Rebel- fuel sight gauges

IAN DONALDSON · Post by **IAN DONALDSON** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

G'day

Some help please.

My Rebel is fitted with the standard factory suggested sight gauges. However
the fuel levels in the tubes fluctuate so much that it makes accurate
reading of them impossible.

Has anyone had any success with these? Is there anything that I can do to
dampen the oscillations?

Does anyone have a reliable method of measuring the fuel levels, such as a
dipstick?

regards

Ian Donaldson

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Rick Harper · Post by **Rick Harper** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

G'day Ian
Rick Harper here ...

If you solder up the bottom outlet & then drill a .030 hole in the
solder ... (or smaller if you can get one) this will dampen the
oscillations nicely !

Rick

PS are you going to be "home" at / during the up 'n' coming AVALON
airshow in March ?!?!?
----- Original Message -----
From: IAN DONALDSON
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 11:20 PM
Subject: Rebel- fuel sight gauges

G'day

Some help please.

My Rebel is fitted with the standard factory suggested sight gauges.
However
the fuel levels in the tubes fluctuate so much that it makes accurate
reading of them impossible.

Has anyone had any success with these? Is there anything that I can do
to
dampen the oscillations?

Does anyone have a reliable method of measuring the fuel levels, such
as a
dipstick?

regards

Ian Donaldson

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Gilles St-Pierre · Post by **Gilles St-Pierre** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

Ian

Rick idea is the best ,providing you have copper fittings . If tou happen to
have aluminum fittings like we do the best is to insert (press) a piece of
same diameter or half a thou( 0.0005) oversize of polyethylene or alum and
drill 0.030
if you need help ,let me know
gilles e717

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Aurele Lavigne · Post by **Aurele Lavigne** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

Ian,

I have the same problem, but have never worried too much since I usually fly
short distances. Someone had originally used a felt marker and indicated
percentages right on the wing root close to the tube, what was in the tanks.
Of course the oscillation does make that a little difficult to really on.

I do have a dipstick, got it from my local search and rescue unit, and looks
like a "T" and marked off like a ruler. Works good, and will give you a good
reading before take-off or when refuelling. Not sure though, if accurate
when reading in tail-dragger configuration or if you need to raise the tail
in flight configuration.

I see Rick P. has a suggestion, let me know if you try that option and if it
works for you.

Aurele
----- Original Message -----
From: "IAN DONALDSON" <allsure@bigpond.net.au>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 7:20 AM
Subject: Rebel- fuel sight gauges

G'day

Some help please.

My Rebel is fitted with the standard factory suggested sight gauges.
However
the fuel levels in the tubes fluctuate so much that it makes accurate
reading of them impossible.

Has anyone had any success with these? Is there anything that I can do to
dampen the oscillations?

Does anyone have a reliable method of measuring the fuel levels, such as a
dipstick?

regards

Ian Donaldson

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Rick Harper · Post by **Rick Harper** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

PPS ....... I emptied our tanks, ... then added 5 litres of fuel at a
time to each, ... then put a mark on the side of the cabin wall - on the
REAR side of the tubes for ON THE GROUND readings .... and a mark on the
cabin wall - on the FRONT side of the tubes for IN THE AIR readings
....and it's good !

BUT

The problem with the original setup - is that the readings are not able
to be seen at very LOW levels of fuel ... :o(
... (like 20 - 30 litres left in each tank) .... so I moved the LOWER
fuel sight tube outlets to the actual FUEL outlet ( so the tube is now
much longer and at a diagonal ....... gauge is now much more accurate
AND reads right down to the last drop ! )

BUT

This creates another problem , in that this setup now lets air bubbles
into the system when the fuel level gets very low :o( ..........

BUT ..... this is fixed by making a small - in line - fuel sump / bubble
trap on each side !!!

Sounds complicated - but it's not really

Give me a call on 0416 041 007 & I'll explain it !

Rick

Subject: Re: Rebel- fuel sight gauges

G'day Ian
Rick Harper here ...

If you solder up the bottom outlet & then drill a .030 hole in the
solder ... (or smaller if you can get one) this will dampen the
oscillations nicely !

Rick

PS are you going to be "home" at / during the up 'n' coming AVALON
airshow in March ?!?!?
----- Original Message -----
From: IAN DONALDSON
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 11:20 PM
Subject: Rebel- fuel sight gauges

G'day

Some help please.

My Rebel is fitted with the standard factory suggested sight gauges.

However
the fuel levels in the tubes fluctuate so much that it makes
accurate
reading of them impossible.

