulence so they're not good, and also a little too dark. I'll take my good camera and get a better shot next time I go out.

[Len Petterson]

Re: wing tank plumbing

A extra valve at the main tank just in case of a leak. Offcuarse it would be good "but" if you forget about it and/or kick it shut with your knee or something like it and the engine stops when it not supose too. the O-shit factor will increase again. ( I think it would not be FAA aproved as well.)

[Carl E. Carson]

Re: wing tank plumbing

My 40 BC-65 has the push pull valve on the wing tank. It was not on the plane originally but Dad had picked up one "way back" and never installed it. When we did the rebuild in '06 - '07 we put it in. I really don't know what year it was originally installed or in what model.

Carl

[Edwin Otha]

Re: wing tank plumbing

Mike,
We built a set of wings for a BL a few years back and the fuel valve in one of the four wings we used had the set up you decribed. The valve was pointing inboard and the control was a short length of 3/8" steel tubing with a small ivory knob, labeled fuel.
EO

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: wing tank plumbing

Mike,

Photos attached of the wing tank plumbing in my BC12-D. There are no flexible sections of hose -- it's all solid metal tubing. Right angle fitting comes out of the wing tank, goes into the valve. Line comes out of the valve, goes down the door post (unattached), across underneath the panel (lashed in two places with friction tape and rib stitch cord), and into the main tank.

The under-panel photos below are looking up. In the first photo, you can see the aileron cable and the black cardboard glovebox. In the second photo, the silver control wheel shaft is at right, the main tank at lower left. In the third photo, the copper tube at center is the primer.

Do you need the various part numbers from the BC12-D parts price list?

[M Jones]

Re: wing tank plumbing

Mike, no need for me to throw it in, it's attached! Yes, I'll bring it up and you can see it for yourself. In the meantime, I'll still get a picture taken and post it, probably later next week. You could always stop in at Harvard-Dacy and check it out too if you're close by the way.

I don't remember that BC-12D at Brodhead. I must have seen it though. I was just there on Monday evening this week myself. Last week, I flew over to Brodhead one late afternoon and stayed there until about 45 min. before sunset. It was a great evening, and I and a C-120 had the place to ourselves, landing in the grass between the pine trees on Rwy 03. Took off and got back to Dacy Airport where I was able to make a few sunset landings before I put her away.

That left wing tank doesn't get used Mike, but good eye, yes it is installed. The right tank has the push/pull valve.

[1938BF50]

Re: wing tank plumbing

Mike,

I see a newer style LH valve in the spy photo I took of your plane at Poplar Grove a couple years ago. I did not remember your ship having 2 wing tanks.