What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

Fuel tank size

my53cad

my53cad

Member
Friend
Does anyone know if Van's ever offered a 17 gallon fuel tank for the RV-9A. Just bought an RV-9A and builder swears it has 17 gallon fuel tanks but I have only seen the 18 gallon tanks.
 
Welcome to VAF

Ron, welcome aboard the good ship VAF :D

I wounder if he was talking about usable fuel?
 
Stock tank is 18 gallons. Maybe he adjusted his tank fuel pickup tube to make 1 gallon unusable.
 
Previous owner swears he installed 17 gallon tanks when built in 2007. All I have ever heard of is the 18 gallon tanks. Guess I will have to drain them and refill them to be positive. Thanks
 
Well, in all probability they are the standard 18 gallon tanks. That being said, I modified mine to 21 gallon tanks.
 
BEAU4277 said:
I am very interested in how you made that modification!
Click to expand...

Not sure of his modification to get 3(x2) extra gallons but what you CAN do is install a 7-7.5 gallon tank directly behind the seat back protruding just a bit into the baggage compartment.

I know this works because I supplied Marvin (at the time) of Smoke Systems Helpers (I think that is the name) with the dimensions and fit tested them to 6/7/9 tip up and slider combinations.

I have 2 installed in my RV6 tip up.
 
BEAU4277 said:
I am very interested in how you made that modification!
Click to expand...

I extended outboard a bay. Not an EZ process, especially for tanks already built like mine were. Somewhere in the bowels of this forum, I detailed the process along with photos,,,maybe 3 or so years ago. Not for the faint of heart.
 
Calibrating my tanks, they held something like 18.1 gallons and my unusable fuel was literally a few ounces.
 
Ralph Inkster said:
Customization - a nasty word for some...
Click to expand...

Naahhhh.. that's just an opportunity to make it your own. :cool:

If you haven't finished the wing/tanks yet, you can make the changes very easily. Attached here is the drawing for the "Tuckey Tanks" on an 8 with credit to Pat Tuckey, I modified this slightly and installed them on my 9A.
 

Attachments

  • ER fuel tank drawing.jpg
    ER fuel tank drawing.jpg
    241.9 KB · Views: 84
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top