From: Lee Devlin Subject: sight gages Date: Sun, 14 May 95 23:36:21 MDT While sanding out the depressions for the fuel gauges on the fusealge sides, I began to think about he ads I always see for Vance's fuel sight gauges and if I should be doing anything differently if I want to use them. Does anyone know what Vance's sight gauges are like and if any modifications to the fuselage sides need to be made to accommodate them? Thanks, Lee Devlin Date: Mon, 15 May 1995 11:31:07 -0400 From: SidLloyd@aol.com Subject: Re: sight gages In a message dated 95-05-15 01:33:15 EDT, leed@hpgrla.gr.hp.com writes: >Does anyone know what Vance's sight gauges are like and >if any modifications to the fuselage sides need to be made to >accommodate >them? > >Thanks, > >Lee Devlin I bought some but haven't installed them yet. They are flat plastic two-part pieces. The top piece is clear with a bubble vertical tube, the rear piece is white. There are two tiny holes top and bottom for the fuel to enter. They are made to retrofit easily so you shouldn't have to change anything. You might want to get yours now to see if you can come up with a better way to see them. I heard of a guy who mounted a little red LED in each one so you can see your fuel level at night. Sid Date: Mon, 15 May 95 11:04:47 est From: "Phillip Johnson" Subject: Sight Glasses Lee Devlin Writes: > While sanding out the depressions for the fuel gauges on the > fusealge sides, I began to think about he ads I always see for > Vance's fuel sight gauges and if I should be doing anything > differently if I want to use them. Does anyone know what Vance's > sight gauges are like and if any modifications to the fuselage > sides need to be made to accommodate them? I built mine as standard but since the strakes are not on yet I may change to Vance's gauges. My cause for concern is with respect to auto fuel. Someone, a long time ago said that they were not good for auto fuel, and since I will be using an auto conversion complete with oxygen sensors I need compatibility with auto fuel. Furthermore the fuel trend is towards aviation grade auto fuel in the immediate future so the old leaded fuel may not be around for much longer. If you call Vance you might ask him about compatibility in this arena, my source of information may not be accurate but is definitely worth investigating. Phillip Johnson Date: Mon, 15 May 1995 23:04:06 -0400 From: CozyBldr@aol.com Subject: Re:Sight Gages I did the side layups per plans and then I ordered Vance's sight gages. It was the opposite way to do it as the gages did not fit well into the depressions. I ended up taking some scrap foam and redoing the depressions, cutting out the old depressions and floxing in the new ones. I will layup one or two additional plies of BID before installing the gages. It actually came out well considering. The gages measure approximately 7" x 2-1/4". Nat suggested trimming the gages but I didn't feel that would have left enough gage to glass on to. By t he way, Nat approved the above fix. Paul Stowitts Date: 26 Jun 1995 08:54:52 U From: "Judd Stewart" Subject: Fuel Sight Gauges Should I install the fuel sight windows per plans if I going to use the pre-fab units mentioned in the newsletter? I've heard there is rework adapting them to the original windows. I'm thinking about just skipping them at this point and installing the pre-fab units after the sides are skinned. Thanks Judd Date: 29 Jun 1995 14:13:14 U From: "Judd Stewart" Subject: Re: Fuel Sight Gauges Reply to: RE>>Fuel Sight Gauges Marty, I concur with you reservations of fuel in the cabin. The original concept (glass to glass) is by far the most appealing from a safety standpoint but fails in the usability area. I think your Idea of a electro or mechanical gauge is great but wonder how you are planning to install them without making somesort of a fuselage penetration. Any penetration is a source for a leek. Judd -------------------------------------- Date: 6/26/1995 6:02 PM From: MKansky@aol.com Judd, I decided to postpone the fuel site guages. I am considering not putting them in at all. I sat in a 3 place cozy here in Knoxville and it was extremely difficult to see the guages, especially on the left side. I am strongly considering putting in an electric or mechanical guage for two reasons. First, the sites are hard to see. Second, I am concerned about having fuel on the inside of the cabin. It just seems like an exposure that may not be necessary. I may change my mind back so I this point I glassed both sides of the fuselage without the indentations. If I change my mind I can put them in later. Another thought, I was flying a Cessna 150 last weekend. Inside the place was a dip stick that could be inserted into the take to determine the