Paul - sounds like a nice option. Any pics would be greatly
appreciated.
Cheers,
Emmet Welch
A141 MonoXS, N141EW
-----Original Message-----
From: forum-owner@europaclub.org.uk
Subject: Re: Seatback sight tube
Brian,
FWIW I did almost exactly the same as Nick.
My sight gauge goes up the port side of the seatback front (if you see
what
I mean!) It is protected at the bottom by a 15mm copper elbow joint
(used
for plumbing here in the UK - cost about 15p), reduxed into the corner
formed by the tunnel & the pilot's seat back (the same as Nick's).
This puts the tube just behind the pilot's right elbow & means the
bottom 6
ins (150mm) is probably out of sight behind upholstery, but by then
you're
into the reserve side (i.e. below the saddle) so should be looking at
landing, not the fuel gauge!
The top differs, however - another 15mm 90 degree elbow takes the tube
through the seat back at the top, where it is fed back into the top of
the
tank. To do this I reduxed one of the 90 deg stainless vent tubes
(designed
for the roof vents) into a bulkhead fitting I got from a hydraulic
supplier,
sawed off the excess tube and the unused portion of the fitting, leaving
2
in (50mm) of ss tube to clamp the clear tube onto, and sealing the
fitting
with Blue Hylomar (a brand name for fuel, oil & heat-proof sealant).
The tube & joint is accessible via the same hole in the headrest floor
as
the sender for the electric gauge I bought from LTS (now also sold by
Europa). Caution was taken to ensure the tube runs down from the point
it
enters the top of the seat back to where it enters the tank, to prevent
a
slug of fuel remaining in any low point - i.e. the low point is the
entry to
the tank.
This makes the sight gauge a sealed system, not needing its own vent in
the
roof (or floor etc).
Sorry if this sounds complicated, but it wasn't really - took longer to
think out than to build & fit - I'll send some pics off list if you
like.
Paul
XS Mono 383
-----Original Message-----
From: newforum-owner@europaclub.org.uk
Subject: Re: Seatback sight tube
Brian,
FWIW I have put it on the front of the seat bulkhead between the seats.
The
tube is routed through a hole drilled in the port horizontal surface of
the
tunnel, aft and inboard of the access hole for the rudder cable pulley.
It
goes vertically through a rigid plastic outer tube into a foam/bid
"nose"
bonded to the top of the seat back, then across the top of the tank to a
T
connector in the vent line.
Looks OK but be warned that I'm still a year or two of actually testing
it
by flying.
Best regards,
Nick Hammond
XS Mono 418
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Seatback sight tube
I know that a number of people are putting the sight tube on the seat
back.
How do you deal with it getting crushed by luggage? I was thinking of a
plexiglass tube over the soft one.
How do you route the line? Presumably from the fuel fitting through the
tunnel
and then through a drilled hole? How do you eliminate fretting? Where
then
do you route the exaust tube? Under the upolstery but on top of the
seat
back?
I was also thinking of putting the sight tube on the seat back and all
the
way
to the filling side - this seems neater, and still easy to check when
getting
in the pilot seat. This can't be checked when filling, though.
Brian Rauchfuss
#A072
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