Interesting. I will have to make a note to notice it during climbout, I have always been looking at other things than that fuel level indicator. Would be a good thing on a mental checklist, since it insures the indicator is not stuck or something.
--- In [email protected], "Chris" <cmcge...@...> wrote: > > If you think about it, this makes sense. When you climb, the return line at > the back of the tank is now lower relative to the bobber/filler cap. So it > does its job and drains the tank to a lower level. > When you level out in cruise, the fuel pump brings the fuel level back up. > > Respectfully, > > Chris McGeary, 3044H > > --- In [email protected], "Jim Truxel" <jimtruxel@> wrote: > > > > Folks, > > > > I have a question. When I climb out in the Coupe, 415C, at 70 MPH , I > > notice the fuel stick in the header tank guage seems to get lower than > > normal. But shortly after I level off, the fuel inidicator goes back to > > full normal showing. We just installed a new cap and float. I was wondering > > if with full power and at this climb angle the fuel pump was not able to > > pump fuel into the header fast enough. We have had no problems with the > > bird in any other area. > > > > First time we noticed this we got concerned and flew around the airport > > before heading off on a flight. > > > > Is this normal ? Next time I will try a climb speed of 75 to see what > > that does. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Jim > > N3439H > > KFDK > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: William R. Bayne > > To: ercoupe list > > Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 1:04 PM > > Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Re: Fuel starvation: > > > > > > > > I agree with Wayne that any coupe whose fuel system has the gascolator, > > or fuel filter bowl (see Parts Catalog, p. 26, Item 54), mounted low on the > > forward face of the firewall is subject to unanticipated fuel flow > > interruption in the manner he describes. Some Forneys and coupes (not > > Alons) have been retrofitted with this firewall-mounted gascolator by > > well-intentioned but uninformed owners or mechanics. > > > > I agree that this would seem the most likely cause of the recent crash in > > Portugal. > > > > Wayne's solution should be in the preflight checklist of any and all such > > airframes. > > > > Regards, > > > > WRB > > > > -- > > > > On Mar 26, 2010, at 07:49, Wayne Woollard wrote: > > > > > > Ed: > > > > I have advocated for many years that there is a serious problem with > > tha architecture of the Alon fuel line routing. > > > > The problem shows up if the fuel line is shut off at the base of the > > header tank, and work is done on the remaining fuel system, or if the > > header tank is drained for any reason or if all the fuel is consumed and it > > is refilled. > > > > A basic fact of hollow lines is the fuel weight is enough to create a > > small amount of fuel pressure at the carburetor, but this is not enough > > weight to allow an air "bubble" to pass. A bubble of air in the fuel line > > will only allow a limited amount of fuel to pass by, and will act as a > > partial restriction, although THE LINE IS NOT RESTRICTED!! > > > > This simple fact along with the fuel line routing to the Alon > > Gascolator setup and beyond are the cause of many frustrating takeoff > > incidents, wherein the equipment failure cannot be duplicated. > > > > If you push down the tail of an Alon to duplicate the "Takeoff" angle > > of attack and you have recently refilled your fuel system, an air bubble > > can occur between the output of the header tank and the input to the > > carburetor. This "Can" be duplicated by draining the header tank, and the > > loop in the fuel line at the carburetor input, then refilling the fuel tank > > and powering up the airplane, go through all the check lists, and taking > > off on a 3 mile long runway, such as Castle, and see for youself. Halfway > > down the runway at an altitude of 200 feet the engine will quit from fuel > > starvation! Plenty of room remaining to land, but not so at a "Normal" > > airport. > > > > Solution: Bleed the air from the fuel line connection to the > > carburetor by disconnecting it and holding it to a position below the > > lowest point in the fuel system till the fuel runs smoothly without air, > > and reconnect. following all the safety procedures of course. > > D. Wayne Woollard CPBE > > o--iii---( > > >
