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Fuel shut offs

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dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 4:12 am Post subject: Fuel shut offs

Lynn,



I have one shut off for each wing tank and they join a " T" then flow into 

on line through a see through glass filter and trap all the debris from the 

wing tanks.  The line the goes into a facet pump  then along the longeron 

and up to another "T" downstream from the dash tank's shut off valve.   I 

rarely used the facet pump other than to transfer fuel quicker to the main 

tank. Gravity and air pressure seems to match burn rate without the Facet 

pump .   So  I can isolate and shut off each tank separate from each other. 

I hope this is correct and It has not failed me yet.



I should have added  the wing tank shut offs are a brass ball type . Kind of 

like a natural gas style if that makes sense. ?   Hope ethanol likes them .

Dave



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Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:59 am Post subject: Fuel shut offs

The only difference I can see between my 'two-glass filters, two- 

valves' system and yours is that I can determine which tank the crud  

is coming from, if there should ever be any...and someday there  

probably will.

Yup, my shutoffs are all the brass ball type, too.

My Facet is also pretty much going along for the ride.  : )  I cycle  

it occasionally.



Lynn

On Dec 31, 2006, at 7:11 AM, dave wrote:



[quote] 



 Lynn,



 I have one shut off for each wing tank and they join a " T" then  

 flow into on line through a see through glass filter and trap all  

 the debris from the wing tanks.  The line the goes into a facet  

 pump  then along the longeron and up to another "T" downstream from  

 the dash tank's shut off valve.   I rarely used the facet pump  

 other than to transfer fuel quicker to the main tank. Gravity and  

 air pressure seems to match burn rate without the Facet pump .    

 So  I can isolate and shut off each tank separate from each other.  

 I hope this is correct and It has not failed me yet.



 I should have added  the wing tank shut offs are a brass ball  

 type . Kind of like a natural gas style if that makes sense. ?    

 Hope ethanol likes them .

 Dave



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_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:06 pm Post subject: Fuel shut offs

Lynn and the List,



Make sure you have a way to turn off ALL the fuel,

including the header tank, if you have one.  That is

what the origional header-to-engine shutoff was for.



I agree that wing tank valves come in handy,

especially for down stream fuel line work.  I don't

have them yet.  I just put a clamp on the hose so far,

even in flight.  Worry about damaging the Tygon hose,

but so far it is fine.  A fuel system re-work is in

the plan for '07.



Kurt S.



--- Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   The only difference I can see between my 'two-glass

 filters, two- 

 valves' system and yours is that I can determine

 which tank the crud  

 is coming from, if there should ever be any...and

 someday there  

 probably will.

 Yup, my shutoffs are all the brass ball type, too.

 My Facet is also pretty much going along for the

 ride.  : )  I cycle  

 it occasionally.

 

 Lynn


	


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Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:01 am Post subject: Fuel shut offs

Hi Kurt-

My only non-shut-off-able (if that's a word) area is the first 18" of  

fuel line right out of the tanks...after that come the ball valves  

which are reachable while in flight, the header tank, then the easily  

reachable main shutoff right on the center console. One of these days  

when I need an excitement "fix", I'll shut off both ball valves, and  

test the low-fuel warning system. With the valves shut off, the  

header will still supply my engine until the fuel in the lines to the  

header tank run out, then the low-fuel switch will trigger my panel- 

mounted warning light. Testing the lightbulb is part of my 'prior to  

starting engine' checklist, but checking the actual operation of the  

system has to be done while the engine is running. I have done this  

on the ground, but not yet in flight...no biggie, but when I need a  

"pucker-factor check" I'll do it at altitude. : )

Lynn

On Jan 3, 2007, at 2:06 AM, kurt schrader wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 <smokey_bear_40220(at)yahoo.com>

 Lynn and the List,

 Make sure you have a way to turn off ALL the fuel,

 including the header tank, if you have one.  That is

 what the origional header-to-engine shutoff was for.

 I agree that wing tank valves come in handy,

 especially for down stream fuel line work.  I don't

 have them yet.  I just put a clamp on the hose so far,

 even in flight.  Worry about damaging the Tygon hose,

 but so far it is fine.  A fuel system re-work is in

 the plan for '07.

 Kurt S.

 --- Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net> wrote:

> The only difference I can see between my 'two-glass

> filters, two-

> valves' system and yours is that I can determine

> which tank the crud

> is coming from, if there should ever be any...and

> someday there

> probably will.

> Yup, my shutoffs are all the brass ball type, too.

> My Facet is also pretty much going along for the

> ride.  : )  I cycle

> it occasionally.

>

> Lynn

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_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:41 pm Post subject: Fuel shut offs

Sounds good Lynn.



