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MJD -> RE: Tettra bubbless plumbing&filling (1/30/2008 7:17:20 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: bob27s I guess I never considered what the instructions say with the Tetra tanks all that much. I believe the method decribed has to do with using a "vent" tube (third line) that goes to the top of the fuel tank. Air and fuel vent out of that tube, which is then sealed off after fueling. The tank is pressurized then on the outside of the bladder. Someone told me they used the tetra tank in this fashion, and it worked ok. You fuel as if it were a conventinal tank. Does make things easier especially with the larger tank volume. And there is less risk of pressurizing or bursting the bladder. But as you noted, there is always a risk of a bubble of air left in the tank under some conditions. A good deal of making this work is to ensure that the vent ends up where the top of the tank is, and this where the air bubble might form. I have always filled tetra tanks using the same extract-and-fill method used with the Jett tanks. Takes a couple of loads of fuel, and some clamping the fill line while making the change. But it has not proven a large problem. Bob Since the filler inlet is submerged in the fuel can, I do not believe the fuel is full of air bubbles any more than the syringe is. I've filled my 8oz Jett tanks with a hand cranked fuel pump a few times when I have forgotten the filler syringe. Note this is not pylon racing but sport flying my Magnum. I filled it up until no more fuel flowed, then - nose straight up up - slowly cranked backwards until I saw bubbleless fuel in the fuel line. Had zero problems, but I wouldn't do this in a racing event without more repetition of the technique to weed out any issues I haven't encountered yet. However, it allowed me to fly without a one hour round trip to fetch the fueller. The engine ran cleanly and no blown plugs. MJD EDIT: I forgot - I also sucked the tank dry with the pump in reverse first, then pinched the fuel line, then filled the pump line with fuel before attaching back to the fuel line, to minimize air. There is of course a tiny bit of air introduced at first, but I think it is reliably withdrawn once full with the nose up. Seemed ot be anyhow.
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