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freddythek10(at)gmail.com
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 Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:17 am Post subject: FWF fuel line fittings |
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I’m reminded of the value of this list after contacting Ron Pagoris who had not posted for a long time…and I want to thank him for bringing to my attention the subject of the use of aluminum fuel line fittings in the engine compartment.
Further research on the subject generated this response from Bud which he willingly shares with our list:
| Quote: | Fred,
I do not have problems with aluminum AN fittings. I do have problems with FWF techniques:
AN fittings or even steel flare fittings need some sort of fastening to prevent loosening, which is common. I see some of the fittings you use have a safety wire hole. Use it. They do loosen, especially on fuel injection lines. Hence the automotive and marine industry is going to special fittings. Oil fittings get safety wiring also.
I also have problems with any hard line going to an engine, from a firewall. That is a broken fitting waiting to happen. The engine to fuselage fitting should always be a flexible line of course. If the line is steel braded or firm rubber, its flare fitting will tend to loosen with age without some sort of fastener fixing them such as safety wire or crimp anti spin connector. Reason, over time the shake of the engine and the firm rubber or braded line will shake until the flare fitting begins to loosen. We had this problem on jet engines. Safety wire flare fittings in some way. If the flare fitting has no safety wire hole, I use a Breeze clamp bent to fit on a fitting (like on the oil tank fittings on the Rotax) rather than drilling the nut edge. Once I have the Breeze clamp fitted, I safety wire the Breeze clamp screw so it won’t loosen, then safety wire the clamp to a fixed point to assure the fitting stays tight.
That said, I tend to use push on or barb fittings screwed into an NPT fitting for oil and fuel with specified clamps so the fitting won’t loosen. However, Aluminum NPT fittings can crack if not supported properly, maybe that is why your inspector prefers brass, which bends, or steel which is much stronger. He may have been concerned about the 90 degree fitting coming off the fuel line manifold for bending. I can’t say. What I can see in the photo looks like a safe fitting if it is suitable for the fuel or oil temp and pressure requirements of the engine manufactuer.
Best Regards,
Bud Yerly
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[img]cid:885B7E0C-3679-48C1-8A6C-13B3C18635D1[/img]
While I will continue with my aluminum fittings, I will most certainly ensure that they are properly safety-wired! Thanks Ron & Bud!
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m(at)grassfam.com
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| Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 4:04 am Post subject: FWF fuel line fittings |
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Hello Fred,
You might want to have a look at the tightening specifications from the manufacturer of those fittings. It is interesting that they advise against torque and use number of flats instead. See pages 21 and 22 of https://www.parker.com/literature/Tube%20Fittings%20Division/Assembly_Installation.pdf
Be safe
A266
Michael Grass
Sent from my iPad
On Mar 15, 2019, at 3:10 PM, Fred Klein <freddythek10(at)gmail.com (freddythek10(at)gmail.com)> wrote:
| Quote: | I’m reminded of the value of this list after contacting Ron Pagoris who had not posted for a long time…and I want to thank him for bringing to my attention the subject of the use of aluminum fuel line fittings in the engine compartment.
Further research on the subject generated this response from Bud which he willingly shares with our list:
| Quote: | Fred,
I do not have problems with aluminum AN fittings. I do have problems with FWF techniques:
AN fittings or even steel flare fittings need some sort of fastening to prevent loosening, which is common. I see some of the fittings you use have a safety wire hole. Use it. They do loosen, especially on fuel injection lines. Hence the automotive and marine industry is going to special fittings. Oil fittings get safety wiring also.
I also have problems with any hard line going to an engine, from a firewall. That is a broken fitting waiting to happen. The engine to fuselage fitting should always be a flexible line of course. If the line is steel braded or firm rubber, its flare fitting will tend to loosen with age without some sort of fastener fixing them such as safety wire or crimp anti spin connector. Reason, over time the shake of the engine and the firm rubber or braded line will shake until the flare fitting begins to loosen. We had this problem on jet engines. Safety wire flare fittings in some way. If the flare fitting has no safety wire hole, I use a Breeze clamp bent to fit on a fitting (like on the oil tank fittings on the Rotax) rather than drilling the nut edge. Once I have the Breeze clamp fitted, I safety wire the Breeze clamp screw so it won’t loosen, then safety wire the clamp to a fixed point to assure the fitting stays tight.
That said, I tend to use push on or barb fittings screwed into an NPT fitting for oil and fuel with specified clamps so the fitting won’t loosen. However, Aluminum NPT fittings can crack if not supported properly, maybe that is why your inspector prefers brass, which bends, or steel which is much stronger. He may have been concerned about the 90 degree fitting coming off the fuel line manifold for bending. I can’t say. What I can see in the photo looks like a safe fitting if it is suitable for the fuel or oil temp and pressure requirements of the engine manufactuer.
Best Regards,
Bud Yerly
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<DSCN8253.jpeg>
While I will continue with my aluminum fittings, I will most certainly ensure that they are properly safety-wired! Thanks Ron & Bud!
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freddythek10(at)gmail.com
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| Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:48 am Post subject: FWF fuel line fittings |
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Michael…thanks for the link…it does, as far as I can tell, address only issues relating to fittings for rigid fuel lines…something which I avoided…F.
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