rcworld2000

I am new to r/c airplanes, with only one year of flying a trainer under my belt. Over the winter I picked up a few used glow engine planes that have cowls. For the life of me I can't see how the previous owner filled them with fuel. I'm used to pulling the fuel line off the carborator and disconnect fuel line from the muffler.

Both of the new planes have cowls with no way of easily getting t the fuel lines. Any suggestions on what to use and how to set the up to be fueled?

kiwibob72

Either fuel dot, or something along the lines of this (I've used them before and they work good) http://shop.dubro.com/p/kwik-fill-fu...on=recommended

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

Here is the simplest method, the cheapest method (cost nothing), The most reliable (two lines just like your trainer and no lost fuel dots in the sand or no sand clogging the fueling valve). And of course it provides a very easy place to pinch the fuel line for pinch tuning of the engine:




John

AMA 74894

My Feedback: (1)

the previous owner MAY have used something like forceps/ locking tweezers to remove the fuel line for refueling....
that being said, John's method is IMHO bullet proof/simple/ and (except for the scale purist) doesn't look bad.

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

Check the cowl or fuselage for a fuel dot.As mentioned that is one way to fill the tank.
Check the bottom of the firewall for an exposed fuel line with a plug. They may have installed the line there instead of on top with a fuel dot.

rgm762

My Feedback: (4)

IF you don't figure out how the previous owner did it, as AMA said, John has the best and easiest method, but if you want to take John's method one step farther, Airborne modes sell these, cleans up the cowl a little bit and does the same thing, I use then when I want to keep the cow looking "pretty"
http://ecsvr.com/abm/ShopDisplayproducts.asp?Search=Yes

AMA 74894

My Feedback: (1)

I THINK what rgm762 was referring to are at this page, called 'fuel fillers' :
http://www.airborne-models.com/html/...asp?AGroupID=4
Fai at Airborne models is one heck of a good guy to work with too.

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

Yes what Rgm and AMA said is the same as I do on most all my airplanes and that include the gassers. That device they both linked to is exactly the same thing I do and of course it mounts on the outside of the cowl and may look better to some eyes. Actually the main issue for me is since I have a lot of airplane with cowled two strokes I always pinch tune and that is not possible with other plumbing methods. That device is fine I just don,t bother but both allow for pinch tuning as well as very easy refueling.

John

rgm762

My Feedback: (4)

thanks AMA, not sure what happened to the link, it did work, at least once

rcworld2000

Hey john that looks just like that will be what i will do... one question though i normally unplug carb line to put fuel in and unplug muffler and fill untill fuel comes out into a catch bottle i have how would i do i tell when the plane is full with this method?

All Day Dan

My Feedback: (5)

RC, here's the best way. One continuos line to the tank.

tim5713

This is the system I like, have set up all 10 of my planes with cowls with this, glow and gas.From the clunk side of the tank to this fitting to the carb, then the vent side of the tank a line goes out the underside of the plane. You fill and unfill with this dot,mount it on the firewall with a plastic bracket from Du-bro,for easy cowl removal.

rgm762

My Feedback: (4)

if your unable to unhook the exhaust line or see your tank, about the only thing you can do is to stop when fuel starts to come out of the muffler.

Uncas

My Feedback: (1)

1. I use the Dubro "fuel dot" which is not really a dot but easier to remove. This flows into the 3rd fuel line to the tank

2. On some planes you can't get to the pressurizing lines to the muffler to see if the tank is full. For that I break the pressurizing line from the tank to the muffler and put in the dubro 3 way valve and catch the overfill in a small fuel tank.

3. On some planes you can't get to the glow head. For that I use a Hanger 9 remote glow plug adapter.

I did all 3 of these for my Reactor 46 with a Saito 82. It makes fueling and starting a lot easier.

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

There is a large variety of engine installations here. It would most helpful if you could tell us what airplane(s) you are talking about and the type engine installed and well as exactly what type of muffler. Also a picture would be most helpful. First off let me point out that this is not for YS engines or any other type that uses a pressurized tank system beyond just muffler pressure.

In many cases the muffler line can be accessed or its can be treated just like the carb line with a split at a convenient location with short bit of brass or aluminum tube to reconnect. In exactly the same manner as the carb feed line and hook you catch bottle there. I do not use them and as someone noted above you can simply watch for it from the muffler outlet (this does not apply to gassors in their case there is always a vent line anyway and that is where your overflow will occur).

John

rcworld2000

here they are

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

The Zero could easily have a longer muffler line with a split to come out just below the muffler or in the large outlet hole in the bottom of the cowl. The pitts is an easy candidate for a long muffler line in the air outlet hole in the bottom of cowl also. can,t tell with that picture of the 109 but appears to have some sort of pitts box muffler ant that one appears to be a candidate for letting the overflow come out the muffler.

Here are some more pictures sets on this matter of some of my others On the Stearman that third drain line is not a third line it is the crankcase vent. Note on this one the muffler is a perfect candidate to simply drain out the muffler rather than pulling the vent line. On these I simply throw a rag under the muffler.

Since I sent all the last of my many fueling valve to the dumpster about fourteen years ago I have found no airplanes except the already mentioned pump pressurized systems that could not benefit from this system that is so simple and reliable that people do not beleve it. Anyway in that time since virtually all that fly here in my home club all now use the simple two line system regardless of whether or not
there are cowlings involved.

John

rcworld2000

ThankS. I AM going to try this method.. i like the look with the fuel fliter

chopper man

I've always have used Slim Line and never any problems. I think they look good as well. I run a 3 line system so I don't use the T fitting. I buy direct from them and usually get a better price. Their web site is down now but here is a link to what they look like.
http://www.chiefaircraft.com/sli-2700.html

Gene

kiwibob72

I guess it all comes down to what you want sticking out the side of your scale plane. Personally, I'm totally anal and HATE ANYTHING that sticks out the side of my scale planes, and to me the Dubro plug in 'dot' works great, and limits making a further ugly mess of what I find to be a beautiful cowl (I buy planes for both performance and aesthetics, so any holes in my cowls are ugly to me - I guess I'm shallow like that - LOL).
The reason I like the Dubro system on top of it being small is that the push in pin just stays on your fuel tube (from the gas can), so it's never in the dirt or gets lost, and it will also plug straight into standard nitro line so I can use it as is on my heli which has normal exposed tubing where you fill it up.

JollyPopper

My Feedback: (6)

Below are a couple pictures (I hope) of what I did to one of mine. This is John Buckner's idea with an added twist. I permanently bent the white plastic tube with a heat gun and inserted the ends into the fuel line. This whole assembly will push into the cowl until the white plastic line is flat on the cowl. It looks good to me. Later, I painted the yellow stripe around the red cheek just to make it look better. I like it.