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04-01-2014, 06:36 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 845
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Mechanical fuel gauge - what did I miss?
While I was doing the second tank SB, I took the opportunity to install the Van's Moeller fuel gauge retrofit kit. I was somewhat surprised to see no indication of a gasket or any other seal around the gauge, but pressed on anyway. It now leaks around the periphery of the gauge whenever fuel reaches high enough in the tank.
https://imageshack.com/i/ndcestj (Not sure what people are using to share/embed photos now that imageshack started charging)
What did I miss? I guess I'm just going to address it with a smear of ProSeal if there's no official solution, but I'm just wondering what I did wrong.
__________________
Dave Gamble
Grove City, OH
RV-6 N466PG Purchased already flying - SOLD!
The Book: The PapaGolf Chronicles
Built RV-12
http://www.schmetterlingaviation.com
The Book: Being written.
The above web blogs and any links provided thereto are not instructional or advisory in nature. They merely seek to share my experiences in building and flying Van's RV airplanes.
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04-01-2014, 07:09 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: adelaide, south australia
Posts: 171
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I think the notes at the top of section 37-02 cover it. 
Cheers
DaveH
120485
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04-01-2014, 08:25 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 322
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I know your specific circumstance has a specified answer, but here is some food for thought.
When sealing some fuel bulkhead areas or caps a good product just for fuel is Hylomar. It is blue in color, comes in a tube. I little goes a long way and seals tight and won't leak. I use that and so do a other MFG's. It's meant to seal fuel systems where gaskets or flanges bolt together. Good stuff.
__________________
Roger Lee
Tucson, AZ
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04-02-2014, 09:21 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Avon, Indiana
Posts: 341
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Fuel Tank Mod
For those that have installed the mechanical gauge fuel tank mod- does the kit come with the plate and hardware to remove and cover the old sight glass?
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04-02-2014, 10:04 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Elkton, Md.
Posts: 1,654
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jte65
For those that have installed the mechanical gauge fuel tank mod- does the kit come with the plate and hardware to remove and cover the old sight glass?
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Yes, it does.
__________________
Wag Aero Sport Trainer built,sold and wrecked
N588DF RV12 #336 built, sold and alive and well in New York
N73DF RV12 #244 built, sold and alive and well in Florida
N91 RV RV9 I wish I could say I built this one! Mark Santoleri hit the ball out of the park on this gem.
Currently restoring a 1978 Citabria GCBC
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04-02-2014, 05:53 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Oconomowoc, WI
Posts: 71
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Called Vans yesterday. I have an uninstalled prefab tank and I need to update it. Scott (tech support) said I don't have to remove the site glass when I install the mechanical gage, reinforcements and vent kit. If it aint broke why fix it. If it starts to leak I can make the mod after my annual inspection. Vans said if I leave it in, it will still qualify for E-LSA during inspection.
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03-15-2015, 04:37 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Posts: 39
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moeller gauge blocked...
Hi
Last couple of weekends I've been trying to check my plane endurance staying aloft over 3 hours.
I usually fill the tank to the max, (read till it comes out through the overflow pipe) on Friday afternoon to be able to leave Saturday early morning. This week I did it on Wednesday, so there must have been some sort of pressure in the Moeller Gauge for three days.
This morning, the gauge was blocked and the plastic cover damaged, as if gas would have contaminated the dial.
Eventhough the tank is full, the gauge now doesn't go beyond this point.
I'll order a new one, but before smearing a full pack of ProSeal, does anyone have experienced something similar?
Thanks in advance,
Godo
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03-15-2015, 04:54 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 863
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Godo
Hi
Last couple of weekends I've been trying to check my plane endurance staying aloft over 3 hours.
I usually fill the tank to the max, (read till it comes out through the overflow pipe) on Friday afternoon to be able to leave Saturday early morning. This week I did it on Wednesday, so there must have been some sort of pressure in the Moeller Gauge for three days.
This morning, the gauge was blocked and the plastic cover damaged, as if gas would have contaminated the dial.
Eventhough the tank is full, the gauge now doesn't go beyond this point.
I'll order a new one, but before smearing a full pack of ProSeal, does anyone have experienced something similar?
Thanks in advance,
Godo
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Did you tell the Moeller Gauge you were here?
May be it's just waiting for Godo...
Sorry, I could not resist  ... plus I am not a great fan of the Moeller gauge!
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03-15-2015, 07:08 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Godo
Hi
Last couple of weekends I've been trying to check my plane endurance staying aloft over 3 hours.
I usually fill the tank to the max, (read till it comes out through the overflow pipe) on Friday afternoon to be able to leave Saturday early morning. This week I did it on Wednesday, so there must have been some sort of pressure in the Moeller Gauge for three days.
This morning, the gauge was blocked and the plastic cover damaged, as if gas would have contaminated the dial.
Eventhough the tank is full, the gauge now doesn't go beyond this point.
I'll order a new one, but before smearing a full pack of ProSeal, does anyone have experienced something similar?
Thanks in advance,
Godo
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It is not possible for fuel to get to the gauge indicator up through the gauge itself. The indicator is coupled to the gauge via a magnet. There is no fluid path. Remove the two screws and lift out the indicator and you will see what I mean.
It must have gotten damaged by either a leak around the flange of the gauge, or by something else.
__________________
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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03-16-2015, 10:39 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 461
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I had to figure this out by myself as, at the time I installed a Moeller Gauge, there were no instructions provided by Van's, so take this for what it is.
I tried two ways of sealing it. The first time I used the rubber seal pad that came with my gauge. It was installed under a solid aluminum plate that covered the hole in the tank top until after certification. Then I removed the plate and installed the actual gauge. When removing the rubber seal I could see that it had already started to harden due to the gas fumes (I would think it was caused more by the alcohol in the gas than anything else). So I decided to goop it in with Pro-Seal as sealant, the same way we created our own seal between turtle deck skin and filler tube - a thick bead of Pro-Seal and tightening the screws around the gauge just enough until the sealant oozes out.
This is now in use for 1.5 years and I often let the plane sit with a gas level that reaches way into the filler neck for days without any leakage.
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