Ceramic Clunk v/s Felt Clunk
06-15-2010, 11:13 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Ceramic Clunk v/s Felt Clunk
Hi Guys,
I picked up some ceramic clunks sometime ago and Im planning to install it in my Tomahawk Viper fuel tank.
Does anybody have any long term experience with this ceramic type clunk ?
How does it compare to the felt type clunk ?
I know it will probably prevent bubbles from getting into the system as well as a Felt clunk but will the ceramic type clog up faster than the felt type?
Visually the pore size seems much much smaller than a typical felt clunk ,therefore my question.
I'd hate to redo the fuel system later and replace it with a felt cunk.
Xantos
I picked up some ceramic clunks sometime ago and Im planning to install it in my Tomahawk Viper fuel tank.
Does anybody have any long term experience with this ceramic type clunk ?
How does it compare to the felt type clunk ?
I know it will probably prevent bubbles from getting into the system as well as a Felt clunk but will the ceramic type clog up faster than the felt type?
Visually the pore size seems much much smaller than a typical felt clunk ,therefore my question.
I'd hate to redo the fuel system later and replace it with a felt cunk.
Xantos
08-01-2012, 07:32 AM
#3
RE: Ceramic Clunk v/s Felt Clunk
I and other jet modelers tried them many years ago and we all observed very tiny microbubbles in our largeer turbines. I stopped using them in an aircraft but I do use them in refuleing station. The felt clunk works amazingly well as long as it remains saturated. The only issue I have come across is that you need to clean your filters regularly as small microfibres accumulate downstream.
Dean W.
Dean W.
08-02-2012, 11:28 AM
#6
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RE: Ceramic Clunk v/s Felt Clunk
I have used the ceramic clunks and after a few months had nothing but trouble ! Like the Dean said they attract micro bubbles with larger turbines and even worse if used in your uat! as they do not get back flushed like in your tanks and bung up ! A friend lost his carf tutor because of this ! I only use std clunks or felt now !
08-03-2012, 01:33 PM
#12
My Feedback: (2)
RE: Ceramic Clunk v/s Felt Clunk
I've been flying with a clunk like the one above for around 5 years. The one I use was made from scratch though, something I built around what looks like the same OEM filter element. I just bought it from Canadian Tire for around $3 or so, then sealed it at each end around a shaft with clunk feature at one end and a flow through hole / barb feature at the other. Very similar concept, and it works like a charm. The restriction is really low, and it acts as a pre-filter element for both air and particulate. its like having 2 UAT's in series, as the main UAT tends to have very little air in it after a good hard flight.
It does not clog up over time, like some of the other filter clunks I've tried which tend to ramp up restriction all of a sudden. The only caution i would give, I have a y-fitting and ball valve on my main tank, allowing fuel to bypass the clunk when I'm refueling. You don't want to be back washing debris inside this filter as you will not see it build up. Having a net flow of debris away from the turbine is a good idea... Bypassing the filter to fill the tank, then forcing fuel back through the filer as its consumed in flight has worked very well for me.
Kelly
It does not clog up over time, like some of the other filter clunks I've tried which tend to ramp up restriction all of a sudden. The only caution i would give, I have a y-fitting and ball valve on my main tank, allowing fuel to bypass the clunk when I'm refueling. You don't want to be back washing debris inside this filter as you will not see it build up. Having a net flow of debris away from the turbine is a good idea... Bypassing the filter to fill the tank, then forcing fuel back through the filer as its consumed in flight has worked very well for me.
Kelly
08-03-2012, 01:37 PM
#13
RE: Ceramic Clunk v/s Felt Clunk
I started off with the Orbit clunk and got to the point that I thought a UAT was superfluous, I then progressed to the pleated paper clunks and knew the UAT was superfluous, if your bag is scale type flying, however if you are into chucking your airframe around a lot then a header tank of some description may be needed.
Mike
Mike
08-03-2012, 11:52 PM
#14
RE: Ceramic Clunk v/s Felt Clunk
Mike,
I had problems with an Orbit clunk. There was a stream of bubbles in the feed line, even when the tank was almost full.
I changed to a pleated paper clunk and have had 200+ bubble free flights.
My pleated paper clunks were from Mick Reeves models: very similar to yours but not identical. Did you make yours yourself.
Since Mick Reeves stopped selling them I have bought a couple from gbrjet.com (but have not used them yet. They have the advantage of being narrow enough to fit a Dubro tank.
I had problems with an Orbit clunk. There was a stream of bubbles in the feed line, even when the tank was almost full.
I changed to a pleated paper clunk and have had 200+ bubble free flights.
My pleated paper clunks were from Mick Reeves models: very similar to yours but not identical. Did you make yours yourself.
Since Mick Reeves stopped selling them I have bought a couple from gbrjet.com (but have not used them yet. They have the advantage of being narrow enough to fit a Dubro tank.
08-04-2012, 12:11 AM
#15
RE: Ceramic Clunk v/s Felt Clunk
Alisdair
I never had any problems with the Orbit Clunk, but all academic as I don't use them anymore, Yes I did make the pleated paper clunk myself, simple job, but as you say a big plus is being able to fit through the opening in a Dubro tank.
Mike
I never had any problems with the Orbit Clunk, but all academic as I don't use them anymore, Yes I did make the pleated paper clunk myself, simple job, but as you say a big plus is being able to fit through the opening in a Dubro tank.
Mike
