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uuccio(at)gmail.com
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 Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 10:15 pm Post subject: header tank does not stay full |
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Hi Kitfoxers,
I’ve completed a dozen or so short (1hr) flights since rebuilding the second hand kitfox I bought, but I’m having issues with the fuel system. Specifically, my header tank fuel level (I’ve installed a sensor to monitor its level) occasionally drops. The lowest I’ve seen it drop so far is to 50% of full (after which I decided to land). A couple of other times, it dropped to 75% and then filled again. I think this might be happening when the wing tanks are less than full, but my impression is that they were by no means empty.
Is this normal? Is there anyway I can stop this from happening? It sure doesn’t feel comfortable to fly in this way.
My header tank is 3.5 gals (13 litres) and is located behind the seat. I have two wing tanks which feed into the header tank. All my fuel lines are flexible. I’ve been keeping the header tank breather valve closed. The wing tanks each have a breather tube on the tank cap which faces into the wind.
Any suggestions as to how to improve things would be greatly appreciated!
Sacha
[quote][b]
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mikeperkins
Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 123
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 5:53 am Post subject: Re: header tank does not stay full |
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The breather line is really a vent line, and should be run to a fitting located near the top of either wing tank.
What you have going on is essentially a big, growing "bubble" in the top of the header tank that enlarges each time your wing tanks unport. The bubble will only get larger unless the vent line is open so the accumulated air can leave. Naturally if the vent were just open to the air, fuel would pour out of it once the tank was full. So the vent line is normally run a fitting on top of a wing tank. And it can be left open all the time - there's no reason to close it off when it's run that way.
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_________________
Mike Perkins
Havana, Illinois
Model I, 532, B gearbox, GSC prop |
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mikelaundy(at)yahoo.co.uk
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 7:37 am Post subject: header tank does not stay full |
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Sacha,
I leave the vent valve open all the time on my Mk 3 Kitfox. The vent line from the top of the header tank is clear plastic and fills with fuel to the wing tank level, Since it vents into my starboard tank that is not a problem, and it of course gives me a visual confirmation that my header tank is full. I have never used the facility to close off the vent to the header tank in flight.
Mike
Kitfox 3
Rotax 582
Cornwall, UK
[quote] From: Sacha <uuccio(at)gmail.com>
To: Kitfox List <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>
Sent: Thursday, 19 September 2013, 7:12
Subject: header tank does not stay full
Hi Kitfoxers,
I’ve completed a dozen or so short (1hr) flights since rebuilding the second hand kitfox I bought, but I’m having issues with the fuel system. Specifically, my header tank fuel level (I’ve installed a sensor to monitor its level) occasionally drops. The lowest I’ve seen it drop so far is to 50% of full (after which I decided to land). A couple of other times, it dropped to 75% and then filled again. I think this might be happening when the wing tanks are less than full, but my impression is that they were by no means empty.
Is this normal? Is there anyway I can stop this from happening? It sure doesn’t feel comfortable to fly in this way.
My header tank is 3.5 gals (13 litres) and is located behind the seat. I have two wing tanks which feed into the header tank. All my fuel lines are flexible. I’ve been keeping the header tank breather valve closed. The wing tanks each have a breather tube on the tank cap which faces into the wind.
Any suggestions as to how to improve things would be greatly appreciated!
Sacha
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