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I never, ever, ever let anyone else remove or replace my fuel caps. I hold the cap in my hand while the lineperson is fueling each tank, and replace the cap after they are done. Syd Percy Wood wrote: ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- At 10:29 PM 12/17/02 -0400, kathyw wrote: . The only time I had such an event was because a "pop rivet" had mistakenly been used to repair my right fuel cap and failed. I had just refueled and was 1/2 hr out when I noticed my header tank dropping. People accuse me of even carrying the kitchen sink on across our country flights, but this time a small mirror alerted me to the right tank's fuel syphoning overboard. I diverted quickly to an alternate 20 miles away and landed without incident. Fortuneately for me an ex-Ercoupe owner was the mechanic, eagerly repairing the cap correctly for "no cost", just glad to help a 'Couper! There actually are lessons here for all of us. Upon refueling, even if the FBO insists THEY must do the actual fueling, you do NOT have to allow them to remove or replace your fuel caps, which is why that "pop rivet" was probably used for repair in the first place, unbeknownst to me! Plus I then can monitor the fuel tanks volume during filling to 1" below the rim. Ya know, Kathy, that about the same thing happened to Opal and I when we went to Terrell in 2001 for the EOC nationals. Got fuel at Grandville, last stop before Terrell. `Bout half way up the east side of the DFW Class B, I asked Opal "Does your headder tank usually ride so low?" "Nope." So here we are, looking for Terrell as the fuel indicator "Sinks Slowely in the West." Or north, as we were actually headed. Terrell came up over the bow before the indicator sunk below it, so we made that one. Checked it all out thoroughly. Found the right cap had been mis-installed. Continued checkout with engine run and all was well. I cussed myself most thoroughly for missing that - it was on my side of the plane, after all. After the meeting, we retraced our route. Wheels off Terrell tarmac as the sun came up. Fueled at Grandville again. Same guy pumping the gas. This time, I caught him. He had the cap on entirely backwards! Opal and I returned to Roswell without any incident. So Watch Them Caps, Guys! Percy in Portland ========================================================================== ==== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm _____ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.408 / Virus Database: 230 - Release Date: 10/24/02 ========================================================================== ==== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
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