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Inverted fuel pickup

Pick up

That's a standard pick up. The flop tube looks like a foot long piece of braided line with a heavy fitting on one end and standard AN fitting on the other.
 
IF-4/6 from Vans. Made from 701 Aeroquip hose which has a synthetic "rubber" liner. Whether ethanol affects it is still unknown for sure. NOTE---I tried repeatedly to duplicate this in teflon, but since teflon is stiffer, and has a memory (unlike me), it didnt perform as intended. Kahuna tested it for me --numerous times :eek:--. Great idea because its ethanol inert, but just wouldnt flop like it should. ( there was a Viagra joke there that cant be told here).
Some guys have tried Tygon, which should be ok. I tried some convoluted teflon without the stainless braid, like the fuel cell pickups on Indy cars, but was still too stiff.
I put that project on the back burner----for now--but have another idea.
Tom
 
TS Flightlines said:
IF-4/6 from Vans. Made from 701 Aeroquip hose which has a synthetic "rubber" liner. Whether ethanol affects it is still unknown for sure. NOTE---I tried repeatedly to duplicate this in teflon, but since teflon is stiffer, and has a memory (unlike me), it didnt perform as intended. Kahuna tested it for me --numerous times :eek:--. Great idea because its ethanol inert, but just wouldnt flop like it should. ( there was a Viagra joke there that cant be told here).
Some guys have tried Tygon, which should be ok. I tried some convoluted teflon without the stainless braid, like the fuel cell pickups on Indy cars, but was still too stiff.
I put that project on the back burner----for now--but have another idea.
Tom
Click to expand...
Tom, I'm busy deciding whether to fit flop tubes. I've actually finished the making of the parts and am ready for prose and rivets, but wondered about this option before closing it up. I'm planning to do gentle aeros and a bit of training. Did you fit them in yours?
What options are available that you know, outside the standard RV-7 Part IF-4/6 from Vans? Would I need to buy new ribs on the inboard to close the hole or just fabricate an inspection cover there?
 
John----I played with this for several months with Kahuna of Team AeroDynamix.
Teflon hose, even just the teflon liner, is stiffer than rubber, and has a memory. It just want to "flop" like a rubber hose. My intent was to have a tube that was impervious to all fuels including those with ethanol, so once the tanks were closed up, you could forget about it.
We even tried some convoluted teflon liner material like that used in fuel cells for Indy cars. Difference is they dont go inverted, at least not intentionally. I played with a live swivel fitting at the end plate, but wasnt happy with the stem sealing inside the tank. We certainly didnt want an issue there.
So----at this time, the Vans 701 hose is the solution right now.
Tom
 
Ribs

Miraclechap said:
Would I need to buy new ribs on the inboard to close the hole or just fabricate an inspection cover there?
Click to expand...

To answer the other question, Vans sells an inspection plate for that. It has no hole. I can look up the number if you need it.
 
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