Has anyone had any success with these? Is there anything that I can
do
to
dampen the oscillations?

Does anyone have a reliable method of measuring the fuel levels,
such
as a
dipstick?

regards

Ian Donaldson

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IAN DONALDSON · Post by **IAN DONALDSON** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

G'day again

Thanks to those that responded to my queries.

I have already restricted the hose size by fitting an aluminium plug and
drilling a small hole in it. I don't remember just what size it was as I
broke the drill! But I would guess that it would be 1/32 or thereabouts.
Perhaps what I should do is restrict it some more.

I like the idea of a dipstick that I can use when filling up. When I next go
to my hangar I will see just what I can come up with.

Unfortunately with the price of petrol (gasoline!) I have never been able to
afford to fill the tanks completely! Well that is not completely true, but
does anyone know just what the capacity of the tanks should be!

We are setting out on a major cross country flight where gas stations are a
rarity and the country is not friendly!

Regards

Ian Donaldson

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Rick Harper · Post by **Rick Harper** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

Guys .....

Can someone please RE-SEND this e-mail to the list .... as I cannot seem
to get through to Ian ?!?!?!

(either his computer is blocking my e-mails (like mine does without my
knowledge from time to time) - or he's got the shits with me for some
reason

IAN .... can you please give me a call on 0416 041 007

Rick (Harper)
----- Original Message -----
From: IAN DONALDSON
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 5:14 PM
Subject: Re: Rebel- fuel sight gauges

G'day again

Thanks to those that responded to my queries.

I have already restricted the hose size by fitting an aluminium plug
and
drilling a small hole in it. I don't remember just what size it was as
I
broke the drill! But I would guess that it would be 1/32 or
thereabouts.
Perhaps what I should do is restrict it some more.

I like the idea of a dipstick that I can use when filling up. When I
next go
to my hangar I will see just what I can come up with.

Unfortunately with the price of petrol (gasoline!) I have never been
able to
afford to fill the tanks completely! Well that is not completely true,
but
does anyone know just what the capacity of the tanks should be!

We are setting out on a major cross country flight where gas stations
are a
rarity and the country is not friendly!

Regards

Ian Donaldson

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Bob Patterson · Post by **Bob Patterson** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

Hi Ian !

The tanks are nominally 44 gallons (US), but typically, with 3 bays
per side, they hold about 48 USG. Should be good for a looooong trip
with the 912 !! :-) (Each bay is about 7.5 - 8 US gallons)

On longer trips, where stops were not possible, I installed an
auxilliary fuel valve on the panel, plumbed to a clear plastic line which
ran along the corner wraps to the baggage area, where it was
fitted with a cap for the red plastic jerry cans (20 L.). I had to
turn that valveon, THEN turn off the wing tanks - otherwise, the
wing tanks would drain down & overflow the back can.

The 912 fuel pump sucked fuel up through this line with no
problems - and you could tell when you were running dry, by the
bubbles in the clear line ! When flying down to Florida, from BC,
diagonally across the continent, the factory used TWO 20 L. cans,
with separate hoses !! All of this was necessary because the
original Rebel only held about 10 gallons ....

It

Drew Dalgleish · Post by **Drew Dalgleish** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

At 05:14 PM 2/14/2005 +1100, you wrote:

G'day again

Thanks to those that responded to my queries.

I have already restricted the hose size by fitting an aluminium plug and
drilling a small hole in it. I don't remember just what size it was as I
broke the drill! But I would guess that it would be 1/32 or thereabouts.
Perhaps what I should do is restrict it some more.

I like the idea of a dipstick that I can use when filling up. When I next go
to my hangar I will see just what I can come up with.

Unfortunately with the price of petrol (gasoline!) I have never been able to
afford to fill the tanks completely! Well that is not completely true, but
does anyone know just what the capacity of the tanks should be!

We are setting out on a major cross country flight where gas stations are a
rarity and the country is not friendly!

Regards

Ian Donaldson

Hi Ian I figure my tanks hold just over 160 litres. Maybe the fuel wouldn't
slosh around in your gauges so much if you stopped doing all those loops
and rolls. :)
Drew

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IAN DONALDSON · Post by **IAN DONALDSON** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

G'day Bob

Thanks for your reply.

I sorta suspected that the tanks were about 160 litres in total, and as you
say that is a looooong way with a Rotax. Mine uses 20 litres and hour at 85
knots which I think is not to bad at all.That would make something like 600
miles without the need for fuel. The Rebel might have the capacity for a
long flight, but I don't!

