Hi Guys Thanks to everybody that responded to my queries re fuel system fittings. I have to admit that in all the responses I got, there were a lot of personal preferences and opinions but few examples of genuine reasons or facts favouring either system. The hose most commonly used here is regular aeroquip reinforced "rubber" hose rated at 30psi if I am not mistaken. The barbrd fittings are generally brass with multiple barbs concentric to the fitting. These are "ratchet" type barbs and not just swollen rings around the fitting. As Mark L said, they can be a real pain to remove even after the hose clamp has been totally removed (could this characteristic not be an advantage). We have a JABIRU agency here and all their aircraft are assembled using the blue tinted clear fuel piping shown in the spruce catalogue as used in microlights etc. I suspect that all Jabiru factory assembled aircraft are done this way no matter where in the world they are built. I know that their oil cooler kits supplied by Jabiru Australia come shrink wrapped on a card with rubber hose and hose clamps. I know this because I have installed two 120hp Jabiru motors already. I ended up having hoses made up by a local hydraulic supplier with proper fittings on them. Unfortunately the AN fuel fittings are very expensive for us here in South Africa and can take up to 6 Wweeks to ship them in. We therefore use the best "rubber hose" locally available with barbed fittings and hose clamps. So far I have not heard of anybody having any problems. My personal opinion is that if if done with care the rubber hose / barbed fitting method has less of a chance of developing a leak over an extended perion of time but thats just my opinion. Thanks guys.
Regards Dene Collett Avlec Projects cc Port Elizabeth South Africa
