main fuel tank strainer

[Laz]

My main tank has a really screwed up fuel strainer. Any idea what the correct setup is . The old strainer , what is left of it was soldered into the 90 deg. elbow at the bottom of the tank. you can buy one from AC spruce but then the elbow, which is mail will not work. any help would be appreciarted.

[Robert Lees]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

Hello Laz,

The photo below is of my wing-tank set-up, but you can see that the fittings are all generally-available threaded fittings. Maybe this pic will help.

Rob

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

The fittings in Robs picture are available in FF, MM, MF, elbows and in all kinds of lengths. I think mine had the strainer with an extended MF and an elbow to make the run forward from the wing tank to the "A" pillar. On the main there was the fuel shut off with an extension to penetrate the firewall where there was an elbow to take the line over to the gascolator. Can't remember what the combination of fittings were, but I am lucky to have a fitting supply house local so I just go in with the mock up and build it there. If you grab a hand full of plumbing fittings you can mock one up so you can lay it on the table to order just the lengths you need of the expensive "blue" or "red" stuff (one is aluminum and the other is steel). If you are ordering you might as well get the steel. There is one IA on our field who swears aluminum fuel fittings forward of the firewall are illegal. He is a real PITA always sticking his nose in the hangar to tell me things that are pure bogus. Even if you HAVE steel, he will give you a 30 minute lecture on why you HAVE TO.
Hank

[Tom T]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

Only one cure, close the door!!

[astjp2]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

Hank, ask him what FAR by number and paragraph, if he cant prove then tell him to call me and I will tell him he is full of shit! Tim

The fittings in Robs picture are available in FF, MM, MF, elbows and in all kinds of lengths. I think mine had the strainer with an extended MF and an elbow to make the run forward from the wing tank to the "A" pillar. On the main there was the fuel shut off with an extension to penetrate the firewall where there was an elbow to take the line over to the gascolator. Can't remember what the combination of fittings were, but I am lucky to have a fitting supply house local so I just go in with the mock up and build it there. If you grab a hand full of plumbing fittings you can mock one up so you can lay it on the table to order just the lengths you need of the expensive "blue" or "red" stuff (one is aluminum and the other is steel). If you are ordering you might as well get the steel. There is one IA on our field who swears aluminum fuel fittings forward of the firewall are illegal. He is a real PITA always sticking his nose in the hangar to tell me things that are pure bogus. Even if you HAVE steel, he will give you a 30 minute lecture on why you HAVE TO.
Hank

[astjp2]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

All you need is the strainter as pictured above. You also need the 90* AN to pipe elbow. Use fuel lube and make sure the valve and fittings are fairly centered on the hole in the firewall. Tim

Hello Laz,

The photo below is of my wing-tank set-up, but you can see that the fittings are all generally-available threaded fittings. Maybe this pic will help.

Rob

[flyguy]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

That photo sure brings back, "Just a little tighter to line up the cutoff valve with the firewall hole, just little bit more, oops oh #%&@*(&*, I just cracked the repaired tank again." Chuckle (now, not then.)
DC

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

Sometimes the guy is a real hoot. While I was bolting parts together he came up to my hangar and asked me if I knew the standard for insertion of fasteners. Without thinking I just said "sure, heads up, heads froward and heads inboard". He told me that I was wrong because I was using the wrong mnemonic (no, he didn't know what it was called, but he knew I was using the wrong one). He said the "RIGHT" way to remember was threads down, aft and inboard and I was using the wrong method to remember.
We have had several "interesting" conversations like that and I basically just ignore him. If I had time to just stand around and play games with him I would have asked him to put the engine mount/firewall bolts in or hang an aileron for me and to make real sure the fasteners were all in by "his rules".
I don't think I should pay him by the hour. ;-)
IDIOT! I wouldn't let him so much as touch my plane.

Hank

[NY86]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

So, is it "heads inboard" or "threads inboard"?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

See what happens when I use HIS mnemonic? I get it wrong! If you go by threads it is threads aft, down and OUTBOARD. If my mnemonic works for me and is correct, he shouldn't try to make me use his. That's why I throw him out of my hangar. I DO listen to him, then disregard most of what he says because it's mostly "houie".
I figure he won't be around to bother me much longer any way. Last time I saw him he was painting a metal fuselage with Imron polyurethane paint in font of his hangar with not so much as a paper respirator. He says it won't hurt you and he couldn't even smell it. Telling him the hazards of what he was doing was about as fruitful and teaching physics to my Irish Setter.
Hank

My hangar was two rows upwind and I smelled it! I made sure no one else was there and then left the airport.

[Laz]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

Thanks for all the help, BUT i still have a problem. If you use the standard available strainer like the one Bib Lees is showing you have to use a different elbow below it in the tank which lowers the whole mess down below the place where the line goes thru the firewall. A original factory drawing of the Main tank fuel setup would be helpful. If you use the long strainer that is available it could interfere with the cork on the fuel gauge wire. I am not trying to pick nits here, but this this the main fuel connection.

Also the elbow that had the original strainer soldered into it was a 3/3 npt male and a 1/4 NPT female. So far no luck finding one of those.

Laz

[Ryan]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

Here is what was in ours. I thought I had a pic of it taken apart, but could not locate it. If I find one will post.

[Laz]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

Thanks Ryan,

That is what mine looks like. Problem still is no one seems to know what the original strainer looks like or how long it is.

[M Towsley]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

Laz,

I have mine out and will try to get to the hangar tomorrow to take a pic with a ruler.

[M Towsley]

Re: main fuel tank strainer

Here is mine. I have seen other pictures of this same set-up.

The third picture is one I pulled off of here or the internet.