Fuel Probe

Submitted by Anonymous on

Forums: 

From: Angier M. Ames <alphadog [at] nii.net>
Subject: Fuel Probe
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 09:32:02 -0400
To: <RWolf99 [at] aol.com>
Cc: Lancair <lancair.list [at] olsusa.com>

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Hi Rob,



Go ahead and cut a hole in the BL50 rib to accomodate the head of your

fuel probe. My probes are Vision Mircostsyems and I don't think they

required a 3" hole.



Angier Ames



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fuel probe

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: Scott Dahlgren <scdahlgren [at] home.com>
Subject: fuel probe
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 07:09:56 -0600
To: ___Lancair list <lancair.list [at] olsusa.com>
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On the subject of fuel probes I am curious how most of you "bonded" the

aluminum nut plate to the wing tank. I am in the process of doing mine right

now. Scott



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LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html

LML Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair



Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye [at] olsusa.com.

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Fuel Probe

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: C.L.Keller <clkeller [at] burgoyne.com>
Subject: Fuel Probe
Date: Sat, 07 Apr 2001 08:28:01 -0600
To: Dahlgren Scott <spdahlgren [at] home.com>
Cc: Lancair Mail List <lancair.list [at] olsusa.com>
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Scott:

    I used the VM probes, which have an aluminum base, threaded

internally, knurled on the outer surface. I made a 3/8-inch thick

phenolic block, machined the hole for the probe base at the calculated

angle, also another hole for the finger strainer, then bonded the block

into a prepared recess in the inside of the BL50 rib. Put 3 BID over the

block on the inside of the rib, plus another 3 BID on the outside for

additional strength. Bonded the aluminum base into the hole with hysol,

with the probe in place during cure to insure correct orientation, then

put additional BID around the base where it protruded from the inside of

the rib. Have photos of the installation if you are interested.

                    Charles



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LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html

LML Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair



Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye [at] olsusa.com.

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fuel probe

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: Bill & Sue <harrelson [at] erols.com>
Subject: fuel probe
Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2001 17:41:22 -0400
To: <lancair.list [at] olsusa.com>
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> On the subject of fuel probes I am curious how most of you "bonded" the

> aluminum nut plate to the wing tank. I am in the process of doing mine

right

> now. Scott



Scott,  I bonded mine in with a Hysol/flox mixture. Works good, last long

time. Email me if you'd like a picture.



Bill

harrelson [at] erols.com

N5ZQ





>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html

LML Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair



Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye [at] olsusa.com.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

fuel probe

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: Andy Katz <t6 [at] concentric.net>
Subject: fuel probe
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 21:30:54 -0500
To: Lancair <lancair.list [at] olsusa.com>
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thnaks Brent for the suggestions.

the probe is NPT 3/4 inch as per EI specs. I went to the hangar and

measured the diameter close to the sensor and is close to one inch but

being pipe thread I believe the diameter diminishes the deeper it goes.

Vern is shipping the probe and MSC should be getting the sealant soon.

thanks for the help.

andres



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/mkaye/maillist.html

LML Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair



Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye [at] olsusa.com.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

fuel probe

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: Gary Casey <glcasey [at] adelphia.net>
Sender: Marvin Kaye <marv [at] lancaironline.net>
Subject: fuel probe
Date: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 08:49:16 -0400
To: <lml>
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<<There was a suggestion some time ago, to use a 12 VDC regulator in the

power supply for the fuel probes to eliminate one source of problems.

I noticed yesterday that, even tho my hydraulics and my fuel probes

originate from different circuits ( and circuit breakers), both fuel gages

rise to full whenever the hydraulic pump cycles.

