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Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

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bjudge(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 5:42 am Post subject: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

Greetings,Has anyone on the list overhauled a vans standard fuel selector valve? 

If you have I've got a few questions:

How empty do the fuel tanks have to be?

Is EZ-Turn Fuel lube the right stuff to use?

  Any gotcha's I should worry about?

Thanks,

Bill Judge

N84WJ, RV-8, 732 hrs

http://rv-8.blogspot.com/   



  [quote][b]

JohnF

Joined: 13 May 2010
Posts: 124

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:16 am Post subject: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

Bill, I had, but sold, an RV6A that once had a  standard Van's fuel selector - the brass one - I had replaced it with a fancier  one and still have the original laying on a shelf in the hangar...its yours for  the cost of mailing it to you if you want it.

  

 John at Salida, CO

 n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us 

 [quote] 	  Quote: 	
		  



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[b]

Kellym

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1705
Location: Sun Lakes AZ

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:00 am Post subject: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

Well, I had a certified valve on a Cessna that went 40 years before it 

needed service, and only took new o-rings to fix. I have a 47 year old 

valve with over 6000 hours on a Mooney that hasn't needed service yet. 

So yes, there is a difference in quality between what Van's supplies and 

real quality.

Kelly

RV-10 with Andair, "finishing"



On 4/17/2012 4:06 AM, Bill Judge wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   J

 I'm always amazed how everyone uses the really expensive and much 

 harder to install Andair valve when the standard Vans one works just 

 fine...  Well, mine is a little stiff after more than 5 years and 730 

 hrs...



 Bill

 ****


	




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_________________
Kelly McMullen
A&P/IA, EAA Tech Counselor # 5286
KCHD

denis.walsh(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:27 am Post subject: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

I removed my (standard Van's) fuel valve a year or so ago and replaced it.  It was leaking around the stem a bit after 14 years of hard service.  I felt it was entitled to be replaced.



After I went to all that aggravation and toil, with good success, I did an autopsy on the old valve, and learned I could have easily just removed the guts without taking out the whole thing.  I can't remember for sure but there is probably an o ring on that stem, and some lube would have fixed it.

HOWEVER.  I do recall that there was a previous version of this valve which had a brass innerd instead of the present nylon one.  That thing had a tendency to jamb after a few years and scared the crap out of a few people when they were unable to switch tanks in flight.

SO  when you remove it, check to see if it is brass or nylon.  The nylon ones still get a little  stiff but don't jam like the old ones.  I would consider changing it if it is the old brass type.

Lastly:  If you don't fly very often, I would make a check list item to make sure you switch tanks before take off to insure it is not jammed!



 Denis Walsh

denis.walsh(at)comcast.net (denis.walsh(at)comcast.net)

 

 

On Apr 17, 2012, at 5:06 , Bill Judge wrote:

[quote]John,

Thanks for the offer! I can re lube the selector with out having to remove it so I'll just do that. Half of what I'm trying to avoid is removing the valve because it's in such an awkward spot to work on. I'll just remove the gland nut and re lube and put it back in.

  



Vans reports that EZ turn is the lube to use.

Still, I guess I'll just slide the valve stem out a bit and see if my tanks are empty enough.

I'm always amazed how everyone uses the really expensive and much harder to install Andair valve when the standard Vans one works just fine...  Well, mine is a little stiff after more than 5 years and 730 hrs...

  



Bill

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 Time: 09:16:05 AM PST US

 From: "John Fasching" <n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us (n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us)>

 Subject: Re: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

 

 Bill, I had, but sold, an RV6A that once had a standard Van's fuel

 selector - the brass one - I had replaced it with a fancier one and

 still have the original laying on a shelf in the hangar...its yours for

 the cost of mailing it to you if you want it.

 

 John at Salida, CO

 n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us (n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us)

 

	
Greetings,Has anyone on the list overhauled a vans standard fuel selector valve? 

If you have I've got a few questions:

  How empty do the fuel tanks have to be?

Is EZ-Turn Fuel lube the right stuff to use?

Any gotcha's I should worry about?

Thanks,



  

Bill JudgeN84WJ, RV-8, 732 hrshttp://rv-8.blogspot.com/  



   	  Quote: 	
		  



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[b]

BGray(at)glasair.org
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:48 am Post subject: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

Please, do not switch tanks just before take-off. If there is any problem with feeding fuel from the new selected tank, you’ll discover it about 50 above the runway.  

     

Bruce

 WWW.Glasair.org   

  

--

robin(at)PaintTheWeb.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:13 am Post subject: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

I had a vans valve on my 6A and was tired of fuel on my hands. I eventually swapped it out for an Andair valve. Wow what a difference. I have had 3 RVs since then all with Andair valves. The top reasons for pilot deaths is WX and Fuel issues. Now granted  most likely fuel management not fuel valve but I figure anything one can do to upgrade the fuel system is $ well spent.

