lostpilot28
Well Known Member
I know there were some previous posts about this - I've reviewed them over and over...but I would like to get an opinion on my setup. First a little background: I've been flying my RV-7A for the past year with the fuel line from the mechanical pump to the carb running very close (too close) to the exhaust for about 5 inches or so...probably about 1 inch away. I had a 90-degree fitting off the carb and the line went aft and down about an inch to the outside of the engine mount. I had the fuel line attached to another engine mount tube as the fuel line curved up to the fuel pump. I also had 2 heat deflectors on the exhaust to prevent the fuel from getting hot - mounted about 2 inches apart (so there was a gap between them). As in the picture below, I also had adhesive-backed aluminum wrapped around the fuel line as an added measure to help keep heat off the line. No clue if that helped, but I wouldn't think it would hurt. I had 2 different instances last summer on very hot days where if the engine heat soaked for 5 minutes (to refuel, for example) that when restarting the engine it ran very bad...I'm guessing the fuel was boiling and I had get it through the carb for it to start running well.
So, that didn't sit well with me! I rerouted my fuel line today, as in the pictures below. I used the aluminum 45-degree fitting (I may buy a steel one eventually) and now I only have about 1 inch of line that's an inch away from the exhaust, and I have the heat-shield directly under it. The rest of the line moves aft and up very quickly and adds good distance between the fuel line and the exhaust.
Is this acceptable? I've been trying to figure a better way to route the line, but this is it. Unless I buy a longer fuel line and get some really sharp angled fittings I don't think I've got many alternatives. What do you all think?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22507666@N06/4412383048/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22507666@N06/4412383196/sizes/o/in/photostream/
So, that didn't sit well with me! I rerouted my fuel line today, as in the pictures below. I used the aluminum 45-degree fitting (I may buy a steel one eventually) and now I only have about 1 inch of line that's an inch away from the exhaust, and I have the heat-shield directly under it. The rest of the line moves aft and up very quickly and adds good distance between the fuel line and the exhaust.
Is this acceptable? I've been trying to figure a better way to route the line, but this is it. Unless I buy a longer fuel line and get some really sharp angled fittings I don't think I've got many alternatives. What do you all think?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22507666@N06/4412383048/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22507666@N06/4412383196/sizes/o/in/photostream/