Fueling problem...please help!
 

Hi there,

Put a fuel dot a my Skybolt, went to fill the tank and fuel started peeing out the muffler hose right away, looked and there was a bit of fuel in the tank. I figured I must have mixed up the vent hose and the carb hose. Reversed the hoses near the engine (not inside the plane) and tried again. This time I managed to get more fuel going but then it started leaking out my carburator...what's the deal. Do I have the fuel dot reversed on the inside of the plane? or does it have to do with the setup inside my fuel tank with the vent and carb line?


Please help?

RE: Fueling problem...please help!
 

It depends upon how you've plumbed things.

If your dot sits between the carb and the tank, and your filler is not a true "valve" that cuts off flow to the carb, then what you are seeing is normal.

The pump produces enough pressure to push fuel into the tank AND also to push it into the carb.

You should always close the carb down FULLY ( full cut-off, so there is no opening ), when filling.

Even then fuel will continue to drip out.

For cowled planes I prefer either a three line setup, or one of those World Models thingies that effectively bring the line going from the tank to the carb outside the cowl.

You effectively disconnect the connection to the carb while you fuel the tank using these.

RE: Fueling problem...please help!
 

brrzee,

You didn't say where you added the fuel dot. If you have excess to the pressure line to the muffler where you can pull it off during fueling, just add a third line on you tank as the fill line coming straight from the fuel dot.

RE: Fueling problem...please help!
 

My fuel dot is located on the side of the fuse near the front of the plane. Where would I add a third line?

RE: Fueling problem...please help!
 

You'll have to pull your tank. Amost all standard fuel tanks are set up to receive three line. Run the third line out of your tank to the fuel dot This is the way I have it set up on my GP Reactor.

RE: Fueling problem...please help!
 

This is the proper setup for a fuel dot

RE: Fueling problem...please help!
 

MinnFlyer's approach is the way I do it. I also add a second clunk at the end of the fill line so I can be assured that the tank gets fully drained when I pull suction on the fill line. The clunk on the fill line assures me that the line always sits at the bottom of the tank - especially on installations where I cannot really see the tank that well. When I do not fly a model for a while, I also flush the system with alcohol and drain that, followed by a very - very low pressure air purge from my compressor to dry things up.

Steve

RE: Fueling problem...please help!
 

The second cluck w/ a direct line is best.

In the meantime closing the needle valve all the way for fueling may get the job done...

RE: Fueling problem...please help!
 

Rather than use a second clunk, I just bend the tube slightly so the fill/drain tube rests on the bottom of the tank. Since you don't need to empty the tank when the plane is upside-down, I don't see the need to waste another clunk.

RE: Fueling problem...please help!
 

Fixed the issue. Thanks for the reply which helped very much...

RE: Fueling problem...please help!
 

Good idea.

It also permits you to move it as far back as possible and off to one side, to avoid possible entanglement with the main clunk.

The main clunk can't really hit the back of the tank corners, so your arrangement does permit most or all of the fuel to be drained out.