"Podavelle"?

[Ross7A-builder]

I need a specific 6AN (female) to 1/4" NPT, 90-degree bend connector between my RV-7A mechanical fuel pump and the fuel flow transducer. The only place I can find this fitting is from a company called PODAVELLE on Amazon, and I've never heard of it. Can anyone tell me anything about this company, and whether you recommend entrusting my fuel line integrity to it? If not, any alternatives?

 

[PaulvS]

I need a specific 6AN (female) to 1/4" NPT, 90-degree bend connector between my RV-7A mechanical fuel pump and the fuel flow transducer. The only place I can find this fitting is from a company called PODAVELLE on Amazon, and I've never heard of it. Can anyone tell me anything about this company, and whether you recommend entrusting my fuel line integrity to it? If not, any alternatives?

That sounds a bit different to the norm, which is to use a Tee fitting on the pump with one line to the carb and the other line to the transducer manifold. The Tee has the correct thread (not NPT) for the fuel pump.

90° Fitting Tapped with additional 1/8"NPT Port

Lycoming Pumps Require Special Fittings

store.vansaircraft.com

 

[DanH]

There are all kinds of crazy-named Chinese vendors on Amazon. And the part is unlikely to meet any formal AN/MS standard.

Show us what you're trying to do.

 

[Ross7A-builder]

Here's a pic of the engine-driven fuel pump with a red cap on the discharge port. I need a 6AN fitting for that port with a 90-degree turn to the red transducer, which has 1/4" NPT female threads. If I can't find a fitting from a trustworthy source, I'll move things around and work on a different configuration. Any recommendations for a trustworthy source for AN and NPT fittings? Haven't found what I need at Van's or Spruce yet.

 

[PaulvS]

Here's a pic of the engine-driven fuel pump with a red cap on the discharge port. I need a 6AN fitting for that port with a 90-degree turn to the red transducer, which has 1/4" NPT female threads. If I can't find a fitting from a trustworthy source, I'll move things around and work on a different configuration. Any recommendations for a trustworthy source for AN and NPT fittings? Haven't found what I need at Van's or Spruce yet.

The picture shows an orange hose connected to the discharge fitting, where does that hose lead to? If you need a 90 degree bend out of the fuel pump to the hose that leads to the cube then an option is to get a hose made up with an end fitting that is 90 degrees. Otherwise, here is a fitting that is 90 degrees, not sure if I would use it in that situation though!

Aeroquip Fittings For Facet Pumps | Aircraft Spruce

Aeroquip Fittings For Facet Pumps P/N 04-05800 On the recommendation of Rutan Aircraft Factory, we now stock Aeroquip #2071-6-6S fitting which is a steel elbow with a swivel nut which ...

www.aircraftspruce.com

The following picture shows the Tee fitting from Vans (per post #2).

The hose to the right leads to the pressure sensor manifold and is a -4 line. The fitting into the pump Tee is a 1/8" NPT 45 degree with a restrictor (recommended).

The other hose that leads down is -6 to the fuel flow transducer (note bolts for cube in second pic were temporary amd have been replaced with AN4 bolts and lock nuts).

The fittings all came from Vans and Spruce has them also.

 

[Walt]

This is the 'standard' fitting used on most RV's, FP is sourced off the 1/8 NPT (#4 line) port via a restrictor fitting.
The line shown should be going to the cube on the inlet side (from the pump out port).
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/lycomingfitting00783.php?clickkey=12225
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/oilfuelflow05-11908.php

 

[Richard Connell]

Here's a pic of the engine-driven fuel pump with a red cap on the discharge port. I need a 6AN fitting for that port with a 90-degree turn to the red transducer, which has 1/4" NPT female threads. If I can't find a fitting from a trustworthy source, I'll move things around and work on a different configuration. Any recommendations for a trustworthy source for AN and NPT fittings? Haven't found what I need at Van's or Spruce yet.

That sounds to me like you’re going to effectively hang the red cube off the mechanical fuel pump rigidly connected by your proposed elbow. That’s not a great plan.

I’d recommend you move the transducer further downstream and use another hose to join the pump to the red cube with standard AN fittings on each end. 90 or straight as needed.

 

[Walt]

That sounds to me like you’re going to effectively hang the red cube off the mechanical fuel pump rigidly connected by your proposed elbow. That’s not a great plan.

