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Here's the upshot on these two
problems: both builder (yours truly) error.
The Vacuum failure - As a couple of
people suggested, we checked the pump function directly, it was sucking and
blowing. Hmmm. Squeal was still there, no vacuum in the system
according to the gage and the gyro, although the gyro did move
slightly. Looking at the regulator under the header tank we say one
port open, the other having the usual hose attached. Hmmm.
Then it hit me later. I bet that mysterious little blue cap I found by the
rudder pedals must have been capping that open port on the regulator. I
was working up there during the annual. That certainly explains the
symptoms and when plugged back in, everything worked fine. Note to
self: that cap and its brother on the vacuum filter port #2 can pop off
easily when the engine is not running. Find a more positive attachment
method.
The Fuel pump problem - Yes, I put
the new pump in backwards. When I unpacked the new pump it looked just
like mine and so I installed it that way. I had not noticed the cast in
words 'in' and 'out' above each port until later when I looked at the old pump,
which just reinforced my belief that I put the new one in correctly.
I used the bypass port as reference and failed to notice that it was
switchable to the opposite side by moving the plug. I did notice that the
decals seemed reversed on the pump body, but thought nothing of it. I'll
pay for my mistake with having to remove the canopy and header tank again to get
at the pump.
Lessons: Whenever you have a
wrench or screwdriver in your hand, think about what you're doing. Also,
at the smallest puzzling thing (occurred in both instances above) stop and think
it through. Finally, in case that's not enough, after changes, such as an
annual, test on the ground and in the air in safe conditions such as good day
VFR.
Regards,
Ed de
Chazal
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