I believe that the recommendation was to use an Archer 276-1771 voltage

regulator to isolate the circuits and to provide a constant voltage source

to the probes.   I'll comment again after I install the regulator.  Regards,

Bill Hogarty L-IVP @ 95%>>



Given the circuitry in the sensor it isn't surprising that the sensor

"rails" with the noise of the motor.  I wouldn't be surprised if it did the

same thing with a radio transmission.  Assuming the problem stems from the

fact that the fuel probes are apparently fed from an unregulated 12-volt

supply there are a couple of things that can be done.  First, I'm assuming

that the difficulty does not stem from the voltage drop during gear cycling,

but from the noise generated by the pump motor.  Does the gage read the

same, or nearly the same with the engine off?  If it does, the circuitry

behaves okay with varying supply voltages (I can't remember if we tested it

at different voltages).  Actually, the normal thing would be to feed the

fuel senders from a regulated 5-volt supply in the instrumentation - I

haven't looked into my system yet to find out if that's the way they do it.



To filter the supply you can put a resistor in series and then a capacitor

to the ground wire.  This should be as close to the sensor as practical.  If

one had a connector in the wing root as close as 6 inches from the sensor

that would be the place to put it.  A good value for the resistor would be

about 30 to 50 ohms and the capacitor should be about 0.47 mfd.  As I

recall, the metal housing is grounded through the sensor ground wire and the

ideal thing would be to put the capacitor to ground right on the housing,

but that would be a bit fussy to do.  This methodology might be more

effective that adding a voltage regulator.



Gary Casey

fuel probe

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: Marvin Kaye <marv [at] lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] fuel probe
Date: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 11:07:32 -0400
To: <lml>
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Posted for "Jim Scales" <joscales98 [at] hotmail.com>:



Haven't followed this complete thread but certainly recognize the subject.  I hae experienced VM (and before that, EI) fuel gauge problems since first flight.  Don't recall everything that we did to try to solve it but worked on it for about 6 months on and off, talked to every avionics person I could find, called EI and VM, installed

filters, ferrite beads, sheilded wires and a bunch of other stuff.  After VM told me that my problem was a mismatch of probes to gauges ( I use EI probes) and said I  should change to the VM probes to fix the problem, I actually considered taking off the wings to do just that.  Luckily, I did ask VM if they would guarantee the fix

and their response was "no".  So I didn't change the probes.



  I should mention that my problems only exhibit themselves when I'm transmitting on the radio.  Also, the gauges act differently depending on which radio I am  using.  If I use the King, the left tank goes dry and the right tank fills up.  If I use the Appollo, both tanks fill up.  Don't ask.  Also, the OAT fluctuates and the Oil  Temp goes down.



  I've talked with many others with similar problems and am convinced that we can't all be that inept at following directions and installing these things.  Doesn't  leave many areas where the problem could be.



  My solution was to get VM to burn a new chip for my unit that ignores low fuel so that I am not constantly explaining to my passengers that "Yes, we really do  have enough gas and that it is just a gauge problem".  I have learned to live with it and to make sure I don't try to use the VM information within about 2-3 minutes  of a radio transmission.  Fortunately, I have not yet seen any fluctuation of the fuel totalizer so I tend to rely on it quite a bit.



  Sorry I don't have solutions to offer.  I'm not sure there are any.  Good luck.



  Jim Scales



   

fuel probe

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: Bill & Sue <harrelson [at] erols.com>
Sender: Marvin Kaye <marv [at] lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: fuel probe
Date: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 11:56:49 -0400
To: <lml>
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Jim,



I use the VM probes with a VM indicator in our 320. They have worked

perfectly since day 1 with absoutely no variation from hydraulic pump, radio

transmissions, strobes or anything else. Our VM gauge reads all three tanks.

We also have the VM1000 system which has an independent fuel remaining

function (subtracts fuel used from a known starting quantity). The fuel

remaining function agrees within a gallon with the total of the three tank

quantity indications, which agrees with the fuel truck. The sight gauge on

the header agrees with the VM header quantity indication and the fuel level

float switches.



Maybe your EI probes aren't compatible with the VM stuff?  Good luck fixing

your indicating problem.



