----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
I consider the words of our favorite "guru", WRB, to be intemperate and out
of place in this forum. I politely questioned the wisdom of "messing with"
gascolator fuel lines by clamping them shut with a visegrip, and
disconnecting them to drain the header tank.
Your reply included the wording/accusations : "ignorant", "ludicrous",
"chicken little mentality" "mature adults", "(lack of) intelligent
involvement", and "preaching doomsday". I note that your oft-quoted
ALON/MOONEY SB # 19 clearly describes the dangers of draining the header
tank without then disconnecting the gascolator to carburator fuel line at
the carburator inlet and draining off a good portion of fuel in order to
remove any trapped air in the lines. As to "remaining ignorant of my
airplane's useable fuel", I suggest an alternative to taking pieces of
lumber and bubble levels aloft to make imprecise measurements of
non-demonstrated value to we non-mechanics ( but frequent flyers) might be
to: check tank fuel levels prior to flight/assume a 6 gph fuel
consumption/keep an eye on the header tank cap "stick"/ land after 3 hrs to
refuel and use a "potty", and continue from there.
I intend no disrespect, Sir, but ask you, "when was the last time you
actually flew a 'Coupe?"
Don Bowen
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Ed Burkhead" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: "Ed Burkhead" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'Coupe-Tech'" <[email protected]>
Subject: FW: WRB Re: [COUPERS-TECH] Useable fuel/datum
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 11:52:32 -0600
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
-----Original Message-----
From: William R. Bayne [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, December 25, 2005 11:51 AM
To: Ed Burkhead
Subject: WRB Re: [COUPERS-TECH] Useable fuel/datum
RLYTECH
Hi Don,
Original Ercoupe fuel lines were Resistoflex. Pressure in the gravity line
to the gascolator is approximately 1 psi. Were it not for the engine
compartment heat and vibration, clear aquarium tubing without clamps would
easily serve the purpose.
As I said, if a fuel line is reasonably flexible (not ten years + in
service), and has not been "upgraded" to those massive "aircraft"
assemblies with threaded fittings on each end (more weight, same
function) or of the stainless external sleeve type, reasonable pressure
applied as described is simply not going to precipitate the failure you
suggest.
If one were to take one of these hoses and attempt to demonstrate such
failure, the quickest way would be to cut the line in half, try what I
suggest to one piece and subject both to increasing pressure until failure.
Pressure test each and report back any difference. Do you really expect
either hose to fail at less than 10 PSI? A ten to one safety margin exceeds
most industry standards.
I see no real danger in carefully following the procedure suggested, but
there is a very real danger in remaining ignorant as to your plane's useable
fuel. I deem the "real" risk of precipitating the failure you describe
utterly insignificant, and your implication such failure could predictably
occur on the next flight ludicrous. If you're genuinely concerned as to the
effect of the procedure on a hose as it ages, replace the thing with a new
one once the nose tank has been drained and calibrated. No big deal. You
also know that the inside diameter of these hoses is 1/4"; so if you prefer,
shove a 1/4"
bolt in the hose as a calibration shutoff. Happy?
We all know of people who should be physically restained from handling
tools. If one works on their plane, I don't fly with them. But most of us
are quite capable of working on our planes to some extent. I do what I can
to encourage this even as I try to point out where there be real dragons (as
opposed to imaginary ones).
The "Chicken Little" mentality has no place among mature adults who would
enjoy the freedom of the sky but lack the financial resources to have a
mechanic do everything for them. I have little patience for those who
preach doomsday to all who would learn their machine through progressive
study and intelligent involvement in its care and feeding.
An Ercoupe isn't rocket science.
Regards,
William R. Bayne
<____|-(o)-|____>
(Copyright 2004)
On Dec 25, 2005, at 8:49 AM, DONALD BOWEN wrote:
> WRB wrote:
>
> (1)>>Wrap the jaws of a pair of Vise Grips with duct tape or
> electrical tape. Apply these to the gascolator fuel line, applying
> just enough pressure to close off flow. (This presumes the line is
> still flexible. Replace it if it is not.) Take the fuel line loose at
> the gascolator and drain precisely one-half
>
>
> (2)>>>Catastrophic fuel loss in flight (such as fuel line failure or
> loss of a fuel drain or gascolator) is too rare to worry about in a
> properly maintained coupe.
>
>
> I, for one, would not do (1) above, lest I cause (2) above - nor
> would I authorize my mechanic to do so, unless he agreed to accompany
> me on my next flight.
>
>
>
> Don Bowen
==============================================================================
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers-tech/
==============================================================================
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers-tech/
