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CH640 fuel tank floats

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jstruhar

Joined: 05 Mar 2012
Posts: 5

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 3:16 pm Post subject: CH640 fuel tank floats

Trying to source fuel tank floats for my CH640. I don't see a part number or any other information in any plans, IPLs, or line drawings. Might be part of the fuel kit, which I don't have, but they don't appear in the line drawing for the kit. 

  --

 John Struhar

 media(at)spotlightx2.com (media(at)spotlightx2.com)  [quote][b]

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_________________
John Struhar
CH640 s/n 0022

Scott Stewart

Joined: 29 Jul 2008
Posts: 30
Location: Windsor, California

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: CH640 fuel tank floats

Hi John,



Are you trying to replace the floats in an existing 640?  If so, could you pull out the floats and post pictures?  There are so many different manufacturers and types, it's hard to tell what you need.  Plus, the senders need to be matched with the gauges you are using.



If your senders match those shown in the http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?t=48666 showing the Zenith fuel kit, the senders appear to be from Datcon sold by Aircraft Spruce under part number 05-16710 (just the float ball is a little different).



I hope this helps.

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Scott Stewart
CH-640 built from plans
Flying since August 2014

jstruhar

Joined: 05 Mar 2012
Posts: 5

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 6:08 am Post subject: Re: CH640 fuel tank floats

Thanks, Scott. These photos are exactly what I was looking for. I have browsed all of the past posts here but somehow missed this one. I wasn't sure that theses floats came with the fuel system kit since they didn't appear in any drawings or instructions. I expect the kit comes with instructions for customizing the float installation, I would like to lay eyes on them if anyone has them. I intend to install TFE hose or aluminum tubing fuel lines since I expect to burn varying blends of ethanol, possibly with return lines for fuel injection to avoid having to install a header tank. This would require a dual-port selector valve as well, meaning I would have to replace many of the kit components, steering me away from buying the Zenair kit. The floats are the only components I need to be able to close up the wings. 

Thanks again, 

John

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pilot4pay

Joined: 01 Jan 2007
Posts: 171
Location: Louisville, KY

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 4:40 am Post subject: Re: CH640 fuel tank floats

John, have you considered the skysports capacitive probe?

No moving parts.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/skysportfuelsys.php



Craig Smith

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_________________
Craig Smith
CH640 builder
SN: 0078

"Just think how stupid the average person is,
and then realize that half of them are even stupider!"
--George Carlin

jstruhar

Joined: 05 Mar 2012
Posts: 5

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 5:06 am Post subject: Re: CH640 fuel tank floats

Craig,

I did consider capacitive probes, but my intentions of burning ethanol blends would require that they be re-calibrated frequently.

Thanks,

John

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steveadams

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 191

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:30 am Post subject: Re: CH640 fuel tank floats

The senders I installed were the same as pictured. There is little guidance in how to install the senders provided in the drawings. I have enclosed photos of how I bent the float to measure fuel level at the most inboard portion of the tank. If you have the float straight into the tank, it will read empty when there are still a fair amount of fuel left due to the dihedral of the wing. It's a bit of a battle getting it in the tank (don't cut yourself), and I had to file the opening a bit to be able to get it in and out. You do not use the backing plate supplied with the sender, just tap the holes directly in the side of the tank. Also, make sure the set screw is good and tight, and use some locktite on it so the float won't twist. They have functioned well this way for 7+ years. I also installed aluminum fuel lines instead of the supplied hoses so they would not have a short service life and have to be changed out every 5-7 years.



Steve

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pilot4pay

Joined: 01 Jan 2007
Posts: 171
Location: Louisville, KY

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: CH640 fuel tank floats

Steve, did you buy your tanks or build them, and what was the skin thickness? The plans call for .025, but I have seen .032 on pictures of factory tanks, and when I asked Zenair, they said they make them out of .025. Don't know why they would say one thing and do another.

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_________________
Craig Smith
CH640 builder
SN: 0078

"Just think how stupid the average person is,
and then realize that half of them are even stupider!"
--George Carlin

jstruhar

Joined: 05 Mar 2012
Posts: 5

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: CH640 fuel tank floats

Craig, 

Fwiw, the tanks that came with the wings I acquired are extended range factory tanks. They are 0.025" 6061-T6. I don't see much advantage in making them 0.032".

John

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steveadams

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 191

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:04 am Post subject: Re: CH640 fuel tank floats

My tanks were factory built extended range tanks. To be honest, I never checked the thickness of the tanks and there were no markings on the sheet that I remember. I assume they were .025 per the drawings.



Steve

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