I was planning on using a Festo fitting for the fuel fill line on my UAT. I have heard that they can leak air under suction and that the connection to the UAT is a bad place for an air leak.

Do you guys use festo fittings here? If so, do you use the one way valve, a ball valve or a conection with a blanking plug? Do you prefer the blanking plug that come with the UAT? is there a better method?

Thanks

I use a Festo ball valve on the fill line and have for at least a year. There
are also three other people I know of that use the same arrangement with
no apparent problems.
Having said that, I have seen one and only one leak around a Festo coupling
on a suction line.
I believe the chance is remote. You could have a leak around a plug after usage
because the fuel line deforms. (never have seen this that I can remember)
Dee

I have used Festo for the last 6 years in all the jets that I have built. Never had a problem. Go ahead and use them,-- you won't be sorry.

I used to use just a 6mm Festo with a "plug" made out of a length of 6mm fuel line that has a fuel-dot in the end of it - pull the whole 6mm line off for fueling, etc. I did once get a flameout on take-off due to an air leak between the plug and the Festo when the plu didn't seat properly, so I now use a more redundant system ... the one-way Festo has been replaced by a 6mm Festo ball-valve. That way even if the "plug" does not fit perfectly, having the ball-valve in the closed position still offers pretty good protection.

If the above is unclear, lemme know and I will post a pic.

Gordon

Keep it simple....no need for that extra Festo.......1/8" Tygon tubing of desired length to fill port on UAT.....use Dubro plug that BV includes with the UAT....been using it for 3 years on my HS, 2 years on my Bandits, and all summer on my KC.....BV uses it on all his jets....never had a leak.....worst problem is dropping the plug in the grass.....I keep a few spares.....I use a Jersey Fueler and the supplied filler fits tightly in the Tygon....or you can make your own with a short piece of brass tubing.....

I do use 6mm tubing with an On/Off Festo in the line between the output of the UAT and the Fuel Pump.....suction side, of course......never has leaked either.....just make sure you have a very clean cut on the tubing....

Tom

Festo ball valve woks great. Used Dubro stopper on my Roo for 54 flights with only 1 flame out. I then decided to use the Festo ball valve as then you dont get any air in the filler line. Don't use any "Quick Fill" inline type fitting as these eventually let air in when the spring has worn a bit.

Zane