|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

06-22-2018, 06:46 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Grass Valley, CA
Posts: 8
|
|
Fuel draining to inspect fuel strainer
Inspecting/cleaning the fuel strainer is in the conditional inspection checklist. Looking at pg 13-8 of the RV-12 maint. manual, one is supposed to drain the fuel in the aircraft before accessing the fuel strainer. Has anyone come up with a way to avoid draining the fuel during the process of accessing the fuel strainer? This was my first conditional inspection since I purchased a 2 yr old ELSA from another fellow.
|

06-22-2018, 06:59 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID/Casa Grande, AZ
Posts: 654
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jbario
Inspecting/cleaning the fuel strainer is in the conditional inspection checklist. Looking at pg 13-8 of the RV-12 maint. manual, one is supposed to drain the fuel in the aircraft before accessing the fuel strainer. Has anyone come up with a way to avoid draining the fuel during the process of accessing the fuel strainer? This was my first conditional inspection since I purchased a 2 yr old ELSA from another fellow.
|
There are two strainers to check..1. The gasolator-no need to drain fuel tank...simple close in cockpit fuel valve. You will get a little spillage, but not much..; 2. the second, the in tank strainer (out-flow fitting @ bottom of fuel tank). Checking that one requires an empty fuel tank.
__________________
Ric Dickison
307 (CAB) Phantom
Search and Destroy (Can Tho RVN)
Distinguished Flying Cross Society Member
CH-47 & UH-1H "Driver"
Rotax 9 Series Service IRMT
RV-12 Kit#729 "N312RD" is now a full functioning fun machine!! Thanks Van for fulfilling my dream😎
2018 Dues Paid
Last edited by Phantom30 : 06-22-2018 at 07:04 PM.
|

06-22-2018, 08:56 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,820
|
|
I have had success inspecting the tank finger strainer with a borescope if the fuel lev l is less than 5 gallons.
|

06-23-2018, 07:39 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID/Casa Grande, AZ
Posts: 654
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RFSchaller
I have had success inspecting the tank finger strainer with a borescope if the fuel lev l is less than 5 gallons.
|
Actually Rich, I run a flow test after I remove the gasolator bowl/screen. If you get full flow as per you initial flow test; i’m Good to go.
Are you speaking of a led to computer type?
__________________
Ric Dickison
307 (CAB) Phantom
Search and Destroy (Can Tho RVN)
Distinguished Flying Cross Society Member
CH-47 & UH-1H "Driver"
Rotax 9 Series Service IRMT
RV-12 Kit#729 "N312RD" is now a full functioning fun machine!! Thanks Van for fulfilling my dream😎
2018 Dues Paid
Last edited by Phantom30 : 06-23-2018 at 07:41 AM.
|

06-23-2018, 11:44 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,820
|
|
I run the engine to about 4 gallons indicated and then snake a a video borescope down the filler neck. I like it because I can see if there is any foreign material in the tank.
|

06-23-2018, 04:55 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Hinckley, Ohio
Posts: 2,065
|
|
How do you guide the scope and lift it over the baffles to see the finger screen?
__________________
-
Jim Stricker
EAA #499867
PPL/ASEL 1970 - Sport Pilot since 2007
80 hrs Flying Aeronca Chief 11AC N86203
1130 hrs Flying 46 Piper J-3 Cub N6841H
Bought Flying RV-12 #120058 Oct 2015 with 48TT - Hobbs now 622 
LSRM-A Certificate 2016 for RV-12 N633CM
Special Thanks... EJ Trucks - USN Crew Chief A-4 Skyhawk
MJ Stricker (Father & CFI) - USAAF 1st Lt. Captain B-17H
|

06-23-2018, 08:57 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,820
|
|
I didn?t say it was easy!😁 I can usually wriggle it around enough to get an acceptable amount of coverage. A stiff but flexible lead helps - no wise guy comments, please!😱
|

06-24-2018, 04:22 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LSGY
Posts: 3,198
|
|
Courageous!
Wow - you guys are much more courageous around flammable liquids than I am. I have a perhaps irrational fear of death by fire - not sure why, perhaps I saw it in a movie or something. 
|

06-24-2018, 04:31 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SC & CA
Posts: 907
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jbario
Inspecting/cleaning the fuel strainer is in the conditional inspection checklist. Looking at pg 13-8 of the RV-12 maint. manual, one is supposed to drain the fuel in the aircraft before accessing the fuel strainer. Has anyone come up with a way to avoid draining the fuel during the process of accessing the fuel strainer? This was my first conditional inspection since I purchased a 2 yr old ELSA from another fellow.
|
This is one inspection I don't totally agree with. There was no annual requirement to do the same with my RV-8, and I assume the same applies to the other RV models. The fuel strainer screen in the RV-12 is coarse. It would take one heck of a contaminant to block the screen. Plus I don't like messing with loosening and tightening the fittings on soft aluminum fuel lines. Lastly, I care not to deal with the potential risks associated with transferring fuel, and I am not a fan of sticking anything electrical into a fuel tank.
I do exercise extreme care when filling the tank to include holding a clean rag over the filler neck while fueling. During the condition inspection after inspecting the gascolator screen I disconnect the fuel line at the mechanical fuel pump and conduct a flow test.
From an operational standpoint, get familiar with your fuel flow during takeoff, climb, and cruise. Any pressure fluctuations may also be indicative of contaminants in the fuel thus warranting further inspection.
During my six years of ownership of the -12, I have inspected the main tank screen twice to check for contaminants and found none. Of course if contaminants were found at the gascolator that would be cause to inspect the main screen.
Regards,
Tom
P.S. I assume you have the split aft baggage compartment bulkhead panel. If not, you will have to pull the tank anyway for the condition inspection to check the security of the the right flaperon attachment fittings under the floor boards.
__________________
Tom Valenzia
RV8 (Sold)
RV12 Jabiru 2200 Powered (Sold)
Dues contributor since 2007
Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make all of them yourself...Anonymous
Last edited by TomVal : 06-24-2018 at 05:07 AM.
|

06-24-2018, 12:04 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by TomVal
This is one inspection I don't totally agree with. There was no annual requirement to do the same with my RV-8, and I assume the same applies to the other RV models.
|
Depend on your interpretation of FAR 43, appendix D I guess, but other than that you are correct, because unlike the RV12, none of the other models have a factory published inspection checklist. It was required for S-LSA, and is required to be supplied to E-LSA builders.
A major reason for inspecting the tank finger screen (besides that it can be) is that the RV-12 is much more likely to be self fuel from jugs with a much higher probability of inducing undesirables.
__________________
Opinions, information and comments are my own unless stated otherwise. They do not necessarily represent the direction/opinions of my employer.
Scott McDaniels
Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
Last edited by rvbuilder2002 : 06-24-2018 at 12:10 PM.
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:47 AM.
|