Bill

harrelson [at] erols.com

LNC2   O-320   VA42

FUEL PROBE

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: PETER WILLIAMS <peterpawaviation [at] hotmail.com>
Sender: <marv [at] lancaironline.net>
Subject: FUEL PROBE
Date: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 07:40:41 -0400
To: <lml [at] lancaironline.net>
Message Header


Undecoded Message
HI THERE

the fuel probe in the Lancair 4 is installed from the tip.

there are no serviceable parts in the probe; it is about ten feet long and is shipped
by truck in a 12 foot box and shipping costs about the same as the probe

i have been dealing with an intermittent for about six months and located the wiring issue an the
head of the probe. could move the wires around and get good indications... for part of one trip
tried tie wraps, tried loose, tried tight, tried epoxy. i got good at removing the wing tip

NO GOOD,
             we removed the probe and nothing we could do. ordered the twelve foot box shipped from California

that's more than i wanted to know about fuel probes.

a sad side note is that the very early Lancair 4 airplanes had the probe installed from the wing root and to fix them it is necessary to remove the wing. that was a bad idea from the get-go

peter

From: lml [at] lancaironline.net
To: lml [at] lancaironline.net
Subject: lml Digest #4734
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2014 06:00:03 -0400

        Lancair Mailing List Digest #4734
 
 1) Right Fuel Tank Probe
    by Alan Crawford <alan [at] tstar.net>
 2) Re: Engine Oil Temps; May need fuel system setup
    by George Wehrung <gw5 [at] me.com>
 
This digest is sent to you because you are subscribed to
  the mailing list <lml [at] lancaironline.net>.
For archives and help click http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/Lists/lml/List.html
LML website: http://www.lancaironline.net/maillist.html



--Forwarded Message Attachment--
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 11:52:16 -0400
From: alan [at] tstar.net
Subject: Right Fuel Tank Probe

Need help ... Right fuel tank gauge is intermittent ... Where does the wiring come from the fuel tank probe to the Garmin 900 display? ... Looking for a loose connection!

House is being remodeled and can't find my books or notes in storage?

            Blue Skies
                Alan
Flown to you by Race 21 via EFB

Life is NOT a Journey to the grave with the Intention of arriving safely In a Pretty and Well Preserved Body, BUT rather to skid in broadside,Thoroughly used up, Totally Worn Out, and Proclaiming ..... “WOW, WHAT A RIDE!!!”



--Forwarded Message Attachment--
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 11:52:38 -0400
From: gw5 [at] me.com
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Engine Oil Temps; May need fuel system setup

Thanks  Bob. I always appreciate the help

George

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 2, 2014, at 16:13, bob mackey <n103md [at] yahoo.com

> wrote:

> Does anyone have any recommendations?

A few....
1) specify the type of engine and aircraft
2) check the obvious things first:
Is there enough oil?
Is the oil freely moving through the oil cooler?
Is cool air blowing through the oil cooler?
Was it working fine before? Or was the oil always too hot?

If it is a recent problem, what changed? (Change it back)
If it is a chronic
problem with this aircraft, what is the air pressure drop across the cooler? What is the air temperature increase after passing through the oil cooler? Is the right oil cooler installed?
 
It is not at all clear to me that the warm oil is an indication of a fuel problem. 
If all 4 or 6 cylinders are running smoothly ROP and LOP, then the problem is heat removal, not fuel supply. If the CHTs are OK, then the problem is specifically about the oil system, and not airflow over the cylinders.
Changing the fuel system when the oil cooler is clogged would just compound the problems. 

Fuel Probe

Submitted by Anonymous on

From: Alan Crawford <alan [at] tstar.net>
Sender: <marv [at] lancaironline.net>
Subject: RE: Fuel Probe
Date: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:11:18 -0400
To: <lml [at] lancaironline.net>
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Undecoded Message
Thanks everyone ... Got it ... as usual, was a loose pin in back of the 
Garmin Display ... 

Blue Skies ... Alan

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