Imperial Valve Redux

[jmvolpp]

While I don't object to a certain amount of ongoing maintenance on a 65 year old aircraft, N44305's Imperial fuel valve is pushing my performance envelope. I'm way more familiar now with its removal and overhaul than seems necessary, which normally would be OK, but the darn thing has started to weep about the stem again. And I'm not a fan of even a little bit of fuel on the floor.

I'm ready now to take the advice of someone in an earlier thread that described its vintage as early Roman, and just replace it (along with the Imperial primer, which is also malfunctioning). My AI won't give his blessing to any replacement that isn't PMA'd, STC'd or 337'd unless I can figure a way to work the AC 23-27 Parts Substitution for Vintage Aircraft angle somehow. So that would seem to limit me to the J3 valve that Wag Aero et al offers, or the Apollo valve as per Aviat, retrofitted to the Tcraft. Or is there another viable option since the fuel valve discussion of a year ago?

Mike V.

[astjp2]

Re: Imperial Valve Redux

I have the info you need, and I have 1 valve left. and the other valves you want to try are not approved for your application either. If you use the apollo, you need to several modifications, like build a handle, the valve is female/female. The J-3 valve still needs the handle made and that wont be approved either. The AC is not approved data, but can be used for guidance. Tim