I didn't add the valves on my origional build, but

will add at least a left tank valve on my fuel system

rework.  I want to simplify it for reliability and

move everything I can aft of the firewall to reduce

the chances of trouble in that hot spot.  A fuel leak

around me isn't nearly as bad as one around the

engine, it turns out.  I am usually not a "flamer". 

Ha ha  But my gascolator drain failure inches from my

exhaust last year got my attention.  I think I had

help on that one....



Adding the left tank valve prevents crossfeed

inbalance from parking on a slope or from bad gas cap

seals in flight.  Adding the second makes it all

controlable, but runs the risk of having them both off

in flight.  This is really a check of my confidence in

my memory and habits to add both.    But like you,

I have a low fuel light too.  The light and level it

provides is part of my annual.  light testing before

flight of course.  I use an LED for reliability.



As always on this list, it is interesting to remember

your history here and think of all the progress you

made, Lynn.



Have a great New Year.



Kurt S.  S-5



--- Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net> wrote:

 

 	  Quote: 	
		   Hi Kurt-

 My only non-shut-off-able (if that's a word) area is

 the first 18" of  

 fuel line right out of the tanks...after that come

 the ball valves  

 which are reachable while in flight, the header

 tank, then the easily  

 reachable main shutoff right on the center console.

 One of these days  

 when I need an excitement "fix", I'll shut off both

 ball valves, and  

 test the low-fuel warning system. With the valves

 shut off, the  

 header will still supply my engine until the fuel in

 the lines to the  

 header tank run out, then the low-fuel switch will

 trigger my panel- 

 mounted warning light. Testing the lightbulb is part

 of my 'prior to  

 starting engine' checklist, but checking the actual

 operation of the  

 system has to be done while the engine is running. I

 have done this  

 on the ground, but not yet in flight...no biggie,

 but when I need a  

 "pucker-factor check" I'll do it at altitude. : )

 

 Lynn


	


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aldaniels(at)fmtcblue.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject: Fuel shut offs

I have built them with a shutoff on each wing tank and also with just 

the one shutoff in the center console. I really prefer the one with a 

shutoff on each tank, but only if I have a low fuel warning system in 

the header tank. Seems like I can never fly both straight and level ( 

among my many other faults ), and it seems like I keep the right wing 

up. This fuel imbalance combined with my 220 pounds makes me left side 

heavy. I built the last one, a 5/7 as close to factory as possible in 

case I needed to sell it. The fuel system works fine, but parking on a 

side hill will give a fuel imbalance but it has never been a problem.  I 

built it with and for my son who in a moment of weakness decided to get 

married instead of keeping the plane. I bought his part out and have 

kept it in the hangar in case he figured out how to afford it, but in 

another moment of weakness they are starting a family.



kurt schrader wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Sounds good Lynn.



 I didn't add the valves on my origional build, but

 will add at least a left tank valve on my fuel system

 rework.  I want to simplify it for reliability and

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smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:06 pm Post subject: Fuel shut offs

I considered installing the one way check valves in

the wing tank lines to prevent transfer, but not

restrict engine feeding.  The problem is that you

still need to shut the fuel off to change a filter or

do other fuel system work, or you have to drain all

the fuel.



I agree, the 3 valve system seems best, 2 wing and the

main shutoff valve.



kurt S.



--- Alan Daniels <aldaniels(at)fmtcblue.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   I have built them with a shutoff on each wing tank

 and also with just 

 the one shutoff in the center console. I really

 prefer the one with a 

 shutoff on each tank, but only if I have a low fuel

 warning system in 

 the header tank.


	


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Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:52 am Post subject: Fuel shut offs

Speaking of having help...when I had a tail pipe break off from my  

Jabiru exhaust system, (due to me adding unsupported length) and the  

resultant flame licked at my engine mount and scorched the outer  

layer of my fuel sleeve. Yeah, the aviation Gods were looking out for  

me that day. And when I filled the tanks to the max, and parked at a  

slight side angle to load up my Granddaughter for a flight. My  

daughter said "what's this water running off the wing here"? Holy  

mackerel, get away from the plane while I level it out...yeah that  

was a close one too.



Thanks to this list, I really feel like I HAVE made some progress,  

Kurt. From advice as to which plane to buy, to knowing how much fuel  

to (not) cram into the tanks, to recent advice on building  

skis...which are now in progress...thanks guys and gals.  : )



Lynn

On Jan 3, 2007, at 11:41 PM, kurt schrader wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <smokey_bear_40220(at)yahoo.com>

   But my gascolator drain failure inches from my

 exhaust last year got my attention.  I think I had

 help on that one....


	




 	  Quote: 	
		   As always on this list, it is interesting to remember

 your history here and think of all the progress you

 made, Lynn.



 Have a great New Year.



 Kurt S.  S-5

- The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

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