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Section 31 – Fuel System

I turned the fuselage onto its side using the rotisserie, making it really easy to reach the areas required to install the fuel system.

Fuel Line Brackets

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I separated the Fuel Line Brackets with the bandsaw, and trimmed them with the vertical sander.

I couldn’t use my pneumatic pop riveter for all the LP4-3’s due to the usual access issues, so resorted to the hand riveter.

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Fuel Selector Valve Faceplate

This has to be machine countersunk to fit the MS24693-C273 screws. If you want to use a cage some shimms are required due to the raised centre of the faceplate.

Selector Valve

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Andair recommends Loctite 648 to secure the elbow fittings … I gather some have been found loose on inspection in the past. Andair put a little note in the box ensuring you don’t forget to secure the screws properly.

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You can also distort a screw edge into a small dimple to prevent turning. I used a spring centre punch which seemed to work well.

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I gently supported the valve in the vice whilst squeezing the Nutplates rivets.

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You have to resist the temptation to fiddle with the selector, since it’s recommended you minimise movement when it doesn’t have any fuel in it!

Fuel Pump & Filter

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I’d recently lashed out and bought an early Christmas present … a Pressmaster Crimp Tool.

This was its first test, to crimp on the connectors to the pump leads.

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I used Loctite 567 to seal the NPT thread between the fuel filter and pump.

Firewall Elbow Fitting

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Page 31-05 fig 1 shows the Firewall Elbow clocked to 25º from the horizontal.

However, page 31-11 Fig 2 stipulates 5º from the vertical for a taildragger. Vans say use this, the previous page is a mistake.

I nipped up the TSFlightlines fuel hose onto the elbow before the Proseal set … I didn’t want the process to disturb the seal.

TSFlightline Fuel Pipes

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Having cheated and bought the TSFlightlines fuel pipe kit, it was a pleasure to skip several pages in the manual!

I torqued up the fittings as per advice in manual (75-125 inch pounds).

More chinese puzzles trying to work out how to get access with a crow’s foot …

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… see what I mean?

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All the pipework fitted perfectly and saved loads of work … I can thoroughly recommend the TSFlightLines kit.

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