Fuel Leak

[doug8082a]

Somewhere in that sequence there must be at least ONE spot for a beer ?

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Somewhere in that sequence there must be at least ONE spot for a beer ?

That one got cut of the end right after the log book entries and signatures.

[flat country pilot]

Luck was on my side.

From a tip through a pm I took a second look at the pump on my bulk fuel trailer. It is a GPI gear driven positive displacement pump, not a vane type pump. Switched the leads on the battery, removed the end nozzle and the pump gos backwards.

I grounded the plane to the hangar and the fuel trailer to the plane. Stuck the hose into the fuel tanks and sucked them almost dry. The fuel hose is a little big and clumbsy for getting all the fuel out, but it is static guarded.

Found two old steel 5 gallon oil cans and a metal funnel. Pulled the plug from the bottom of the fuel selector valve and drained about 9 more gallons. This 100LL will make an old farm truck run real good.

Lifted the tail of the plane off the floor about 30" and drained a few cups of fuel out of the belly. An hour later when everything was dry and the fumes cleared the hangar, the bomb was finally gone. Cold beer time.

Next time I will try to catch the leak when it is only a drip.

My mechanic had the o-rings on hand and rebuilt the valve yesterday. Depending on how much my phone rings when the sun comes up, I might install it today.

Once the fuel is out and the plane is dry, its not a bad job. EXCEPT for those two little fine threaded bolts with self locking nuts that hold the valve to the airframe and connot be reached by anyone but a mouse. What a pain.

Due to structural issues I understand there cannot be an inspecton port under the valve for access. But did Cessna have to put the valve there? One inch forward would make the job alot easier.

Bill

[flat country pilot]

Cold beer time.

Actually, when we (job is much easier with two) did this it was about 2 degrees outside with a 30 to 40 mph wind and the hangar doors partially open for ventilation. A hot toddy would have been a better choice.

Bill

[DaveF]

EXCEPT for those two little fine threaded bolts with self locking nuts that hold the valve to the airframe and connot be reached by anyone but a mouse. What a pain.

A small piece of .020" aluminum and couple of floating nutplates would make the next removal and reinstallation a lot easier.

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