 

 

 Robin

 

 Sent from the new iPad

 

 On Apr 17, 2012, at 9:04 AM, "Bruce" <BGray(at)glasair.org (BGray(at)glasair.org)> wrote:

 

 

 

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Please, do not switch tanks just before take-off. If there is any problem with feeding fuel from the new selected tank, you’ll discover  it about 50 above the runway. 

   

Bruce

 WWW.Glasair.org  

 

--

davemader(at)bresnan.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:32 am Post subject: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

I do know Vans changed his standard valve a few years ago.  My first valve

from Vans went on my first RV6 in the '90s caused lots of problems, his

later valve I installed on my last RV6 in 2005 has worked well.



--

ceengland(at)bellsouth.ne
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:19 am Post subject: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

Hi Bill, 

     

     If mounting position is similar to the -4, you'll probably be ok at     a little under 1/2 tanks. The -8 has longer tanks, so you'll     probably need to go a little under 1/2 (which worked on my -4).

     

     If you have a gascolator, & it's lower than your selector valve,     just do your draining from there, with a loose fitting near the     valve to break any siphon effects.

     

     Charlie

     

     On 04/17/2012 06:06 AM, Bill Judge wrote:     [quote]                John,

         Thanks for the offer! I can re lube the selector with out           having to remove it so I'll just do that. Half of what I'm           trying to avoid is removing the valve because it's in such an           awkward spot to work on. I'll just remove the gland nut and re           lube and put it back in.

         

         

         Vans reports that EZ turn is the lube to use.

         

         

         Still, I guess I'll just slide the valve stem out a bit and           see if my tanks are empty enough.

         

         

         I'm always amazed how everyone uses the really expensive           and much harder to install Andair valve when the standard Vans           one works just fine...  Well, mine is a little stiff after           more than 5 years and 730 hrs...

         

         

         Bill

         

         

         

         

         

         

          	  Quote: 	
		  

           Time: 09:16:05 AM PST US

           From: "John Fasching" <n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us (n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us)>

           Subject: Re: Vans standard fuel selector valve           overhaul

           

           Bill, I had, but sold, an RV6A that once had a standard Van's           fuel

           selector - the brass one - I had replaced it with a fancier           one and

           still have the original laying on a shelf in the hangar...its           yours for

           the cost of mailing it to you if you want it.

           

           John at Salida, CO

           n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us (n29cx(at)ridgeviewtel.us)

           

         	
         Greetings,         Has anyone on the list overhauled a vans standard           fuel selector valve? 

         

         

         If you have I've got a few questions:

                    How empty do the fuel tanks have to be?

         Is EZ-Turn Fuel lube the right stuff to use?

         Any gotcha's I should worry about?

         

         

         Thanks,

         

         

         Bill Judge         N84WJ, RV-8, 732 hrs         http://rv-8.blogspot.com/  

       

       

     [b]

ceengland(at)bellsouth.ne
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:23 am Post subject: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

And if you had a turbine on either a/c, you wouldn't have had to 

overhaul the engine 6 or 8 times, either. Doesn't mean that it would be 

a good value on the plane, though.

Charlie

On 04/17/2012 07:59 AM, Kelly McMullen wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 Well, I had a certified valve on a Cessna that went 40 years before it 

 needed service, and only took new o-rings to fix. I have a 47 year old 

 valve with over 6000 hours on a Mooney that hasn't needed service yet. 

 So yes, there is a difference in quality between what Van's supplies 

 and real quality.

 Kelly

 RV-10 with Andair, "finishing"

 On 4/17/2012 4:06 AM, Bill Judge wrote:

> J

> I'm always amazed how everyone uses the really expensive and much 

> harder to install Andair valve when the standard Vans one works just 

> fine...  Well, mine is a little stiff after more than 5 years and 730 

> hrs...

>

> Bill

> ****

Kellym

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1705
Location: Sun Lakes AZ

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:54 pm Post subject: Vans standard fuel selector valve overhaul

In 6000+ hours my Mooney has had approx 1 overhaul per decade, including 

one for gear up landing. As in 4 total over 47 years. Lycoming publishes 

12 yrs or 2000 hours to TBO. That is what mine has averaged and as 

expected. Fuel valves don't see anywhere near that kind of action, and 

shouldn't need more than O-ring replacement once every 10-20 years.

What price do you put on the quality of your fuel valve when you have a 

couple gallons in one tank and 20-30 in the other tank not selected with 

no airport within 100nm?



On 4/17/2012 12:23 PM, Charlie England wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 And if you had a turbine on either a/c, you wouldn't have had to 

 overhaul the engine 6 or 8 times, either. Doesn't mean that it would 

 be a good value on the plane, though.



 Charlie


	




-----

No virus found in this message.

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

_________________
Kelly McMullen
A&P/IA, EAA Tech Counselor # 5286
KCHD

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