If that is the case, as Richard said that's a really bad plan.
Install instructions can be found in the manufacturer's install manuals (EI CGR30 for example).

 

[Ironflight]

I hate it when people bring up off-topic things from a photo, but when its safety-related….the pump “overflow fitting” on the back has a torque-striped plug on it as if it’s ready for flight. That needs to have the plug removed and an elbow and clear tube attached so that you will notice if either of the pump diaphragms spring a leak.

 

[Walt]

I hate it when people bring up off-topic things from a photo, but when its safety-related….the pump “overflow fitting” on the back has a torque-striped plug on it as if it’s ready for flight. That needs to have the plug removed and an elbow and clear tube attached so that you will notice if either of the pump diaphragms spring a leak.

If you blow up the pic it does look like the correct fitting with a tube attached.

 

[Ironflight]

If you blow up the pic it does look like the correct fitting with a tube attached.

You’re right - I was originally looking at it on my phone - when I look at it bigger, it is correct!

 

[DanH]

Here's a pic of the engine-driven fuel pump with a red cap on the discharge port.

That's an unusual fitting. Looks like a two -6 male outlets, one at 90 and one at 45. What I don't see is the locknut, washer and o-ring back there at the fuel pump port.



The fuel pump port is a 9/16-18 UNF-2B straight thread with a face machined for an O-ring. By unfortunate coincidence, an AN-6 male flare also has 9/16-18 threads, so sometimes we see a male flare screwed into a pump. Make sure your fitting looks like the this:



I think this is the port:

 

[Ross7A-builder]

The red cap on the bottom of the fuel pump covers a 6AN male fitting. The orange hoses coming out the side goes to the fuel pressure transducer. I think I know how to proceed without using questionable fittings. Thx very much to all for the good feedback!

 

[scsmith]

That sounds to me like you’re going to effectively hang the red cube off the mechanical fuel pump rigidly connected by your proposed elbow. That’s not a great plan.

I’d recommend you move the transducer further downstream and use another hose to join the pump to the red cube with standard AN fittings on each end. 90 or straight as needed.

This is important! Not only for the mechanical loads of hanging the red cube on a threaded fitting directly onto the fuel pump, which is not a good idea, but also for transducer accuracy. It is good to have a run of straight hose into and out of the transducer to make the flow more uniform. Something like 20 diameters is needed. So, for 3/8 tube, it should be about 8 inches of straight run (no elbows or even large-radius hose-end fittings). 6" probably OK in a pinch.

 

[ATC_RV8OR]

I need a specific 6AN (female) to 1/4" NPT, 90-degree bend connector between my RV-7A mechanical fuel pump and the fuel flow transducer. The only place I can find this fitting is from a company called PODAVELLE on Amazon, and I've never heard of it. Can anyone tell me anything about this company, and whether you recommend entrusting my fuel line integrity to it? If not, any alternatives?

A fitting for a fuel line from a knockoff company on Amazon? Not trying to be rude but can’t believe someone would contemplate this as an airworthy choice.

This is why I won’t buy anyone else’s E-AB.

 

[Watzlavick]

The fuel pump port is a 9/16-18 UNF-2B straight thread with a face machined for an O-ring. By unfortunate coincidence, an AN-6 male flare also has 9/16-18 threads, so sometimes we see a male flare screwed into a pump. Make sure your fitting looks like the this:

View attachment 72623

I think this is the port:

View attachment 72624

It's not unfortunate, it's by design. On aircraft (not necessarily GA), AN unions are frequently threaded into AS5202 boss ports with the proper -900 series o-ring. You just have to make sure the fitting has a large enough hex to completely cover the o-ring. A standard union meets this requirement but some adapters, elbows, etc. won't have a large enough hex. If you're using an elbow, yeah, you want the one with the washer as shown. A minor note: As the Parker handbook shows above, AS5202/MS33659 isn't strictly compatible with the SAE ports but for experimental it's fine. The AS/MS versions have UNJF rolled threads and a slightly different profile but they fit and seal fine.
-Bob

 

[Ross7A-builder]

Also, the fuel pump outlet fitting (with two discharge ports on the outlet, one to the engine and one to the fuel pressure transducer) came with the engine from Lycoming. Van's supplied a smaller hose for the transducer and a larger hose for fuel to the engine.