Aluminum fuel tank

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Re: Aluminum fuel tank

Postby garyb » Fri May 29, 2015 10:18 am

SonexN76ET wrote:If you are installing a Rotax 912S, I believe you will need a port on your tank for a fuel return line. I used to fly a light sport plane with a Rotax 912S and we had to always start and use up half of the left tank before we switched to the right tank because the fuel return line went to the left tank and would cause it to overflow otherwise.

I am currently installing a Rotec TBI with a Facet fuel pump and had to plumb a new port into my fuel tank for a fuel return line.

Thanks,

Jake

I have been thinking about that, where did you fit the port for the return.
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Re: Aluminum fuel tank

Postby SonexN76ET » Fri May 29, 2015 2:29 pm

I put my fuel return port on the filler neck opposite the fitting for the fuel vent. I used an Oops fitting added there.

I put the fuel pump in as a boost pump mainly as a precaution against vapor lock on very hot days.

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Re: Aluminum fuel tank

Postby garyb » Fri Apr 01, 2016 11:20 pm

Image
I have welded a boss in for the return line.
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Re: Aluminum fuel tank

Postby DCASonex » Sat Apr 02, 2016 7:04 am

A true scratch builder. Looks great.

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Re: Aluminum fuel tank

Postby onex28 » Sat Apr 02, 2016 6:12 pm

On my 912 with two wing tanks (low wing) I installed a parallel Facet fuel pump to both carbs and vent lines from each tank, no return lines per the fuel design instructions. Flying for 8 years with no problems.

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Re: Aluminum fuel tank

Postby Area 51% » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:41 pm

The fit of my plastic tank is terrible. It's higher on one side in the front, than the other, which distorts the glare shield and causes a pucker in the upper firewall. Also, the fill spout on the tank hits the bottom of the filler box long before the tank is in position. I'm guessing the box would need to be 1/4" (6mm?) lower.

I'm currently working with a fabricator to build a tank out of aluminum. He wants to use .090" which will bring the weight of the thing to about 18.5lbs. The plastic tank is 12.9ish.

Can you tell me what thickness material you made your tank out of? You can go ahead and give it to me in metric measurements. I have a conversion chart.

Thanks
Randy
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Re: Aluminum fuel tank

Postby garyb » Fri Oct 14, 2016 8:59 pm

I made my tank from .050" Have a look in the plans they give a spec for the aluminum.
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Re: Aluminum fuel tank

Postby garyb » Fri Oct 14, 2016 9:25 pm

I also modified mine as it also interfeared with the filler box and mine was built as per the plans.
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Re: Aluminum fuel tank

Postby Bryan Cotton » Fri Oct 14, 2016 10:01 pm

I modified my filler neck and the plastic tank was fine.
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Re: Aluminum fuel tank

Postby andrewp » Fri Oct 14, 2016 10:34 pm

Ditto!
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