Lowell:
I expect it was a gasoline additive that caused the Kreeme to separate...
Which additive? With MOGAS there is no way to know. The recipe for gas, in
this area where we have around six months of winter and six months of hard
sledding, changes almost every week. Most of us may never know whatever it
was that caused the Kreeme to separate. Of course it is also possible that
the application of the Kreeme was faulty. BTW my tanks were not sloshed
when I bought the plane.
I am surprised that you found a piece of rubber in one of your tanks as you
use a Mr. Funnel. I use a regular funnel with a felt liner to remove water.
The finger strainers are there and my gascolator has a screen across the top
of it so any dirt will stay in the bowl. That screen is fine enough that
once a blue moon it does catch the occasional hair from the felt. I check
my carb bowls on regular intervals and have never found so much as a hair in
either of them.
Unfortunately, because you may be trapped into using higher concentrations
of ethanol in your fuel, the primary job of the gascolator separating water
from the fuel, will not be done by that piece of equipment. So I can
certainly see why carrying the weight and extra complexity of having a
gascolator is not warranted in that case. However, if you run 100LL, then
at least the gascolator will give you a low point to drip your fuel system.
As for fuel filters... some like 'em, some not. If you have them keep them
clean and change them at regular intervals. If you don't have them make
sure you do at least have screens in the fuel system.
As you can guess some of the comments above are not directed at you Lowell
but to other readers of the thread. I know you have enough experience to
make good decisions for your locale but I do enjoy the discussion.
Noel
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Lowell Fitt
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 7:41 PM
To: kitfox-list@matronics.com
Subject: Re: Fuel drain, fuel filter, and a whatsit
Noel says,"The reason I mentioned my tanks are not
> sloshed is because it has happened that sloshing compound has separated in
> the tank and blocked finger strainers.
Yes this happened - maybe two or three times out of a couple thousand
Kitfoxs. I is interesting what folks will do after an incident or two. One
of the threads after the Kreem separation and the clogging of the finger
strainers, was whether or not to remove the finger strainers - and some did
exactly that. I repeat, it is interesting what folks do after hearing of an
incident. For what it's worth, my old Model IV had Kreem, finger strainers,
filters down stream of the wing tanks, wing tank drains, and a gascollator.
The only place I found anything during a preflight was in the wing tanks,
and finger strainers at anual. One significant wing tank find at annual
after removing the finger strainers was a chunk of rubber, consistant with a
piece broken off a fuel line presumably from a 100ll pump - during pump
maintenance? Every drop of gas from the gas station went through a Mr.
Funnel. The chunk of rubber was exactly the size it would take to enter the
fuel line and lodge itself right at a connector. My new Model IV, exactly
the same minus the gascollator, most likely.
Lowell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Noel Loveys" <noelloveys@yahoo.ca>
To: <kitfox-list@matronics.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 9:18 AM
Subject: RE: Fuel drain, fuel filter, and a whatsit
> Mine came in the plane. I expect you can get them through Aviall ,
> Leavens
> (in Canada), Wicks Or even ACS. The reason I mentioned my tanks are not
> sloshed is because it has happened that sloshing compound has separated in
> the tank and blocked finger strainers.
>
>
> Noel
>
>
> From: owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com
> [mailto:owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Bob Brennan
> Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 11:50 PM
> To: kitfox-list@matronics.com
> Subject: RE: Fuel drain, fuel filter, and a whatsit
>
>
> Noel - "finger strainers"? Where does one get those? I had to throw out
> what
> I think you are talking about on the outlet of my wing tank - I foolishly
> sloshed with it in and the Kreem did a great job of sealing the whole
> thing
> water-tight. Live and learn.
>
>
> Bob Brennan - N717GB
>
> 1991 UK Model 2 ELSA Kitfox
>
> Rotax 582 with 3 blade prop
>
> Wrightsville Pa
>
>
> _____
>
> From: owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com
> [mailto:owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Noel Loveys
> Sent: 06 October 2008 6:57 pm
> To: kitfox-list@matronics.com
> Subject: RE: Fuel drain, fuel filter, and a whatsit
>
> You remove the fuel drain to measure it. The size refers to the part that
> screws into the bottom of your tank.
>
>
> I don't use any "filters" on my fuel supply they are too easy to block. I
> use finger strainers in the tanks ( no sloshing compound to come free) and
> a
> gascolator with a fuel screen.. I drip my gascolator before every flight
> and clean it every 25 hr. 50 hr. Would be ok. My father had a much
> larger
> engine in his C170B/LA-4 and they only got cleaned on the annual.
>
>
> The other little reservoir is for the water pump/rotary valve shaft. If
> you
> haven't noticed it going down then all is well. If the oil in it turns
> milky your RV shaft seal is toast. There are specific instructions for
> bleeding the injector pump and the RV shaft in the Rotax Manuals available
> from http://www.rotax-owner.com/ Check the tabs for engine manuals and
> download your manual in pdf format for your engine.
>
>
> Noel
>
>
> From: owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com
> [mailto:owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Bob Brennan
> Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 7:22 PM
> To: kitfox-list@matronics.com
> Subject: Fuel drain, fuel filter, and a whatsit
>
>
> Ok - showing my ignorance here...
>
>
> The first picture is of the fuel drain for the wing tank which tends to
> leak
> and needs replacing. I got as far as
> http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/safair.php but the CAV-110,
> 160, 170, and 180 all look a lot like it. I know what an NPT thread is but
> where is the 1/4" or 1/8" measurement taken? Or the other measurements?
>
>
> Second picture is my fuel filter. Any suggestions on a replacement?
> Advance
> Auto Parts or Manny Moe &Jack ok?
>
>
> Third picture is the whats-it. Obviously a reservoir with some sort of
> lubricant which hasn't gone down since I have owned the plane. Obviously
> something I need to know about and service.
>
>
> Bob Brennan - N717GB
>
> 1991 UK Model 2 ELSA Kitfox
>
> Rotax 582 with 3 blade prop
>
> Wrightsville Pa
>
>
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