Fuel Gauge

[lamarglobe]

Trying to make the home made fuel gauge. Cannot get the An838-4d in the hose/ tube. Even if I try with just hose I have to basically screw it in. It looks as though the hose might be too thick but a micrometer confirms correct inside and outside diameter with called out wall thickness. I used plenty of Vaseline. Univair balls flows freely testing diameter of hose. Has anyone else had issues? Suggestions? Thanks

[Rollie]

I made mine that way, didn't have much trouble putting it together, but within about 6 months of having fuel in the tanks one of the sight gauges started leaking, the metal tubing wasn't enough of a clamp. I ended up draining the tank and using a new piece of clear tubing with hose clamps and leaving off the metal tubing. Works fine and looks fine, other than the fact that I only did the one that was leaking so the two don't match.

[svyolo]

You could try heating the clear tubing up with hot water. It should soften, and expand.

[Oriwha]

Try putting the clear hose on the skinny end of the fitting. Threaded end is for attaching to the tank fittings.

[svyolo]

I should have looked at the picture first.

[Archer39J]

That's a bulkhead fitting. As Oriwha said the tubing goes on the beaded end.

Photo from: http://www.foxflier.com/bearhawk/2009/Mar09/index.htm

[schu]

As for that thing leaking, a few ideas come to mind:


Notching the back so that you can slip one of these in there:

https://www.amazon.com/Glarks-7-21mm-Stainless-Stepless-Pincers/dp/B073B32XLP

Cutting a few slits into the aluminum tube then using a clamp like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Origin8-Pro-Fit-Seat-Clamp-Annodized/dp/B002MKBYKQ

[lamarglobe]

Thanks for the picture. The issue is that when I put the barbed end, not threaded in the hose which is 5/16 inside diameter, the fitting, An838-4d is 1/4 inch. So, 1/16 too small. I have rechecked the dimensions of the hose and tube with digital micrometer. I ordered the tube and fittings from spruce, my receipts show what is called out. I have had two other sets of eyeballs on this. I know it is something pretty simple.

[keefer66]

like Svyolo suggested using hot water warm end of tubing to make it more pliable

[Bcone1381]

Are you making the fuel sight gages that Pete Stevens submitted to Beartracks in 2007, Q3?

[S Lathrop]

I looked on the Spruce catalogue and the fitting you have is for a 1/4 tube. Spruce does show clear tubing with a 1/4 ID. but what you have is tubing that is 5/16 ID. I would check with Spruce and see what the issue might be.

[lamarglobe]

Yes on Stevens Gauge. The issue with 1/4 tubing is the sight gauge ball (univair) would get stuck. If anyone had a 5/16 hose part number that works, I would appreciate it. I did find this fitting from the Parker store which is a -4 and supposed to be rated to 600 psi at the barbed end. I could then use an an832-4d bulkhead fitting. It is just driving me a little mad that the original formula works for other folks, I have all parts but something simple is a miss. It has been educational though. Any continued suggestions are much appreciated.

[svyolo]

Clear tubing is not all the same. A lot of the cheaper stuff is distorted in shape as it comes off the roll. Yeah, you can get a 1/4" nipple on it, but a lightweight plastic ball might "get stuck" as the shape is not circular in places.

I have the material for the sight gauge but haven't made it yet. I bought some of the specified clear tubing, "Superthane". It looks pretty round. I will give it a try soon.

[lamarglobe]

Thanks, got the hose from a local rubber company. It is super thane. The hose is 5/16 ID and 7/16 OD. The manufacturer is the same that Attlee Dodge uses for their fuel gauge which uses 1/4 ID and at least 1/2 OD does not have a univair ball. This hose would allow the ball to move freely and hose would not fit in the tube. Thanks

[whee]

I can't help with you assembly question but here is a thought. I planned to use this same method for my site gauges but while preparing to assemble them I didn't like how I wouldn't know when the tanks were actually empty because the fuel level would be down inside the elbow fitting. I did some looking as elected to do similar as CubCrafters (pic of a CubCrafters plane):

Piper_Cub_Fuel_Gauge_2.jpg

I used the Univair ball and the hose I had already purchased and made mine look similar to this. The 5/16" tube is simply hose clamped to the 1/4" aluminum tubes that come from the tanks. When leak checking the system I determined that there would be at least 3 gallons still in the tank when the Stevens gauge no longer has fuel visible in it.