level of fuel. I plan to build some for the cozy also. ...Marty ------------------ RFC822 Header Follows ------------------ SMTP-0012fef55ca023690; Mon, 26 Jun 95 17:50:19 -0700 Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 20:47:10 -0400 From: MKansky@aol.com Subject: Re: Fuel Sight Gauges Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 22:12:03 -0400 From: MKansky@aol.com Subject: Re: Fuel Sight Gauges Judd, There is a Cozy 3 place here in town that put in mechanical fuel guages. I don't have the particulars of the installation so I can't comment yet. I'll see what I can find out and pass it on to you. ...Marty Date: Sun, 2 Jul 95 0:28:28 EDT Subject: Re: Fuel Sight Gauges (fwd) Judd S. writes: Boy, I go away for a week on vacation, and look what happens. I can't leave you people alone for a minute! :-). <-- That's a smiley, people! It's just a joke!. I'm in the process of reviewing everything written while I was away, and I'll try to put my 2 cents in within a day or so, but for now, I'll just respond to this: >.................. I think your Idea of a electro or mechanical >gauge is great but wonder how you are planning to install them without making >somesort of a fuselage penetration. Any penetration is a source for a leek. I have assumed all along that I would put in the standard gauges, but that I would also (at some later time) put in a set of capacitance pickups for the Westach dual fuel gauge (see page 260 of the WICKS 94-95 catalog). I understand the concern about leaks, and certainly no holes is better than holes. However, I had a similar set up in both the main tank and the header tank of the Q2. Using standard fuel resistant gaskets and gasket sealer, I had NO PROBLEMS at all with leakage over the course of a few years. This is not a particularly worrisome area (for me at least). Using a metal ring (for threading the mounting holes) buried in the fiberglass fuselage side (no foam in the sandwich), gaskets and sealer, the sender will not leak. -- Marc J. Zeitlin E-Mail: marcz@an.hp.com Date: Tue, 4 Jul 1995 13:02:37 -0400 From: wbeecham@gate.net (Bill Beecham) Subject: Re: Fuel Sight Gauges (fwd) Marc, You wrote: >I have assumed all along that I would put in the standard gauges, but >that I would also (at some later time) put in a set of capacitance >pickups for the Westach dual fuel gauge (see page 260 of the WICKS 94-95 >catalog). I understand the concern about leaks, and certainly no holes >is better than holes. However, I had a similar set up in both the main >tank and the header tank of the Q2. Using standard fuel resistant >gaskets and gasket sealer, I had NO PROBLEMS at all with leakage over >the course of a few years. This is not a particularly worrisome area >(for me at least). Using a metal ring (for threading the mounting >holes) buried in the fiberglass fuselage side (no foam in the sandwich), >gaskets and sealer, the sender will not leak. How about routing the fuel level sender leads through the fuel tank breather/overflow tubes? Best, Bill Beecham Date: Sun, 9 Jul 1995 14:14:16 -0400 From: wbeecham@gate.net (Bill Beecham) Subject: Re: Fuel Sight Gauges (fwd) Marc, You wrote: >I have assumed all along that I would put in the standard gauges, but >that I would also (at some later time) put in a set of capacitance >pickups for the Westach dual fuel gauge (see page 260 of the WICKS 94-95 >catalog). I understand the concern about leaks, and certainly no holes >is better than holes. However, I had a similar set up in both the main >tank and the header tank of the Q2. Using standard fuel resistant >gaskets and gasket sealer, I had NO PROBLEMS at all with leakage over >the course of a few years. This is not a particularly worrisome area >(for me at least). Using a metal ring (for threading the mounting >holes) buried in the fiberglass fuselage side (no foam in the sandwich), >gaskets and sealer, the sender will not leak. How about routing the fuel level sender leads through the fuel tank breather/overflow tubes? Best, Bill Beecham Date: Mon, 17 Jul 1995 18:38:23 -0400 From: KSPREUER@aol.com Subject: Fwd: Re: Fuel Sight Gauges Judd asks "I think your Idea of a electro or mechanical gauge is great but wonder how you are planning to install them without making somesort of a fuselage penetration. Any penetration is a source for a leek. " I put in the plastic sight gauges but am also putting in a capacitive eletric gauge. I want this because so often the back seat is filled with baggage that it is hard to see the gauges, especially at night. I made a hard point just in front of the main spar near the fuselage wall. this area gets covered later with a fairing. I will install a door there to access the sensor. There will not be any fuel in the cockpit from this approach.