The Murphy Builders Site

From: Ken <klehman@albedo.net>
Reply-To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: [rebel-builders] Sump drains/gasohol
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 09:40:02 -0500

I have a setup where the left right crossover tubing crosses the
fuselage back there instead of on the firewall and therefore I only have
one drain in the middle of the fuselage. I added brackets to hold the
"T" and the hole in the skin is just large enough to put a wrench on the
drain fitting and remove the drain fitting if I have to. If I ever need
more access I will cut in from inside the fuselage. That is not near as
likely to ever happen as it will be for the guys that bury rubber hoses
under the floor...

Those drains are a good idea. Now that alcohol is mandated in Ontario
mogas I am having nothing but trouble with my small carbuerated engines.
A water alcohol mixture keeps settling out in the float bowls. It may
not freeze but it makes the engines difficult or impossible to start.
COPA says that Shell V premium is alcohol free for the time being for
STC holders but the MSDS says up to 10% alcohol so caution may still be
order even with that. I'd suggest draining a lot of fuel from any
sediment bowls or carbs if someone is having trouble - unless you see a
separation line, it is easy to mistake separated alchohol/water for pure
gasoline. The mogas that is giving me trouble is all regular grade fuel
from high volume, major oil company, name brand stations and it tests at
5% alcohol as delivered. Water in fuel used to be a non issue as it just
settled at the bottom of my jerry cans and even froze there in cold
temps. Water filters or sediment bowls used to take out the rest. My
soob can handle inadvertant gasohol but the thought of puddles of
separated water/alcohol mix in aircraft fuel tanks is scary. I guess I'm
being forced into putting leaded avgas in it with all the environmental
and engine maintanance issues that go along with that.

Ken

keith@dcsol.com wrote:

After familiarizing myself with my Rebel, and the builders manual, I

realized

that the origenal builder had not installed quick drains at a low area in

the

fuselage. I have opened up the lower exterior side skins to expose the

fuel

lines and started to reroute them to a low area just aft of the rear LG

pick-

up point. Obviously I will have to install a "T" fitting in this area.

However

there no provisions to access this fitting after the skins are

reattached.

How have others addressed this problem?

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I have seen some pictures of belly sump installations where it looks like
the skin is captured or pinched between the drain fitting and the tee. In
theory, it seems like it would be difficult to get a good seal on the pipe
threads, while at the same time snugging the whole thing to the skin. Is
this a common method, or is it usually done like Ken did, where the hole in
the skin is over sized and the tee is supported internally?
Thanks
Jesse