leaking fuel drain repair......

turbo · #1 02-16-2010, 02:16 PM

having a leaking fuel drain i emptied the tank and removed the leaking unit. the o-ring was shot so a trip to ace hardware came up with a replacement part for 20 cents and a few spares. pure genius.

odlee · #2 02-16-2010, 02:24 PM

Ed,
If you have a spare drain in your emergency kit along with extra O-rings, you can actually change the drain without draining all the fuel. You will only lose a small amount of fuel during the change over. Just be sure to tie a rag around your wrist unless like fuel running up your sleeve.

David

David-aviator · #3 02-16-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odlee

Ed,
If you have a spare drain in your emergency kit along with extra O-rings, you can actually change the drain without draining all the fuel. You will only lose a small amount of fuel during the change over. Just be sure to tie a rag around your wrist unless like fuel running up your sleeve.

David

Ditto on that.

I've changed the o ring at OSH by using a 1/8" NPT plug which is screwed in as quickly as possible after removing the drain and doing it again after the o ring is replaced. Those darn o rings sometimes refuse to reseat at the worst times and places and you can't have fuel dripping for a couple days.

scard · #4 02-16-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odlee

Ed,
If you have a spare drain in your emergency kit along with extra O-rings, you can actually change the drain without draining all the fuel. You will only lose a small amount of fuel during the change over. Just be sure to tie a rag around your wrist unless like fuel running up your sleeve.

David

I was about to say the same thing. If you have a spouse around, their finger on the hole works also, without draining the fuel

. Been there: "Tanya, come over here and put your finger in this drain hole for a second while I pop an new o-ring on the drain." Total time for repair 90 sec., finger usage time, 20 sec., bonding moment, priceless.

BASE1127 · #5 02-17-2010, 10:06 AM

Is is necessary to add some fuel lube to help prolong the seal?

Squeak · #6 02-17-2010, 03:53 PM

Got my O-Rings from McMaster-Carr part # 9464K11. They work great and hard to beat the price ($4.48 per 100).
Squeak

Master-Carr
9464K11(Same as 9464K342)
Viton? Fluoroelastomer O-Ring AS568A Dash Number 006
In stock at $4.48 per Pack
This product is sold in Packs of 100

jtop · #7 04-09-2010, 03:38 PM

Is the drain suppose to screw all the way flush? I've got mine in about half way and to go any further worries me.

jsharkey · #8 04-09-2010, 04:14 PM

It's a tapered pipe thread. Screw it in as tight as you dare without flexing the tank skin too much. It doesn't have to be flush.

Jim Sharkey
RV-6 Phase 1

jsharkey · #9 04-09-2010, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BASE1127

Is is necessary to add some fuel lube to help prolong the seal?

I put fuel lube on mine but suspect that it was the sticky lube that trapped a tiny piece of debris that prevented the darn thing from sealing and caused a leak. The debris, a tiny aluminum chip, would otherwise have been flushed out when I sampled the tank.

Jim Sharkey
RV-6 Phase 1

DakotaHawk · #10 04-09-2010, 05:47 PM

I rinsed the h*!! out of my fuel tanks, including sloshing fuel, running fuel through a throw-away filter and fuel pump and back to the tank for two days, etc. I still managed to shake a couple of chips loose after first flight and have had to clean my O-rings twice. I didn't use fuel lube on my O-rings.