Pilot Side Fuel Line

On studying the effort of the previous week Allen thought, and I agreed, that the 90 degree fitting on the seat channel put the fuel line too close and it would be better to use a straight bulkhead fitting and put a 90 degree swivel on the line. Unfortunately I only had two straight fittings so this meant we would only be able to do one side on this day. It also meant I would become Summit Racing’s favourite customer again (at least until I send in my big bag of returns).

I had the panel pieces back from the powder coaters and the first thing we noticed is that the console sides wouldn’t fit too well anymore so I had to file down the edges to get it to fit. With the valve in place and the adaptor fittings installed we could hook up the fuel line at the valve, locate and drill the hole in whatever the proper name is for that metal piece and install the line.

IMAG0441

This picture makes it look like the line is quite a way out from the console and could be in the pilot’s way, or in danger of being stepped on. I didn’t think that from seeing it in person but it might be that we need a clamp to pull it away a bit. Anyway, from there this ran out the back through the previously drilled hole, with a 90 degree fitting on the end.

Pilot side fuel line

After this we spent some time deciding how to assemble a sump behind the channel (well more accurately getting in there to fit it). In an ideal world the baggage area wouldn’t be riveted in so I may have to take a lot of those rivets out so we can get underneath, or Allen says he thinks he has a way around it. We shall see next weekend.

We also worked out a route for the fuel line out of the valve and into the gascolator. Before all is done, we need to make a spacer of some kind to stop the line from chafing on that metal angle behind the pedals. Thanks to the twist in the swivels it won’t actually move much but better safe than sorry.

Fuel Valve to Gascolator Line

That was it for fuel line work but we spent a little time investigating the engine management ports (oil pressure/temp etc). I can see where these are on the engine but in general I have no idea how wires connect to them. Some research suggested that all the connectors come with the engine (“just add copper!”) and so in a box that I had already decided I didn’t understand its contents I found this

Bag of pieces I know not what to do with

In there is definitely one of the connectors for the oil watching but as for the other stuff I have no idea. I’ve reached out to a couple of Rotax owners I know for pictures to help me out.

I’ve downloaded all my avionics/electronics manuals to the iPad for off line reading (all except the flaperon motor which I cannot find) and I hope that by the 8th or 9th pass it might start to make sense. Wiring is going to be a big project.

Lastly, here’s a pciture of the powder coated panel pieces. I won’t install those back in the plane until we are finished with fuel lines and brake lines (and anything else we need to do back there – such as installing the RDAC unit and holes through the firewall for cables).

Powder coated panel parts

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