I rather liked the idea of an extra plastic can plumbed into the system. I
had never really considered that, but I don't know that I would need all
that extra fuel. However I do carry an empty can in the back so that I can
at least get some gas back to the plane. In some of the more remote areas
petrol is available, but if you want avgas you have to buy it in a drum of
44 gallons. That's not ideal when you want only 10 gallons!.

One of the more interesting aspects of outback flying here is that you can
just land on the road and taxy up to a roadhouse and fill your plane from
the petrol bowser. That makes life easier!

thanks again

Regards

Ian Donaldson

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IAN DONALDSON · Post by **IAN DONALDSON** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

G'day Drew

Thanks for the response. I estimated that there was about 160 litre capacity
but just wanted some reassurance I guess.

I don't know about those loops and rolls, but the Rebel will sill do nice
wing overs and spins!

As Australia is known as the "Land down under" does that mean the we fly our
Rebel upside down?

Regards

Ian Donaldson

Hi Ian I figure my tanks hold just over 160 litres. Maybe the fuel
wouldn't
slosh around in your gauges so much if you stopped doing all those loops
and rolls. :)
Drew

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Bob Patterson · Post by **Bob Patterson** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

Hi Ian !

It is handy - for years we landed in a field and taxied through a
fence gate to a service station on the highway on the way to Oshkosh
- the pump hose was just long enough for the Rebel. Had to stop
a couple of years ago, though - the operator

bransom · Post by **bransom** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

FAA puts a limit of 5 gal gas on ultralights ...sorry, wandering off topic I
guess ....They don't really have any regs wrt what is in your "carry on
luggage", and if I'm going anywhere beyond the patch in my UL, I bring
another hour's worth of fuel (2.5gal) as part of my carry on. :) Since we're
talkin "outback" type flying, it's kind of fun to *have to* find something
good enf to call a runway where you can stop to transfer fuel. My point is
that you don't necessarily have to plumb it in, just carry it along. Funny
pics if interested: http://mae.ucdavis.edu/ransom/BensAlbum/1997/cows1.html
-Ben/ 496R

I rather liked the idea of an extra plastic can plumbed into the system. I
had never really considered that, but I don't know that I would need all
that extra fuel. However I do carry an empty can in the back so that I can
at least get some gas back to the plane. In some of the more remote areas
petrol is available, but if you want avgas you have to buy it in a drum of
44 gallons. That's not ideal when you want only 10 gallons!.

One of the more interesting aspects of outback flying here is that you can
just land on the road and taxy up to a roadhouse and fill your plane from
the petrol bowser. That makes life easier!

thanks again

Regards

Ian Donaldson

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Legeorgen · Post by **Legeorgen** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

Ian,

Actually, it means you spin to the left instead of the right!

Reply to:

As Australia is known as the "Land down under" does that mean the we fly our
Rebel upside down?

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IAN DONALDSON · Post by **IAN DONALDSON** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:10 am

G'day Bob

That was an interesting story about the service station operator not being
able to sell you gas directly. Where we have been things are much more
casual and the operators did not mind at all. At the prices they charged I
guess that they were more than happy to sell you the gas. I'm sure that they
made a good profit!

My Rebel does not have any fairings or wheel spats so I guess it is a little
more draggy than some others. I must get around to fitting the wing strut
fairings, but I have tried a few times to make them but for one reason or
another I have given up. Does anyone have any good way of joining the
trailing edges of the fairings?

I only rev to 5400 max on take off and cruise at 5200 which gives 80/85kts.
Maybe I could fine up the pitch on the prop and let it rev a little more. It
wont rev much more than 5400 flat out, straight and level. At the rev/pitch
setting that I have now it uses 18 litres an hour. Do you think letting it
rev more would make much difference to the speed and or fuel burn?

I do have some reflex, but I am not really sure of the amount. It makes only
a small difference when I pull in reflex. maybe 2 knots. Would more reflex
speed things up?

How do you go about accurately measuring flap and reflex angles? Maybe I
could make some adjustments that will speed things up!

Your fuel burn at 3 gallons was very frugal.I guess to make the extra
horsepower it need a lot more fuel!

I would like to see 100kt cruise also. maybe if I clean it up a bit that
will happen. There ia a very nice adjustable prop made in New Zealand but
for the cost I am prepared to go a little slower! $5,000 buys a lot of gas!

I would like to hear from any other lister that has a 100hp in their Rebel
so that I could compare notes.

Regards

Ian Donaldson

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