Fuel System

[jiott]

Yes Lowell you right, the drain fittings are also screwed into fiberglass. That's why I will continue to avoid removing them unless I feel a real need. What Phil and I were trying to say was that removing the drain fitting was the only practical way to insert a boroscope to look at the strainer without removing it.

I am open to correction here if I am wrong (its been 3.5 years since I assembled it) but I believe the finger strainer basket is attached to the bushing which screws into the fiberglass, and the 90 degree fuel barbed fitting screws into the bushing. If I am wrong and Lowell's description is correct for the SS7, that would be great-get the strainer out without disturbing the fiberglass thread.

[jrevens]

Yes Lowell you right, the drain fittings are also screwed into fiberglass. That's why I will continue to avoid removing them unless I feel a real need. What Phil and I were trying to say was that removing the drain fitting was the only practical way to insert a boroscope to look at the strainer without removing it.

I am open to correction here if I am wrong (its been 3.5 years since I assembled it) but I believe the finger strainer basket is attached to the bushing which screws into the fiberglass, and the 90 degree fuel barbed fitting screws into the bushing. If I am wrong and Lowell's description is correct for the SS7, that would be great-get the strainer out without disturbing the fiberglass thread.

Yes, you're right Jim... at least my tanks are also that way. Not trying to be an alarmist, but that is one issue I thought about before and during installing my tanks. I wish I had given it more thought. I did think of enlarging the hole for the strainer assembly, tapping it for the next size larger pipe thread, then permanently installing a brass bushing with epoxy on the threads. Same with the drain valves, because the o-rings in those things usually have to be replaced sometime, which usually requires removing the valve. But then I decided that whoever designed these particular assemblies probably knew what they were doing, and that there was historical experience to verify that they were robust and proper. That may or may not be the case. It would be interesting to get an idea of how many flying Kitfox tanks constructed/assembled like this are out there, for how long, and what the experiences have been. That might (or might not) be comforting. I'm sure only a relatively small percentage of strainers have actually had to be removed for inspection. At least I would like to believe that.

[PapuaPilot]

I did think of enlarging the hole for the strainer assembly, tapping it for the next size larger pipe thread, then permanently installing a brass bushing with epoxy on the threads.

I thought about that too. What you describe here would be the repair to do if there is ever a problem reinstalling the drain valve. The only change I would suggest would be to use fuel tank sealant (PRC) instead of epoxy to glue the brass fitting in.

[Guy Buchanan]

Mine's like Lowell's- finger strainer into brass bushing into tank. I check yearly and use the 2-part polysulfide to re-seal.