Hi All,
I am currently conducting due diligence on an RV6 (fully completed and flying ~200hrs). An issue regarding the fuel quantity indications has come up which I need your help to answer.
As far as I am aware the tanks are currently fitted with non-Vans capacitive type sender units. I believe these units came from a KC-130 tanker aircraft!!
The attached pictures have been obtained from the original builders web site. The kit was completed by its current owner hence there is a lack of knowledge as to this phase of the construction. The pictures show a long black tube which I presume is the capacitive sender mounted at an angle inside the tank with sender wires coming out of one end (the root end I think).
The problem I have is that these units are not currently connected and as far as I’m aware have never been connected or tested. The reason for this is that the aircraft is fitted with Vans type float gauges which are not compatible with the sender units. I think the intention was to develop some sort of electronic translator for the senders to the gauges. Regardless, I now need to decide if the aircraft is worth persuing knowing I have to fix this problem.
Two proposals have been tabled. The first was to demount the tanks, remove the old sender units and fit the Vans float type sender units. Connect up and problem solved. From the pictures however, it appears that each tank is different and one of the sender units will be impossible to access from the access hole. The other tank’s unit appears to be accessible from the inner bay? Also, the units appear large, too large to accommodate Vans float units without first removing them; ergo the access problem.
The second option was to replace the float gauges with compatible capacitive gauges however, it is not known or been proven that the current sender units will in fact function and if they do what gauges they will be compatible with.
My problem is that the current owner didn’t build this section, I am not an expert, my friends who have built their own RV’s can’t give me an answer, Vans support my conclusions that removal is required but access will be a problem. I’m now turning to you folks at for some advice; butcher the tanks, try to get the correct gauges, or abandon the purchase entirely??
I hope you can help.
Regards,
James.
I am currently conducting due diligence on an RV6 (fully completed and flying ~200hrs). An issue regarding the fuel quantity indications has come up which I need your help to answer.
As far as I am aware the tanks are currently fitted with non-Vans capacitive type sender units. I believe these units came from a KC-130 tanker aircraft!!
The attached pictures have been obtained from the original builders web site. The kit was completed by its current owner hence there is a lack of knowledge as to this phase of the construction. The pictures show a long black tube which I presume is the capacitive sender mounted at an angle inside the tank with sender wires coming out of one end (the root end I think).
The problem I have is that these units are not currently connected and as far as I’m aware have never been connected or tested. The reason for this is that the aircraft is fitted with Vans type float gauges which are not compatible with the sender units. I think the intention was to develop some sort of electronic translator for the senders to the gauges. Regardless, I now need to decide if the aircraft is worth persuing knowing I have to fix this problem.
Two proposals have been tabled. The first was to demount the tanks, remove the old sender units and fit the Vans float type sender units. Connect up and problem solved. From the pictures however, it appears that each tank is different and one of the sender units will be impossible to access from the access hole. The other tank’s unit appears to be accessible from the inner bay? Also, the units appear large, too large to accommodate Vans float units without first removing them; ergo the access problem.
The second option was to replace the float gauges with compatible capacitive gauges however, it is not known or been proven that the current sender units will in fact function and if they do what gauges they will be compatible with.
My problem is that the current owner didn’t build this section, I am not an expert, my friends who have built their own RV’s can’t give me an answer, Vans support my conclusions that removal is required but access will be a problem. I’m now turning to you folks at for some advice; butcher the tanks, try to get the correct gauges, or abandon the purchase entirely??
I hope you can help.
Regards,
James.
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