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Message-ID: <483383E6.3030801@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 22:07:34 -0400
From: John Slade <sladerj@sbcglobal.net>
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To: Christopher Barber <CBarber@TexasAttorney.net>
CC: COZY Mailing List <cozy_builders@mailman.qth.net>, 
 FlyRotary aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>,
 Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector@tvbf.org>
Subject: Re: COZY: Site gage tube tore like wet cardboard, YIKES
References: <1FFC7F3D02824E358E1AE14D3935D4E6@ChristopherNB>
In-Reply-To: <1FFC7F3D02824E358E1AE14D3935D4E6@ChristopherNB>
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 >I must have completely missed earlier discussion on this problem.
Yep. After a couple of years of autogas in my tanks I had an interesting 
problem that led to the same discovery -
During pre-flight I noted that the right tank fuel level was 3/4 full 
when I checked the sight gauge. I always remove the fuel caps and look 
in the tank. When I looked in the right tank I couldn't see any gas. 
Using a flashlight I saw that there was about an inch of fuel in the 
tank - but the sight gauge was still 3/4 full of fuel - and they say you 
can trust a sight gauge because you're actually looking at the fuel! 
Don't believe it.

The bottom hole in the white plastic had swollen and become blocked, so 
the fuel couldn't exit the gauge. When I removed the gauge I found that 
the white backing was very soft, but in my case the clear plastic part 
of the gauge was unaffected. I replaced both gauges with new ones from 
Vance, and added his new metal inserts to stop the holes getting 
blocked. That was last year. I regularly tap the plastic to be sure its 
still hard. No repeat problems yet.

If someone comes up with a totally fuel resistant replacement I'd love 
to have a pair, but in the meantime these seem to be holding up, and it 
only took a couple of hours to change each one. Those yet to install 
gauges you've had on the shelf for a while - I suggest that you order 
the little metal inserts from Vance - they could save you making 
decisions based on an incorrect fuel reading. Those flying without the 
inserts - adding a visual fuel level check with the cap off to your 
preflight wouldn't hurt.

My 2c
John Slade
Turbo Rotary, N96PM
96hrs.