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11-05-2019, 07:25 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sebastian Fl X26
Posts: 81
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Calibrating taildragger fuel levels
In the final throes of this build... any opinions on leveling a taildragger for the fuel gauge calibration?
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Dennis Callaghan (X26)
- RV14 sn:140193 - first flight 12/19/2019
- 2000+ hours on my RV6! Sold (so sad...)
- donation 12/30/2019 * 2
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11-05-2019, 08:12 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,351
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How about a saw horse under the tail? Your longeron or tail deck is the good place for using a level.
exciting times, congrats.
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Mehrdad
N825SM RV7A - IO360M1B - SOLD
N825MS RV14A - IO390 - Flying
Dues paid
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11-05-2019, 08:59 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Las Vegas NV
Posts: 146
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Really curious on how much extra fuel goes in after the fuel floats hit the top of the tank.
I am building a tri gear version and am considering 2 CIES fuel senders in each tank for better and more reliable indications. Kind of pricey though. Wish they could come down in price. :-(
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11-05-2019, 10:30 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV6-KPTW
In the final throes of this build... any opinions on leveling a taildragger for the fuel gauge calibration?
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The fuel indications in the EFIS systems we are using now are so darn accurate if calibrated properly, I think it makes no sense to not do it in a level flight attitude.
Doing it in level flight and ground attitude (on systems that have the capability) is personal preference but for a tail dragger I think it is worth while.
__________________
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 ")
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11-06-2019, 02:12 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Willis Gliderport
Posts: 185
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Not sure if there is a reg. but I waited until after completion and had a few hours of flight time. I?m a bit old school and made a fuel tank dip stick the first time we filled her up, 5 gallon increments.
I don?t care for the saw horse idea as being too narrow even with a cushion. I would be one angry hombre if I put a crease in my new pony. So, small 300# step platform, some shotgun ammo cases and firm foam cushions under the bar attach point got me to level to do the fuel and attitudes calibration.
Hanger floor reasonably level for the lateral leveling, nothing was needed there.
Be careful.
R
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11-06-2019, 07:12 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
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Saw horse works fine.
Just set the tail wheel spring on it instead of the tail cone.
I've done it many years times.
__________________
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 ")
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11-06-2019, 07:31 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 344
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002
The fuel indications in the EFIS systems we are using now are so darn accurate if calibrated properly, I think it makes no sense to not do it in a level flight attitude.
Doing it in level flight and ground attitude (on systems that have the capability) is personal preference but for a tail dragger I think it is worth while.
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What EFIS system are you referring to? I have dual AFS 4500?s. Calibrated my tanks two gallons at a time with the airplane in a level attitude and they are miserably inaccurate. So much that I don?t pay any attention to them. I use the gallons used from the red cube as my indication of fuel in the tanks. Finally tweaked that to where it is reliable.
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11-06-2019, 07:44 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,932
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I put the tailwheel on a stool when I calibrated mine. Taxied over to the fuel pumps with the stool in the passenger seat, chocked wheels, raised tail, and pumped gas 5L at a time into the tanks.
Of course, all the calibration in the world won't help when the sender fails. Next step will be to buy a second Red Cube and set one up in each wing root, and deduce fuel level from fuel flow out. My single Red Cube has been accurate to <1%.
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Rob Prior
1996 RV-6 "Tweety" C-FRBP (formerly N196RV)
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11-06-2019, 08:19 AM
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Sherman, CT
Posts: 794
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I have the Vans capacitance tanks using the Dynon converters to input to my AFS 5600`s.
I calibrated the gauges in 2 gallon increments in both level flight and 3 point attitude. They are consistently accurate within 1-2 gals., however as others have stated my fuel used/fuel remaining numbers are right on the money. My red cube is mounted between the mechanical fuel pump and the servo.
__________________
Jake
RV6 #20477 completed 1991 sold.
RV7 #72018 N767T first flight 11/21/2017 350+ hrs.
IO-360M1B MT 3 blade, Dual AFS 5600 QUICK Panel.
Manual Flaps. (KOXC)Oxford, CT, (0NY0)North Creek, NY.
1941 J3 Cub skis,floats.
2020 dues gladly paid.
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11-06-2019, 08:57 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Yorkshire, England
Posts: 2,052
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I concur, when calibrated, it is accurate for the bottom 2/3rds of the tank. The floats hit the top of the tank before full, but it doesn't matter, you are interested in how little fuel you have most of the time.
Diligent flight planning, yada yada snowflake disclaimer 
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"I add a little excitement, a little spice to your lives, and all you do is complain!" - Q
Donated in 2020
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