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04-22-2015, 07:23 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA / USA
Posts: 159
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Thanks!!!!!
David-- thanks so much! Really appreciate you doing that. Since the tank is about 9" high, I'll re-make my tab tonight to be 4-7/8" long (1/8" flange thickness), which ought to do the trick. Once I get it done I'll post pics and an update on my blog too, for anyone interested.
Really looking forward to being done with these tanks... fingers crossed for no leaks!!!!
Cheers, -Mike
__________________
Mike Jimenez & Sarah Hammonds
EAA Chapter 33 Prez & Soc Chair
Marion, IA USA
RV-10 In progress! (N165MJ reserved)
-Emp & Wings complete
-Panel wired up, working on Fuse & Finish
-Blog horribly outdated (sorry)
-Too many distractions, we will finish the plane someday!!!
http://mikeandsarahrv10.blogspot.com/
http://www.eaa33.org/
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04-09-2020, 01:37 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Just Minutes from KBVI!
Posts: 1,039
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Mike,
Can you share how the tabs worked out? Has anyone got a calibration record of their tanks from bottom to top at the outboard edge to share? Unfortunately the pictures posted by David before are no longer available.
I have an idea for a tab with multiple graduations on it and would like to install it before I close up the tanks for good. I want to just bond the tab to the outboard rib to avoid having to drill out and re-rivet the fuel cap.
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04-09-2020, 01:54 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Park Ridge, NJ
Posts: 640
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I just started flying this week... thinking back on everything, what I REALLY should have done was just gotten some kind of dipstick that i could have easily calibrated while i was putting 5 gallons in at a time to calibrate my floats.
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04-09-2020, 02:01 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Just Minutes from KBVI!
Posts: 1,039
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cderk
I just started flying this week... thinking back on everything, what I REALLY should have done was just gotten some kind of dipstick that i could have easily calibrated while i was putting 5 gallons in at a time to calibrate my floats.
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I did that last year on my Mooney 201 that I bought (no one makes a pre-calibrated stick for the M20 series because of the variation in tanks including many that have bladders). Took a while to accomplish, but worth it. I'd like to put some tabs with multiple graduations on them in the RV-10 tanks to make the process easier, and give the person filling the tank a quick reference point.
Oh, and congratulations! I watched your first flight video and loved it.
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04-09-2020, 02:25 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
Posts: 5,516
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I made some measurements on my 7 level, and sitting, when doing a 2 gallon calibration. I measured with a stick with a small ID tube attached, recording distance from the bottom. Dipsticks made from a dowel rod, a clear tube with an aluminum strip attached were tried and not easy to use or inaccurate. Finally saw a post that used an aluminum stick with holes. I made mine to indicate each 1/2 gal. The holes are staggered side to sideband it works perfectly. The wick effect of anything that goes in the fuel is way higher than the actual level and adversely affected the usability and accuracy. In 100 hrs of recording, the total fill is within 1/2 gal of the dip stick and the totalizer in the G3X. The holes are smaller than 0.063" and it is easy, in all light conditions, to read. You can test the hole size for yourself in a clear glass of fuel to determine what is best. And compared to alternate methods. I hold against the leading side of the fill opening and aft of the internal stiffener.
My strip is alodined .025" X 3/8" and attached to a keychain. Light weight too.
The worst part was wearing the headband magnifier and a vibratory etcher to write the tiny numbers on the stick! If it folded and fit in a shirt pocket it would be perfect, but I have found no elegant way of achieving that yet. Maybe in the shutdown.
One last thing - the absolute reading of a single tank is less than 1/2gal accuracy, but the total of both seems to make up for a tilt one way or the other.
__________________
Bill
RV-7
Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
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04-09-2020, 05:52 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Just Minutes from KBVI!
Posts: 1,039
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Here's a quick sketch of what I am thinking of. I would bond it to the inside of the outboard tank rib with tank sealant.

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04-09-2020, 06:02 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 2,861
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Seems like a dip stick would be easier— I bought the one from ACS but truth in lending I’ve never taken it out of the tube since I bought it over 5 years ago. How often do you think you’ll need to partial fuel to something other than full?
__________________
Todd "I drink and know things" Stovall
PP ASEL-IA
RV-10 N728TT - Flying!
WAR EAGLE!
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04-09-2020, 06:26 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Just Minutes from KBVI!
Posts: 1,039
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Auburntsts
Seems like a dip stick would be easier— I bought the one from ACS but truth in lending I’ve never taken it out of the tube since I bought it over 5 years ago. How often do you think you’ll need to partial fuel to something other than full?
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I use a dipstick before every flight to keep track of my fuel usage and verify my flowmeter on the Mooney. I spent several hours calibrating the Mooney dipstick and I will do it again for the RV-10, but I think this tab option will give me a very quick and easy idea of the actual fuel in the tank *while filling it*.
I love instrumentation, but I "trust but verify" every time I go for a flight.
I really want to make this tab deal, it will literally take me 10 minutes to make two of them with a shear, bandsaw and bending brake once I have the dimensions.
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04-09-2020, 06:32 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 2,861
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Fair enough. I back up my instruments with time and known fuel flow at various power settings, but to each his own. I verify by comparing what the system or my math says I burned to what the fuel pump says I did when I gas up.
__________________
Todd "I drink and know things" Stovall
PP ASEL-IA
RV-10 N728TT - Flying!
WAR EAGLE!
Last edited by Auburntsts : 04-09-2020 at 06:37 PM.
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