what's your reasoning on fuel and oil?
Colyn,
1. Experience. Another airplane with aviation grade non-teflon
lines that hardened and cracked with age. Especially a fuel line
that sprung a leak on the ground with the cowl off.
2. Manufacturers usually recommend that old style aviation grade
lines be replaced every 5 years. An onerous and expensive burden.
3. My SS braided teflon lines are over 10 years in use with no signs of
deterioration.
4. Fuel/oil leaks can lead to fire. An undesirable consequence
of lines that may leak.
5. Auto racing folk seem to like them and Earl's has a fine stock of
lines and fittings.
You might ask, "Surely there must be some drawbacks?" I would
reply, "Yep."
1. Weight. These line tend to be heavier than the old fashioned
ones. Also, every flex fluid line firewall forward is fire
shielded.
2. Cost. The lines and fittings are more costly. At least hey
were when I built my airplane.
3. The lines do not like to suffer a twist when installed and they can
(will) take a set.
4. The SS braid should be treated as though you were installing
a saw along its length. It is not likely to become abraded but, under
vibration, it can chew its way thru almost anything if it is not supported
properly.
Fluid lines have certainly been interesting to me. If I were
building my Lancair 320 today, I would probably install SS/teflon brake lines
along with Grove wheels and brakes. I also used (and I am still
using) the hydraulic flex lines supplied by Lancair in 1989 but I would
consider others today. Finally, the Tygon lines originally supplied for
fuel runs did not seem substantial enough for me so I replaced them, as I was
building, with SS/teflon. Also, those old Tygon lines were not good for
fuel as they hardened over time. Today, Tygon lines are available
especially made for carrying fuel, but I still would use SS/teflon.
Scott
Krueger AKA Grayhawk
Lancair N92EX IO320 SB 89/96
Aurora, IL
(KARR)
A man has got to know his
limitations.