Andair Fuel Pump - Mount (Video)

[Phil]

On an earlier thread, I promised a video of my Andair Filter/Pump installation. Yesterday I finally got around to grabbing some video and getting it posted on YouTube..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3mpcapeBA8

I shot a second one on the Bonoco brake lines through the tunnel and should get it uploaded tomorrow.

Phil

[TS Flightlines]

Phil----Nice installation. You could put in another couple of bends in your output tube to attach it to the side panel, and save a bunch of money on the "TSO'd" hose assembly.
Tom

[w1curtis]

It is nice that the Andair pump has a built in bypass for the pump but the Van's setup actually has TWO bypasses; one for the pump and one for the filter. In the Andair configuration, if you attach the output from the selector directly to the filter, you do not have a bypass for the filter in case you have a catastrophic clog of the filter.

Adding my $0.02 to the hard line vs flexible line debate; behind the firewall, a well secured hard line will ALWAYS outperform a flexible line and never need replacing. Personally, if I bought an airplane of any age over 5 years, I would replace all flexible fluid lines; even the "no life limit" Teflon lines. Many experience pilots and A&Ps subscribe to this.

[Auburntsts]

Originally Posted by w1curtis

...a well secured hard line will ALWAYS outperform a flexible line...

How so? No dog in the fight yet, just curious as I'll be at this point in a few months.

[Auburntsts]

Originally Posted by w1curtis

the Van's setup actually has TWO bypasses; one for the pump and one for the filter.

William, do you have a diagram showing the fuel filter bypass? I've looked at Van's AFP setup and clearly see the pressure relief bypass, but don't see a filter bypass. Would like to understand how fuel would get downstream from the AFP filter if the filter were to clog.

[Phil]

A couple of items that I forgot to mention on the Andair pump and it was a huge selling point (too) are the mechanics for moving the fuel.

The Airflow pump has vanes and wears similar to the old vacuum pump. This means there is friction and wear occurring within the housing. Andair took a different approach with a series of rotating cavities that are constantly contracting on the low pressure side and expanding on the high pressure side. This means the pump siphons fuel through it and there is no wear within the pump. The AFP nice, proven, and serviceable. But IMHO, the Andair pump is a much more elegant design.

Also, I forgot to mention these in the video:

1) The DC connections are going to be on a twisting connector so I can disconnect the pump from the wiring and put everything on the bench every annual to service the filter.

2) The screws holding the plate to the bracket are 1/4" Hex Head/Phillips screws. So I can hopefully use a 1/4" ratchet on them when I'm reaching up in the tunnel. But if I strip them off for some reason, I can use a wrench and if that doesn't work I can use a screw driver.

3) You'll notice the fuel flow transducer is missing between the output of the pump and the firewall. This is because I'm moving the transducer into the cowling like many others. (More distance from the pump results in more accurate readings when the boost pump is on.)

I'm sure there are a few other items that I missed, but these are the ones I can think of this morning.

Phil

[w1curtis]

Originally Posted by Auburntsts

William, do you have a diagram showing the fuel filter bypass? I've looked at Van's AFP setup and clearly see the pressure relief bypass, but don't see a filter bypass. Would like to understand how fuel would get downstream from the AFP filter if the filter were to clog.

Chapter 37, page 4. I did a quick drawing but can be seen in the below picture.

[Auburntsts]

Hmmm. I thought the valve on the bottom of the diagram was the pressure relief valve, not a filter bypass. If so, there is no filter bypass indicated on the diagram. My understanding is when the boost pump's off, fuel flows through the filter and check valve and on to the mechanical pump. When the boost pump's on, fuel is picked up at the Tee between the filter and check valve and pushed through the manifold to the downstream side of the check valve where it enters the fuel line on to the mechanical pump. If the line gets blocked downstream, pressure builds until the relief valve (the bottom valve in the diagram ) opens and allow fuel is returned to the Tee between the selector and fuel filter creating a loop. But the flow is always one-way. Downstream on the top and middle lines of the diagram, and upstream on the bottom. Just not seeing a filter bypass in there anywhere. IOW it still appears to me that the filter is still a single point of failure regardless of Andair or AFP system and that both system operate the same way -- except Andair 's pressue relief is internal while AFP's is external. Am I missing something?

[glastar]

Phil, one question I like the Andair what you've got is the one with AN6 fittings but it is good according their tech sheet for 16 gallons with 27-30 psi. Looking at the sheet for an IO-540 it says full power sea level are around 22 gal/h. It seems a bit strange, that Van's went with the 3/8" fuel lines instead the larger 1/2" for the IO-540. Do I miss something here?

Thanks for a clearing info

BTW anyone having the data for the ES Airflow pump?

Werner

[shuttle]

Phil,
Thanks for posting that video. I wish I had seen your idea long ago for the 'locating pin rivets'. Oh so simple. I really like it.
Steve