Fuel pump pressure

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

Post Reply
Kurt Aichele
Posts: 121
Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:44 am

Fuel pump pressure

Post by Kurt Aichele »

What, if anything, regulates the fuel pump pressure on the '48 ragwing? We just replaced the fuel pump with a rebuilt from Spruce. The fuel pressure is now above the green arc.
DWood
Posts: 527
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2004 2:59 pm

Re: Fuel pump pressure

Post by DWood »

I can't think of any control for the fuel pressure except for the pump itself. The check valve only controls the direction of flow. The next time I start mine, I will verify the pressure and advise on what I am getting. I replaced my pump about 2 years ago.
Dan
User avatar
n3833v
Posts: 858
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 6:02 pm

Re: Fuel pump pressure

Post by n3833v »

If I recall, my pressure runs between 4 & 5.

John
John Hess
Past President 2018-2021
President 2016-2018, TIC170A
Vice President 2014-2016, TIC170A
Director 2005-2014, TIC170A
N3833V Flying for Fun
'67 XLH 900 Harley Sportster
EAA Chapter 390 Pres since 2006
K3KNT
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 21303
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Fuel pump pressure

Post by GAHorn »

Kurt Aichele wrote:What, if anything, regulates the fuel pump pressure on the '48 ragwing? We just replaced the fuel pump with a rebuilt from Spruce. The fuel pressure is now above the green arc.

Have you confirmed the calibration of your guage?
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
Kurt Aichele
Posts: 121
Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:44 am

Re: Fuel pump pressure

Post by Kurt Aichele »

Have not checked calibration yet. Also noticed there is a lot of needle flutter at engine idle, which I did not have with the old fuel pump.
DWood
Posts: 527
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2004 2:59 pm

Re: Fuel pump pressure

Post by DWood »

I flew mine last night and the pressure is running around 5 psi. Of course the gauge was calibrated at the factory some 60 plus years ago or replaced and not entered in the logs. The interesting thing is that the green arc on the guage is 0 to 2 psi and the red line is 5.5 or so. I can't believe 0 would be in the green arc. As far as I remember the pressure has always been around 5 PSI and the only reason I replaced the pump is that I couldn't tighten the top half anymore to stop the leaks.
Dan
Kurt Aichele
Posts: 121
Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:44 am

Re: Fuel pump pressure

Post by Kurt Aichele »

Same thing with ours. Could not stop the leak, so we replaced it.
mrpibb
Posts: 395
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 10:48 pm

Re: Fuel pump pressure

Post by mrpibb »

I run about 4 psi on mine, and the needle "flutters" at lower rpm ( mechanical diaphram pump), the perks of a 48, plus we get a extra gauge in our dashboard :) Mine was weeping a few years back, fixed by installing a new gasket kit from aero accessories, i dont know if they still have the kits, p/n is listed in the tcm SB m81-8r1. BTW my pump p/n specs out to 3.5 to 4.5 psi.
Vic
N2609V
48 Ragwing
A Lanber 2097 12 gauge O/U Sporting
A happy go lucky Ruger Red label 20 ga
12N Aeroflex
Andover NJ
http://www.sandhillaviation.com
Image

" Air is free untill you have to move it" BB.
Kurt Aichele
Posts: 121
Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:44 am

Re: Fuel pump pressure

Post by Kurt Aichele »

Finally got back up in the air yesterday. Checked the fuel pressure gauge. Flutters between 3 and 6 psi at idle and between 4 and 6 psi at 2450 rpm with the new fuel pump. Seemed like the old fuel pump held a steady pressure at cruise power and fluttered at idle. Is this normal? Also, could this damage the gauge in the long run?
Post Reply
Cessna® is a registered trademark of Textron Aviation, Inc. The International Cessna® 170 Association is an independent owners/operators association dedicated to C170 aircraft and early O-300-powered C172s. We are not affiliated with Cessna® or Textron Aviation, Inc. in any way.