N8053H
Well-Known Member
After using this style gascolator and looking it over very good. This style gascolator needs some work or attention before installing on the airplane. I along with others have reported problems using these gascoltors out of the box so to speak.
The first thing I did not like was the use of a paper filter. But this filter does more then just keep dirt out. It also holds the screen in place on the top to keep big chunks out. Then I noticed that the inlet hole that allows fuel into the fuel bowl, can get covered by the gasket. This gasket can and will cover 1/4 - 1/2 of this inlet hole. If you look at this hole, it is already half the size as the nipple on the other end or the bore passageway of the inlet side of the gascoltor were the fuel line attaches. Then if you look at the out-let side or where the fuel exit's the gascolator, that hole is also reduced to about 1/2 the bore size or nipple size on the exit side.
I did not like any of this. To much stacking of restriction..IMHO
1- we have the reduced fuel inlet hole that reduces flow. 2- the gasket will cover 1/4- 1/2 of this already reduced hole. 3- the paper filter will reduce flow more and could even plug from water. 4- the outlet hole is reduced or not the same size as the bore, or the outlet passage way. That is a lot of stacking...IMHO
So lets address or fix all this. First thing I did was get out my dremel. Both inlet and outlet holes were ported out to the biggest I could get them. Almost the size of the fuel passageway bore or inlet and outlet. Next was that darn paper filter. This holds the screen in the top. I wanted that screen in place. Again using my dremel I roughened up the area where this screen sits. I then mixed up some JB weld and coated this area with this. There is a raised lip that the screen fits up against. This JB weld was kept close to this lip and laid out in what I call a bead around it. I then pushed the screen into this and stuck it in the oven on 200 degree's for 2 hrs. The heat helps make the JB weld flow.
I should mention before I did any of this I did some flow testing. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but doing these mods doubled my numbers. Now when I check my gascolator for water and push that valve, there is some pressure coming from it. before, not so much. If you are or plan on using one of these gascoltors, you may want to do these mods to yours.
Tony
