How much space in wing roots?

[High_Flyer]

I am installing a Andair gascolator in each wing root of my RV-7, similar to this picture from Andair :

But I have not fitted the wings yet, and I'd like to ask how much space there is between the side of the fuselage and the fuel tank in the wing root?

Here are 2 pictures to give you an idea of my setup:

Side view:


Top view:


This setup takes 2.7 Inches measured from the fuselage side to the outmost point of the gascolator as seen on the above picture. Is this too much or do I have sufficient space there to keep it as it is?
I plan to make an opening in the bottom of the wing root fairing (maybe a small hinged flap) to be able to purge the gascolator.
Your input would be very welcome, thanks.

Alain.

[Bevan]

Alain,

I did exactly what you're planning, as have others. I'm not to the flying stage yet but can say it all fits with careful planning and measuring. I even included a shutoff valve upstream of the gascolator so the fuel can be shut off to remove the bowl without losing too much fuel. Send me your email and I will send some pictures.

I doubt you will need a door on the bottom to drain fuel from the bottom of the gascolator. Just make a hole in the wing root fairing when its all done.

Bevan

[High_Flyer]

Originally Posted by Bevan

Alain,

I did exactly what you're planning, as have others. I'm not to the flying stage yet but can say it all fits with careful planning and measuring. I even included a shutoff valve upstream of the gascolator so the fuel can be shut off to remove the bowl without losing too much fuel. Send me your email and I will send some pictures.

I doubt you will need a door on the bottom to drain fuel from the bottom of the gascolator. Just make a hole in the wing root fairing when its all done.

Bevan

My email alainvanseveren(at)gmail.com
replace (at) with @.
Thank you.
Alain.

[shuttle]

Alain,

Re: shut-off valve, in case you consider this, check carefully what your regulations are in France. My research found that in the UK it is not permitted to have a valve in the fuel system that cannot be controlled from the cockpit.

Steve

[RV7ator]

Done that very thing, but it requires very careful planning. The two sides will be different since the gascolator is one-directional. Use an extended drain fitting to reach through a hole in the gap fairing. Don't forget to allow room to route the vent line amongst all the other spaghetti. You don't need a shut-off valve if you fly out most of the tank's fuel.

John Siebold

[shuttle]

Originally Posted by RV7ator

The two sides will be different since the gascolator is one-directional.
John Siebold

Not so if you plan ahead before purchasing. Andair do left-to-right flow and right-to-left flow gascolators. It is one of the options on their website online purchasing system. In fact the Andair image above shows this.

Personally, I have gone for just one gascolator in the right wing root. It is downstream from the fuel selector, i.e. the lines come in from the tanks to the selector then one line back out to the wing root, through the gascolator, then back to the centreline and forward to the firewall. This provides for fuel shut-off for gascolator inspection without extra shut-off valves in the wing root at the cost of a little extra length in the fuel lines. I went this way as I did not want the gascolator positioned firewall forward.

Steve

[High_Flyer]

Thanks for the replies.

Originally Posted by RV7ator

Done that very thing, but it requires very careful planning. The two sides will be different since the gascolator is one-directional. Use an extended drain fitting to reach through a hole in the gap fairing. Don't forget to allow room to route the vent line amongst all the other spaghetti. You don't need a shut-off valve if you fly out most of the tank's fuel.

John Siebold

I have a "regular" gascolator and one "reverse flow". This allows the same setup in each wing root.

Originally Posted by shuttle

Alain,

Re: shut-off valve, in case you consider this, check carefully what your regulations are in France. My research found that in the UK it is not permitted to have a valve in the fuel system that cannot be controlled from the cockpit.

Steve

I didn't think about fuel flowing out when checking the filter if fuel is in the tank... I'll have to do some reaserch about this. I don't like the idea of having a valve in the wing root that will be out or reach, and I don't even know if that is allowed in the French regulation.

But my main question has not been answered: how much space is there in the wing root area between the tank and the fuselage??

Alain.

[schristo@mac.com]

plenty of room... you don't have to reverse flow either.

[PCHunt]

How do you remove the bowl for inspection at each condition inspection

[Dbro172]

Don't try this on a -9; there only about half that much space on mine and the bottom wing skin overlaps the bottom of the fuse, so as to Pete's point, you'd never get that bowl off.