VAF Forums - Gas, Cans, & Bonding

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- - Gas, Cans, & Bonding (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=165338)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomkk (Post 1297560)

I don't like lifting the 5 gallon cans up to the tank opening so I got a Flo-Fast pump and one of their 5 gallon cans. The pump has a grounding cable that I attach to the aircraft. I transfer the fuel through a Mr. Funnel into the pump can then use the pump to get it up into the tank. Works well and is pretty easy.

:D +1 Flo-Fast system

Quote:

Originally Posted by rv7charlie (Post 1297766)

The biggest downside I've seen is that if fuel sits in the carb's fuel bowl (small volume, high surface area) for more than a few weeks, the engine will be very hard to start. Since auto fuel has 'aeromatics' (?) that enhance starting ability, my totally unqualified opinion is that those components flash off a lot more quickly than the rest of the chemicals in the gas.

I never thought about that, but the Rotax has a leg up here. Consider this scenario… airplane is done flying and put away hot, which is pretty much always the case. Latent heat under the cowl heat-soaks the carbs until the engine returns to ambient temp. So the fuel may well volatilize in the carb bowls and vent the fuel vapor out the overflow tubes. No problem, and in fact, a good situation. Now, when the airplane is powered for next flight, the electric Facet fuel pump will recirculate and deliver fresh fuel (with correct octane) to the near empty float bowls. Always an easy engine start with no detonation from deteriorated fuel.

Here's a shot of our Flo Fast set up. Use to fill the Rans S-7. Works very nicely.

Here is my Flo-Fast in action. Don?t know how many turns per gallon but it only takes a few mins to fill the tank. Easy Peasy

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwyatt (Post 1297763)

How long does it take to turn those 10 rotations and pump the gallon? I picked up a few 10 gal FloFast jugs on sale, now trying to decide between the hand pump or a DC pump rig on a cart.

I don't know, maybe 5 or 6 seconds. 1/2 minute or so for 5 gallons. It's not strenuous either, it's a pretty easy pump.

Just out of curiosity, what's the pump body material? Functionally, it looks very similar to
https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-d...ump-40844.html
which says 'not for gasoline', but that's their lawyers talking. One of those worked great to transfer avgas from our airpark tank to our generators during the aftermath of Katrina. Worst thing for portable use is that it's cast iron and not light.

I?ve only experienced one issue with ?old fuel?. I let a tank sit for 4 weeks during a long summer vacation and when I flew I experienced some pressure surges due to vapor bubbles in the fuel line. When I switched on the electric pump the fuel pressure stabilized. Usually my fuel pressure is fine with just the mechanical pump.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Vaughan (Post 1297803)

Here is my Flo-Fast in action. Don?t know how many turns per gallon but it only takes a few mins to fill the tank. Easy Peasy

I counted 65 turns for five gallons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rv7charlie (Post 1297849)

Not sure. The body is not metal so some sort of plastic with a metal handle. The Professional model seems durable enough. As I said earlier, I had problems with the Premium model leaking through the O-rings on the handle shaft.

That HF pump is a barrel pump and, as far as I know, won't fit any gas can I know of. Of course, if you have a barrel ...

The Pro model is a 3 vane pump vs 2 vane with the Premium model so it pumps faster.

Ground while refueling

I also use the Flo-Fast Pro pump. It comes with a static ground wire attached and I use it. The pump static wire gets attached to the tail tie-down. I also have an aircraft ground cable attached to the tie-down which attaches to the hangar ground.
You can't be too safe refueling with gasoline, ya know;)