I sure haven't - and have been preaching exactly the same thing as Graham
has been. My Andair unit is of fantastic quality and is so easy to drain
and clean that you do it - which is I think the real secret.
Bob Jacobsen
A131
From: Tim Ward <ward.t@xtra.co.nz>
>CC: europa@avnet.co.uk
>Subject: Re: Gascolators
>Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 22:22:32 +1300
>
>Hi all,
>Has anyone had any problems with the Andair Mini Gascolator as the only
>filter within their fuel system?
>Cheers,
>Tim
>
>Graham Singleton wrote:
>
> > Hi folks, still scratching my head about fuel systems <{{:-)>
> >
> > Having read the factory description of their ACS gascolator blockage, I
> > have been asking around about gascolator design, if only to reinforce my
> > own experience and opinions.
> > There is a relatively cheap unit on the market, which has its bowl
>retained
> > by a bent wire spring. This is prone to allow leaks (embarassing to a
> > suction system) if not correctly tightened and prone to falling off if
>over
> > tightened. I had one on my Long EZ, we used to wire it so that the
>spring
> > couldn't let go, as recommended by our local certified engineers.
> >
> > The strainer is brass wire gauze, quite fine and a bit flexible. I am
>told
> > that if it is subjected to debris this tends to form a ball of felt like
> > material just below the suction outlet of the unit which increases the
> > pressure drop across the gauze and causes distortion so that the gauze
>now
> > pushes up against the outlet hole causing even more blockage.
> > The size of the holes in the mesh allows bits of fibre, swarf or
>whatever
> > to get jammed in as described by Andy in the newsletter.
> >
> > There are better things around. The Andair mini gascolator for the Rotax
> > 912 series engines uses Teflon coated stainless steel mesh with pore
>size
> > of 70 microns. It will not allow water to pass if wet with fuel. The
>flow
> > through the filter slows at the face of the mesh which helps rubbish to
> > fall away. If there is any sign of water or dirt at the daily drain
>check
> > it is easy to drop the bowl and check. IMHO the daily preflight drain
>check
> > is the best way of avoiding the filter blockages that have caught out
>too
> > many Europa people already. Having a second filter and a second
> > (questionable ) chance also adds the chance of other trouble and since
>most
> > of the dirt that is put in with the fuel will go into the reserve side,
> > which we rarely use, if the main side blocks then the reserve will quite
> > likely block very soon after.
> >
> > Tell me if I'm wrong, I like to learn something every day. Helps to
>replace
> > the many things I forget.
> >
> > Graham
> >
>
>--
>Timothy P Ward
>12 Waiwetu Street,
>Fendalton,
>Christchurch,
>NEW ZEALAND
>
>Ph. 0064 03 3515166
>email ward.t@xtra.co.nz
>Mobile 025 2649325
>
>
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