Thanks Terry,
As a consequence of previous posts which highlight the problems caused
by swarf from the penetrations one makes in the tank(s), I've been
particularly careful in this regard. For example, besides using the
hole drill by drilling up into the tank which prevents most of the
swarf from remaining inside, I've carefully peered into the tank thru
the intake hole and the hole made for the Europa fuel gauge and located
even the tiniest particles...then...using some reversed duct tape on
the end of a small aluminum tube, I've found that I can pick them up
with no trouble. I found that the swarf particles were plainly visable
against the smoothe tank bottom. When drilling for the intake and vent
holes in the long ranger tank, I inserted a cut down 8 oz. paper cup
with a bent wire handle thru the large filler hole and placed it under
the holes which caught all of the swarf...again, use of the duct tape
on a stick allowed me to remove particles down to the size of dust. Now
I know we can only strive for perfection, but thanks to being alerted
to swarf-in-fuel issues by all who've gone before me, I'm confident
(knock on wood) that swarf will not be an issue for me when I finally
get this puppy in the air.
Since I'm installing Mod 33, I'm tending toward installing line filters
rather than a gascolator...and I appreciate your thoughts on the
subject.
Fred
On Friday, June 29, 2007, at 09:31 AM, Terry Seaver (terrys) wrote:
> <terrys@cisco.com>
>
> Hi Fred,
>
> The glass filters supplied with our kit had had some reported problems,
> plugging up with tank residue (swarf) and with cracks in the glass. It
> occurred to us that the glass filters would trap and hold tank residue
> up against the filter material, plugging it up, with gravity helping to
> hold it there.
>
> The Andair gascolator, on the other hand, has a water trap at the
> bottom
> of it and a fine mesh screen at the top. Not only does water settle to
> the bottom, but also particles heavier than gasoline. We did a simple
> test with fuel tank swarf, and found it was heavier than gas, and
> settled to the bottom of the gascolator, where it can be drained out on
> the next pre-flight check for water. Please note that gravity helps
> keep the particles out of the screen of a gascolator, unlike the glass
> filters supplied with the kit.
>
> Regards,
> Terry Seaver
> A135 / N135TD
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
> [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Fred Klein
> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 4:59 PM
> To: europa-list@matronics.com
> Subject: Re: Europa-List: Fuel filters
>
>
> I have never been clear on the difference (if any) between a filter and
> a gascolator...could someone please enlighten me?
>
> Fred
>
> On Thursday, June 28, 2007, at 04:27 PM, Graham Singleton wrote:
>
>> <grahamsingleton@btinternet.com>
>>
>> Raimo
>> the best filter imho is an Andair gascolator. Easy to check for
>> contamination before every flight, which used to be routine.
>> I do not like the Purolator filters. Easily broken, easily assembled
>> wrong and easily blocked by debrie.
>> Grahm
>>
>> Raimo Toivio wrote:
>>> All
>>> I have in OH-XRT original Purolator-filters as per manual.
>>> During the very first flight (about 10 hrs) I had an engine quit
>>> situation /fuel pressure was near 0 and that was at the height of
>>> 4000 ft - so no dramatic at all.
>>> Switching reserve and fuel pump and Rotax was happy again.
>>>
>>
>
>
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