shellac in my fuel system

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: shellac in my fuel system

Brie

I would like to know if you were using CAR gas or 100 low lead as if you were using auto gas this is a good warning about the use of auto gas in old aircraft auto gas does not store as well as av gas and is destructive to older rubber used in hoses good luck on your clean up Chuck

It wes CERTIFIED, no ethanol, Aircraft "auto gas" from the pump at the Horizon Airport, (T-27), so I know that this is probably not an ethanol problem. The only fuels that I have ever put in the plane are the certified stuff, and 100LL. Brie

[Marv]

Re: shellac in my fuel system

Jim i do not know how legal the brass cylinder is, but if it is not it should be. It is a hell of a lot better than a peice of cork that comes apart in the fuel system. If the brass cylinder did fail it would just become full of fuel and show empty when you had plenty of fuel, but would not contaminate the fuel supply. That is my opinion. Marv

[jim cooper]

Re: shellac in my fuel system

could this be an ethynol problem? My plane has a BRASS cylinder, handmade, very handsome instead of cork, which always becomes sodden and gives bad readings. Is mine legal? No idea but its sure accurate! I ALWAYS use a long wooden paint stick to double check. ALWAYS! JC

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: shellac in my fuel system

I had a gascolator that had been left with fuel in it until it dried out (unknown what type but suspect it was auto gas because of the plane it came from). It had a thick shellac like material in the bottom that took MEK and Toluene to dissolve. I started with window cleaner and Alcohol followed by Kerosene, gasoline, prepsol and lacquer thinner. NONE of them would cut it till the MEK.

Real shellac will dissolve in alcohol, so I doubt that was what it actually was, but it DID clean out with some really dangerous solvents and now looks like new.

Start with the mildest solvent you have and progress up. Toluene and MEK are BAD STUFF! Don't get it on your skin or breath the fumes!
Hank

By the way, the fuel lines were ruined too.

[cvavon]

Re: shellac in my fuel system

Brie

I would like to know if you were using CAR gas or 100 low lead as if you were using auto gas this is a good warning about the use of auto gas in old aircraft auto gas does not store as well as av gas and is destructive to older rubber used in hoses good luck on your clean up Chuck

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: shellac in my fuel system

THANKS Marty, I'll grab a couple of the floats myself, and just wait and see what the fuel system guru's tell me about my fuel tank. Brie

[M Towsley]

Re: shellac in my fuel system

Brie,

I plan on eliminating my natural cork, (coated), and use synthetic float material from here: http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/2450

I plan on stacking two together to get what I want. That should take care of your cork issue but as to the rest I will bow to more knowledgeable folks.

My first Taylorcraft used a piece of this synthetic float material and it worked great and does not break down at all. It is a modern material that withstands 100ll and mogas without a problem.

I also plan on using 3/32" stainless welding rod to make the wire, my old one used model airplane wheel collars and large washers to sandwich the float on the wire.

[taylorcraftbc65]

We had an emergency in the family up in upstate New York, so we left for six months, and came back to find my cork on the cowl tank fuel indicator rod partially melted, or with something really stickey on it. the inside of the aircraft smelled like a a furniture factory. The fuel hose between the shutoff valve, and the gascolator was almost melted, but all the rest of the hoses were fine. I pulled the gascolator cup off, and there was perhaps a quarter of a teaspoon of liquid gas that smelled like shellac in it, and after wiping it out, the very bottom of the cup feels sticky.
Can I get a new fuel guage rod/cork assembly? Who from? HOW do I clean what HAS to be sticky shellac off the inside walls of the cowl tank? Can I do it with the tank still in the plane? Brie