Burp tubes
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 6:53 pm
They simply work! My plane has burped when it gets warm on takeoff nearly every flight.
I finally installed the burp tube yesterday and really tested it today. Flew a long x-country for 4.5 hours and two stops and not one single burp. In Dalhart, Texas, it was 91 OAT and the plane heat soaked for a good 30 minutes while I refueled and used the facilities. Fairly long taxi. Normally, I would have expected a series of burps accelerating on takeoff, not a single one.
I use 3/8ths braided hose on AN-6 fittings from the gascolator, through the fuel flow sender to the carb. The burp tube consists of an AN-6 Tee F-M-M simply placed between the supply hose and the carb. Another hose comes out the top of the Tee and is looped up behind the distributors to the top of the cowl. I used a fuel drain valve on the other end of the burp tube. Opening the valve allows fuel to fill the tube to the level in the tank. Then its closed. Any bubbles heading down the fuel line will go up the tube, eventually replacing all the fuel in it. At that point, the burps will return until you refill it by opening the valve. One could route the valve into the fuel fill tray and burp it every time you fill up. Or alternately, just plumb it back to the tank vent leaving out the valve.
For those who can't envision the setup, I'll be happy to take some pictures.
I finally installed the burp tube yesterday and really tested it today. Flew a long x-country for 4.5 hours and two stops and not one single burp. In Dalhart, Texas, it was 91 OAT and the plane heat soaked for a good 30 minutes while I refueled and used the facilities. Fairly long taxi. Normally, I would have expected a series of burps accelerating on takeoff, not a single one.
I use 3/8ths braided hose on AN-6 fittings from the gascolator, through the fuel flow sender to the carb. The burp tube consists of an AN-6 Tee F-M-M simply placed between the supply hose and the carb. Another hose comes out the top of the Tee and is looped up behind the distributors to the top of the cowl. I used a fuel drain valve on the other end of the burp tube. Opening the valve allows fuel to fill the tube to the level in the tank. Then its closed. Any bubbles heading down the fuel line will go up the tube, eventually replacing all the fuel in it. At that point, the burps will return until you refill it by opening the valve. One could route the valve into the fuel fill tray and burp it every time you fill up. Or alternately, just plumb it back to the tank vent leaving out the valve.
For those who can't envision the setup, I'll be happy to take some pictures.