I have to agree with John.? There are plenty of "filters" in the fuel system
already.? If the tanks are sumped before every single flight like they are
supposed to be, and if you don't get any dirt when you sump the tanks, then how
could you possibly get enough dirt on any one screen to starve the engine of
fuel?? If the tanks are sumped and there is consistently dirt, sloshing
compound or some other stuff in the drained fuel, then the problem should be
investigated and fixed.? Adding another fuel filter adds one more fuel system
component and two more hose connections, all of which could cause problems of
their own.? I sump my tanks before every single flight, regardless of how long
ago the plane was last flown, or whether or not I refueled the airplane.? I
occasionally get a little dirt or water out of the wing tanks, and every great
once in a while I might get a drop or two of water out of the nose tank, but?I
virtually never get any water or dirt?when I sump the gascolator, and the
gascolator screen is perfectly clean and has been that way for over 2 years and
330 flying hours since the plane was restored.? Adding a fuel filter isn't
going to save someone who refuses to do a proper preflight inspection.???
On a related subject, the times I do get a significant amount of water out of
the tanks is after washing the airplane.?My fuel?tank caps are vented, and even
though I completely tape up the entire fuel cap, I stll get water in the tanks
when washing the plane.? Usually it takes several iterations of sumping the
tanks, shaking the plane, waiting a few minutes and then sumping the tanks
again to get all of the water out.? It is necessary to shake the plane between
sumpings (is that a word?) because water will collect along the ribs in the
tanks, and will stay there until the fuel sloshes it out of there.? ??
Just my opinion.
Wayne DelRossi
-----Original Message-----
From: John Cooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected]
Sent: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 9:48 am
Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] Tank cleaning
Lee, et al:
?
There is a screen in the fuel pump and another in the gascolator.? In addition,
the carburetor has its own screen, and there are finger screens in the outlet
fittings for all three tanks.? Adding another filter will only move the
blockage to another point in the system.
?
?
John Cooper, A&P
Skyport Services
PO Box 249
4996 Delaware Tnpk
Rensselaerville, NY 12147
518 797-3064
Fax 518 797-3865
www.skyportservices.net
From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 6:25 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [ercoupe-tech] Tank cleaning
?
Group,
I am unfortunately aware of 4 Ervoupe crashes that have been caused by fuel
starvation.? The starvation was the results of a brown material either causing
the fuel pump to not provide fuel to the fuselage tank or blocking fuel flow to
the carburetor.? It has been determined the brown material was the originally
installed material know as sloshing compound.
It is a mystery to me that with all the precautions taken by FAA, why was a
fuel filter not installed on the suction side of the?fuel pump and between the
fuselage tank and carburetor.? Unfortunately, I do not have a flying Ercoupe
right now, but when and if I get another one, I will install filters in both
locations and hopefully get approval with a 337.
Lee Browning
-- "John W. Martin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
A good question. ?Here it is 60 plus years and still no filters. I
suppose they could be added with a 337?
John
"[EMAIL PROTECTED]" wrote:
> John,
>
> I have never understood why there is no fuel filter between the
> fuselage tank and carburetor and on the suction side of the fuel
> pump. ?That would have saved several lives and prevented more crashes.
>
> Lee
>
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