Weeping Drain Valves

[Blueadventures]

2 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Hi Blueadventure,

 

How about you quote me an example(s) where I have been "always negative" - If unable to do so, the proper thing would be to post a retraction/apology.

 

As for not "beleiving this is corrcet".

I have an idea I might know of the pilot & the incident.

If memory serves the fire started in the engine bay/under cowl - not from a leaking fuel tank.

The fuel tank is located, in the Zephyr, under the pilot/passenger legs, roughly just in front of the main undercarriage.

The tank fuel drain is at the lowest point of the fuselage directly below the tank.

You can see, from the photo you posted, where the fire has had its main impact, the the engine bay (at the time of the photo).

The fuel tank area is (at the time of the photo) untouched.

There is no obvious scorching of the grass, flames or any indication of fire, in the area under/around the aircraft.

I was not a witness to the event. If you were and you stand by your statements above (despite the photo evidence) then I accept your word with some scepticism.😈

All good, even in May the one he bought off you also has a badly leaking drain valve, one in particular. He was unable to stem the leak. I said to him that if he flys a least pull the aircraft forward away from the pool of fuel, while I finished prepping mine I saw him just start up and go so if he didn’t fix the two drains he may have a repeat incident. I won’t comment any more detail about either event. Think of it how you like.

[skippydiesel]

26 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

All good, even in May the one he bought off you also has a badly leaking drain valve, one in particular. He was unable to stem the leak. I said to him that if he flys a least pull the aircraft forward away from the pool of fuel, while I finished prepping mine I saw him just start up and go so if he didn’t fix the two drains he may have a repeat incident. I won’t comment any more detail about either event. Think of it how you like.

Not "all good" - You should not cast aspersions/make derogatory statements, without strong evidence. 

 

A valid observation (evidence available) about you - in recent Forum conversations,  you have not provide evidence to back up you claims. Now you make unsupported observations of my persona. I wonder is this is a regular occurance ? - NOT GOOD!

 

Zephyr 19-3360

The fuel tank drain valves had had been rebuilt prior to the accident and were not leaking at all.

As the aircraft ended on its belly/undercarriage smashed, it's highly likly the accident and or the transport back to my place, damaged them.

 

Zephyr 19-3295

As for the photo you have provided - why don't you, take a moment,  have a good look and try & see what I see?😈

[skippydiesel]

FOLLOW UP -

 

 

Purchased new Viton "O" rings to suit.

 

Flew aircraft until wing tanks empty. Removed drain valves. Valves found to be heavily contaminated with what appeared to be paint flakes. Cleaned & replaced with OM  "O"rings . No leak/weep.

 

Investigated source of paint flakes. Seems likly that came from area around the fill point.

 

No weep or leak for the next 6 months.

 

A few days ago noticed minour fuel staining, behind left wing tank drain. Tried to flush, by repeated draining. No sign of contamination, continued to leak,. Tried the "pull down/little twist" after seated, to no benefit. Removed drain valve, caught the 6 L in the tank, in two jugs. Could see some contamination in bottom of one jug. Once again  "O" ring had some very fine particles adhering to it (nothing like the first time) This time replaced "O"ring with new. Replaced valve. Filled tank - no leak.

 

I think I made a mistake on the first  "repair"  - should have drained fuel from tank, to flush out any remaining debris.

 

I expect the right wing tank drain to give " trouble" sometime in the next few weeks.

 

Now that I have some experince with diagnosis, cleaning & repair, its not a big job. Removing/relapsing the  "O" rings is best done using a mechanics bent/hook pick and some silicon to ease the process.

 

😈

 

 

 

[Moneybox]

8 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

FOLLOW UP -

 

 

Purchased new Viton "O" rings to suit.

 

Flew aircraft until wing tanks empty. Removed drain valves. Valves found to be heavily contaminated with what appeared to be paint flakes. Cleaned & replaced with OM  "O"rings . No leak/weep.

 

Investigated source of paint flakes. Seems likly that came from area around the fill point.

 

No weep or leak for the next 6 months.

 

A few days ago noticed minour fuel staining, behind left wing tank drain. Tried to flush, by repeated draining. No sign of contamination, continued to leak,. Tried the "pull down/little twist" after seated, to no benefit. Removed drain valve, caught the 6 L in the tank, in two jugs. Could see some contamination in bottom of one jug. Once again  "O" ring had some very fine particles adhering to it (nothing like the first time) This time replaced "O"ring with new. Replaced valve. Filled tank - no leak.

 

I think I made a mistake on the first  "repair"  - should have drained fuel from tank, to flush out any remaining debris.

 

I expect the right wing tank drain to give " trouble" sometime in the next few weeks.

 

Now that I have some experince with diagnosis, cleaning & repair, its not a big job. Removing/relapsing the  "O" rings is best done using a mechanics bent/hook pick and some silicon to ease the process.

 

😈

 

 

 

If you fill from Jerry cans it might pay to take a look inside of them?

[skippydiesel]

15 minutes ago, Moneybox said:

If you fill from Jerry cans it might pay to take a look inside of them?

My "jerrys" are plastic, curtesy of Bunnings Aerospace.

 

I always use a Mr  Filter Funnel, specifically because there can be contamination at any point in the fuel supply system  (water/dust/insects/metal shards/etc).

The contamination that caused my drains valves not to seat/seal properly is almost certainly all from paint flaking around my tank fill point . No way can I guard against this (an in tank fill point filter sox would do this but can figure out a way to fit one to my filler point).

 

One good thing, there is almost no more paint around the fill point.

😈