fueling up
 

what is the easiest way to fuel up a plane...?

RE: fueling up
 

Wow....lots of variables there.

What is it you're wanting to know? Are you looking for advice on the best fuel pump, whether you should go manual/electric, how to route the fill and vent lines in a fuel jug, what?

Or are you maybe looking for advice on the process? Which fuel lines to hook where, or how to connect/disconnect the appropriate lines at the engine for fueling, or???

Please be more specific with your question.

RE: fueling up
 

advice which fuel pump is best...? manual or electric?<div>
</div><div>and the process..</div><div>
</div><div>it is not specific... because i was wondering if I can get as much information as possible about this process...</div>

RE: fueling up
 

Wow, that's a very wide topic.  I always use a electric pump, however I'm getting tired of lugging around the extra weight, so I think I'm going to switch to a manuel pump mounted on the gallon of fuel.  The process really depends on what type of lines your running.  Let me see if I can find a diagram to assist in the explanation. </p>

RE: fueling up
 

also have you heard tell of using a syringe to do this job?

RE: fueling up
 

the syringe method is usually used with small engines, i.e. cox .049. i've never seen anybody use a syringe on anything larger than that. to fill up my 40 sized plane, the syringe would have to be the size of a soda can. i've always used a manual pump just because they were recommended to me when i started flying and they tend to last longer than the electric ones. but what do i know? i'm just a newbie, too!

RE: fueling up
 

I've pumped over 100 gallons of fuel in the last 5 years and this manual Dave Brown Six Shooter pump is still working great. Straps right onto a gallon of fuel. I carry my gallon of fuel in a 5 gallon bucket along with my electric starter and 12v starter battery.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...XB887&amp;P=ML

I've seen too many people lose too much fuel on the ground using an electric pump.

RE: fueling up
 

I'm still using my 6 Shooter that I purchased in 1989 :)

RE: fueling up
 

When I first started the hobby, I bought the fitting set and installed it into the cap of a metal one gallon can.  I started fueling by plugging the free hole with my finger and squeezed the sides of the can to start syphoning the fuel, and lifted the can over the plane to fuel my plane.  It wasn't the fastest way to fuel but it was cheap.:D

Once I got into the hobby more I went with the electric pump.  The 6 shooter seemed like too much work.

You can do the same thing by installing the fitting set into a fuel jug or you can find a metal can. 

RE: fueling up
 

I use a syringe, but then I am flying control line aerobatics and want a 5-6 minute flight.  I am amazed at all you RC guys who can concentrate and fly an airplane for longer than that!</p>

RE: fueling up
 

Iuse a wheeled tool box, plastic, that I have set up with a power panel. In the bottom of the box I have a one gallon can of fuel, the electric fuel pump and a small 12 volt battery that operates everything. I just plug in my fuel lie and push a button to both fill and drain my planes fuel tank. the box also has a large storage box for my bigger items, one of which is a spare small hand pump Ipicked up for 10 dollars. All of my flight gear is in the one box.
The syringe you see being use is for a bladder type of fuel tank. You fill the syringe with a measured ammount of fuel, squish it into the tank and hold the plane upright and suck out any air that went into the tank. Not a tank type that is used often bu sport pilots, Ihave used them for racing planes, these tanks get no air bubbles or foaming from vibration.
There are just too many ways to fuel up your plane to even mention them all. Whenever I think Ihave seen it all someone comes up with a better mouse trap.

RE: fueling up
 

I started with an electric pump, but the Dave Brown hand pump is hard to beat. It has a replacable tube so it will last a life time. Hand pumps give better control IMHO. Less spillage and raw fuel mess. I have sprayed a radio with raw fuel when the fill tube popped off. NOTFUN, raw fuel is hard as all get out on radios.

