LettersFromFlyoverCountry
Well Known Member
Yesterday I installed the left fuel vent line and this morning I'm working on the right one. I'm doing it two different ways, however, because I...well... because I can. ![Big grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
From what I can see of the plans, the vent line should take a hard inboard and then outboard turn to fit around the lower longeron and then outboard of the rudder cable.
As near as I can tell, the only way to do that -- comfortably in my case -- is for both spacers to be on the inside of the skin in order to allow the fitting to be inboard enough to make those turns.
But I'm reluctant to place just a nut on the outboard skin, rather than sandwich the skin between washers. I realize just a nut holds the forward vent exit bulkhead on the skin side, but that skin is also thicker in that location, as I recall.
So on the left side, I went inboard around the rudder cable rather than outboard.
I don't really know if I like this or not. I like the route. I like the fact it clears the cable. It doesn't appear to interfere with the pedals. I thought maybe there was a chance I'd whack the line with my foot when I got in the plane, but I tested that out too and that doesn't seem to be a problem.
Now the right side today, for the heck of it, I'm doing the way the plans suggest but with the spacers on the inside. I'm not entirely comfortable with the nut on the outside; I really don't like how it scratches the skin when I tighten the bulkhead fitting, for one thing. I'm just not real happy with it, even if it is structurally sound. But I also am not that impressed with the severe turns required here, even with the fitting (although I've been able to make them with a combination of the pipe bender and the springs, I'm still not thrilled.)
Am I missing something here?
From what I can see of the plans, the vent line should take a hard inboard and then outboard turn to fit around the lower longeron and then outboard of the rudder cable.
As near as I can tell, the only way to do that -- comfortably in my case -- is for both spacers to be on the inside of the skin in order to allow the fitting to be inboard enough to make those turns.
But I'm reluctant to place just a nut on the outboard skin, rather than sandwich the skin between washers. I realize just a nut holds the forward vent exit bulkhead on the skin side, but that skin is also thicker in that location, as I recall.
So on the left side, I went inboard around the rudder cable rather than outboard.
![ventlineentrance.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fhome.comcast.net%2F%257Ebcollinsrv7a%2Feaa%2Fimages%2Fventlineentrance.jpg&hash=fa4bf025e8578adfdd7c071b1b1dae97)
I don't really know if I like this or not. I like the route. I like the fact it clears the cable. It doesn't appear to interfere with the pedals. I thought maybe there was a chance I'd whack the line with my foot when I got in the plane, but I tested that out too and that doesn't seem to be a problem.
Now the right side today, for the heck of it, I'm doing the way the plans suggest but with the spacers on the inside. I'm not entirely comfortable with the nut on the outside; I really don't like how it scratches the skin when I tighten the bulkhead fitting, for one thing. I'm just not real happy with it, even if it is structurally sound. But I also am not that impressed with the severe turns required here, even with the fitting (although I've been able to make them with a combination of the pipe bender and the springs, I'm still not thrilled.)
Am I missing something here?
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