I bought a RV-9A built in 2003. (I'd love to build but don't have the time.) It is a great plane but has some squawks I'd like to fix. One squawk is that the gascolator drain is not extended below the cowling. It has been that way since it was built and means the drain only gets used at annuals! The previous owner said it was never a problem as there are drains on both wing roots.
The gascolator is mounted on the lower right firewall and if it was extended straight down it would have to pass thru the hinge material. It seems I need to bring it away from the firewall with a pair of 90 degree fittings and then down to exit forward of the hinge material. I'm concerned that the steel plumbing pipe necessary to do this will be unsupported and will vibrate in flight creating a possible problem. The drop needed is about 4 to 5 inches to exit the lower cowling. The alternative is to just bring it out past the hinge with two 90 degree fittings and reinstall the drain. Then I would make a hole in the cowling large enough to insert a fuel tester and attempt to hit the drain with the tester probe.
Thoughts? Thanks
The gascolator is mounted on the lower right firewall and if it was extended straight down it would have to pass thru the hinge material. It seems I need to bring it away from the firewall with a pair of 90 degree fittings and then down to exit forward of the hinge material. I'm concerned that the steel plumbing pipe necessary to do this will be unsupported and will vibrate in flight creating a possible problem. The drop needed is about 4 to 5 inches to exit the lower cowling. The alternative is to just bring it out past the hinge with two 90 degree fittings and reinstall the drain. Then I would make a hole in the cowling large enough to insert a fuel tester and attempt to hit the drain with the tester probe.
Thoughts? Thanks
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