RE: fueling up
 

I was told when I was looking for field equipment to get a manual fuel pump...because if you loose your battery you can still fly.....years later I still have a manual pump both glow and gas.....
the process of fueling......first thing to remember is a fuel tank is never empty...even if there is no fuel in the tank......ask anyone that has had a pinched vent line.....always remember that as you put fuel in...you must vent air out......Full scale aircraft as well has a tank vent system.
2 line system usually on open cowled airplanes....1 line to carb and 1 line from the muffler......disconnect the line to the carb and fill the tank with that line....... disconnect the the line from the muffler, this is the vent line and over flow when you see fuel from that line the tank is full....
3 line system usually on cowled engines but doesn't have to be......just like the 2 line system except that as your usually under a cowling you cant disconnect lines.....so there is a 3rd line that runs to a fuel dot on the outside of the cowl.....the fuel dot holds the line and also plugs the line(as any open line will cause you to loose tank pressure from the muffler).......the 3rd line runs to the tank as the fill line...I always put a second clunk on my 3rd line so I can defuel the tank to empty...the line to the muffler is still the vent and over flow...when you see fuel coming from the muffler your tank is full......there are fueling valves that replace the 3rd line but I don't recommend them as they can leak and you have to have an adapter for most......hope this helps

RE: fueling up
 

what is the process of fueling up? how do you get rid of pressure inside the tank?

RE: fueling up
 

I've seen too many people lose too much fuel on the ground using an electric pump.

I use an electric pump and absolutely none of my fuel goes on the ground!
However, I an concientious enough to always use an overflow bottle.
I think everyone should, it's an easy way to save money and the environment.
We have enough problems with our hobby fitting into society, let's not create another one.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

RE: fueling up
 

pressure inside the tank is vented out of the vent line...as fuel enters the tank from the carb line and fills the tank the air that was inside the tank is vented out of the line that goes to the muffler.......once filled the air is gone and now fuel exits the vent line ......filled tank

RE: fueling up
 

And the catch can is just attached to the vent line that is attached to the muffler, when the fuel flows into the catch can it is full and you have lost no fuel at all. A catch can is just something you make up yourself, most of us use an old fuel tank, it has one line with a clunck going to the bottom of the can/tank and one line for a vent with a brass tube holding the two lines together so you can remove them from each other. Iend up emtying mine about every third fly day by plugging it into my pump and running the pump backwards so the fuel in the can goes back into my fuel can.
A question for the OP, can you perhaps find someone to show you how to fill the tank?? Perhaps at a club or flying field?? This is pretty basic and it sounds like you may need someone to show you how to do things like fueling and starting the engine?? Some basic learning may be of great help to you.

RE: fueling up
 

You should take a look at the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC) web site http://www.maac.ca
Some of the rules in Canada are different than in the US. You can use the site to try to find local modelers who can help you get started.

RE: fueling up
 

Hey KW_Counter- good for you guys... Ihave been using an old fuel tank with a short piece of brass tubing in it connected to the vent line to catch the overflow. I can on a good day, save an entire tank of fuel by using it. It is also simple to pump out when it starts to fill up, and Ireconnect the two lines (vent to carb) on it to keep from pulling in moisture at the in between times. It is no effort to use, and I figure that it saves me about a gallon of fuel every year. Edit - I thought about doing it because Ihave to fix my own grass, as my runway is mine. At first I just did it to save bald spots in the pits, then Ifound out how much fuel I was losing....http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f.../msn/49_49.gif

RE: fueling up
 

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f.../thumbs_up.gif

RE: fueling up
 

Well, John, you only missed the picture where you're turning the crank...http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f.../msn/49_49.gif

RE: fueling up
 

I figured John would show us his simple fueling system, it's the easy fool proof way to fuel any engines that are cowled. Great shots John. Istill use the three line but it's more a habit.
Igot into the habit of the catch can some years ago. A grass sod company used to allow flying off there sod fields but the cans were required so it didn't burn there grass. Inever did waste a lot of fuel from over flowing but with the can Ican be BSing with the guys and not have to be waqtching what I'm doing too closely. BS is a big part of flying!!!!http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...eeth_smile.gif

RE: fueling up
 

Oh man I almost got this picture posted right after your post but didn,t quite make it, had to split for the club meeting tonighthttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/biggrin.gif

He, he now thats a BS session GB

Just kidding though, I do agree with you that "BS is a big part of flying". Being a loner is not all its cracked up to be as someone taking that path usually will miss out on the total experiance somewhat.

RE: fueling up
 

we now how to start it up and everything of the sort.. i just wanted to know which people prefered for fueling up the tank ... and the process of which it worked...

we have filled out tank up with a syringe and it worked fine.. just wondering if there was a simple maybe easier way .. although this is very EASY!

RE: fueling up
 

As you can see, if most people aren't using the bladder type of tank then they use either the hand crank or electric, we all choose the type we like and seem to stick with it over time.