Fuel Pickup Size Depth And Material

[glenn.225]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Yes, an entirely different return line and it comes back into the top of the tank.

You may also want to extend the return line to near the bottom, a stream of fuel can inject air bubbles into the tank which may be picked up by the inlet at a most inopertune time.

The spring at the end of the pick up is a really good idea. I have seen dozens of fuel line blockages due to dirt, leaves and paint chips. Stuff usually gets picked up and slowed or stopps engine then settles back down when suction is let off only to be picked up again later.
Have seen a few people scratching their heads over that one.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by glenn.225

You may also want to extend the return line to near the bottom, a stream of fuel can inject air bubbles into the tank which may be picked up by the inlet at a most inopertune time.

The spring at the end of the pick up is a really good idea. I have seen dozens of fuel line blockages due to dirt, leaves and paint chips. Stuff usually gets picked up and slowed or stopps engine then settles back down when suction is let off only to be picked up again later.
Have seen a few people scratching their heads over that one.

What do you mean a 'spring' at the end of the pick up?

[NahanniV]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

What do you mean a 'spring' at the end of the pick up?

I mentioned earlier that I had formed the bottom of my pickup tube into a spring like coil where the bottom of the coil sits on the bottom of the tank. The coil was about 4" in dia..

This also provides stability to the tube.

I made mine out of 3/8" copper tube (stainless tank).
Don't use copper in an aluminum tank.

Cheers,
JM.

[Delancey]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

VP 2003 T - the fuel lines are standard 5/16.

Question from someone who doesn't know any better - it has been suggested bigger is better for the pick-up but if the on the engine side the line size is 5/16" then what is the benefit of increasing to 3/8"?

Seems like it might be drawing at the mouth of the pick-up tube at a slightly lower pressure than if the correct size was used, I just don't understand what good going against the manufacturer's specifications does for you. Usually specs are given for a reason.

Why would bigger be better and if bigger was better why wouldn't the manufacturer recommend this in the first place?

[a64pilot]

On the delivery trip I had to disassemble the pickup many times to clean it out. Stuff looked like tofu.
Bigger pickup may have let the stuff flow through to the filter instead of clogging up the pickup


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[NahanniV]

After the filter can be smaller, but I think the pickup tube should be large.

I have seen slime of a snot like consistency blocking the inlet, also scale in steel tanks.

[a64pilot]

The "bugs" when alive are exactly slime like. I've seen it several times in Jet fuel. What I had I'm pretty sure was dead bugs which were thick enough to clog the pickup.



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[a64pilot]

I've learned with other pieces of equipment that screens on pick up tubes may sound like a good idea, but aren't


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[model 10]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I've learned with other pieces of equipment that screens on pick up tubes may sound like a good idea, but aren't
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I can't think of one piston engine airplane that does not have a inlet screen on the fuel pickup.

[barnakiel]

In our 10 gallon tank the pickup is about half an inch above the lowest (at rest) point. It has a mesh cage and a tray. Both a good idea, I think.

b.

[Badsanta]

I pulled the screens off my pickup tubes.

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[barnakiel]

@Santa

Not afraid a large piece of anything (that should not be in the tank in the first place sure) might drift towards and clog the intake?

Just thinking aloud. I too was considering removing them (ours were rotten) but later I resolved they had a reason and fixed ours.

b.

[hzcruiser]

At the end of the day it's a matter of "pick your poison" whether you leave the screen on or not. Mine don't have a screen and AFAIK are the same 5/16" as the hose leading to the primary filters.

One could argue that without a screen a bigger particle could get stuck in the pipe or hose, most likely in a knee. Diagnosing and getting that cleared would be a different story of course.

I guess we all agree it is best not to let it ever get to that point and either annually suck it out through the inpection port (with a bigger pump) or install a fuel polisher with a very low pickup point (after you've properly cleaned the tank).

[Badsanta]

My luck that will happen.

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[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Guy

I can't think of one piston engine airplane that does not have a inlet screen on the fuel pickup.

I can't either and I think that is for ice? Possible frozen water contamination. Screens there are real course.
But I speak specifically about my old lawnmower a JD 997 with a three cyl Yanmar. It had a screen on its pickup and would shut down intermittently but then restart. Took me a little while to figure it out, I though it was a safety switch or wiring.


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