Fuel sight gauge driving me nuts

[Alex Clark]

I have a PA-18 style sight gauge in the Pa-11 for my one 18 gallon tank.

I am replacing the fuel lines and was also going to clean up the sight gauge assembly.
But the little locking bushing nut that holds the glass tube inside was torqued down by Godzilla and it will not budge. Plus it looks like somebody used some sort of sealant in the threads.
the old gaskets in there look all beat to heck and there is a chunk of gasket inside the tube that is rattling around...
I was just going to order a whole new assembly, but the price was a big surprise.

I have it soaking in Hoppes gun solvent overnight..

[J5Ron]

How about this one? http://www.calumetcub.com/products.html
gasgages.jpg

I have also seen guys use the clear flexible fuel line...I think Atlee Sells them...

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/RON%7E1.LAN/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/IMG]

[mike mcs repair]

I have a PA-18 style sight gauge in the Pa-11 for my one 18 gallon tank.

I am replacing the fuel lines and was also going to clean up the sight gauge assembly.
But the little locking bushing nut that holds the glass tube inside was torqued down by Godzilla and it will not budge. Plus it looks like somebody used some sort of sealant in the threads.
the old gaskets in there look all beat to heck and there is a chunk of gasket inside the tube that is rattling around...
I was just going to order a whole new assembly, but the price was a big surprise.

I have it soaking in Hoppes gun solvent overnight..

the goop was probably there to cover up for a crack in the bushing(common), replace the bushing.....

don't blow your self up... but you might try heat on end to soften goop....well i guess now you got it all flammable though... boom...

once you get it apart, I use acetone and a brush inside glass to clean them, and scotch bright and acetone outside....

do NOT put a bunch of fuel lube or goop on gaskets or you will get the ball stuck to the gasket(don't ask..)

[Bill Ingerson]

Alex, I put the Atlee Dodge clear flex tube in mine. No ball in it but you can see the fuel level just fine. One problem is when you put Regular Gas in it will turn the tube somewhat yellow but you can still see the fuel level.

Bill

[tempdoug]

Alex, i was curious that with the one tank did piper run a vent tube from the top of the header tank to the top of the sight gauge? doug

[btracy]

The only one I have had apart had a permatex type of sealant on the threads. A heat gun softened it enough to get it apart

[Alex Clark]

My old girl started life as a 1946 J3C and then became a PA-11 style in 1989 after sitting in a barn since 1952. She has three lines coming out of the fuel tank, (that I have found so far.) One in the aft of the tank goes down behind the window and then forward to the gas cut-off valve.
Then there is one high on the tank that goes to the top of the sight glass. Then another that comes in at the bottom of the sight glass. On the back of the sight glass the piping tees-off and one line runs down to the single header tank under the cockpit panel, via a line that runs down along the back edge of the windshield. I will have to take a double look at how the header line feeds back into the main.

I soaked the darn bushing all night in Hoppes #9 and it is still stuck. I think somebody epoxied it into place, since there seems to be some on the glass. The old gaskets look like they are covered with it as well.

[Alex Clark]

Hmm, the tube has been soaked in acetone for two days and that bushing is still jammed up. It looks like the threads are all buggered up and somebody just glued it in there. But whatever they used is not affected by acetone or other solvents.
I have sent tow emails to Calumet cub with no answer.

[d.grimm]

Dakota Cub has a nice one also.
Dave

[jk]

you might try putting the whole assemby in the oven at 200* for half hour and then start wrenching? Sounds like you might be buying parts though....

[DW]

One other problem with them is the cork gasket will swell with auto gas and shrink with avgas and then leak. Atlee's sight tubes are OK I had them on for a while but like Bill said they yellow with auto fuel, if you only run avgas I would go that rought, I went to Bi-Mart and bought tube for my Exp. and it works great, 25' for about $9. but not for cert.

DW

[Alex Clark]

I used a torch and it came apart just as the glass tube cracked,

So I bought a new glass tube & bushing along with new corks and float ball. All is now well in Fuelgaugeville... Calumet cub never answered any e-mails.

[Binty]

Where do I find new Sight Glass seals? I have new glass and sight balls but cant find the (cork?) seals.

[jk]

Make them from a sheet of cork. Easy.

Jk

[Alex Clark]

UNIVAR Toll Free Sales: 1-888-433-5433

Fuel Gauge Glass Tube...................U10852-000
Fuel Line Assembly for all PA-18 SN’s
and PA-18A SN 1215-1969............10729-000
Fuel Line Assembly used with right
hand tank installed..........................10729-003
Fuel Gauge Elbow ..........................U10834-000
Fuel Gauge Housing .......................U10837-000
Fuel Gauge Bushing........................U10847-000
Fuel Gauge Float.............................U10853-000

[myskyjeep]

Binty. Be careful not to get anything on the float balls. They can stick causing a straw effect. Your gauges could show 1/4 tank of fuel remaining after you have demonstrated your gliding skills. My fuel gauges no longer have float balls in them. I have read about that situation on this list before. I'm a slow learner.
Dave

[Pomalaurent]

Hi there, I have just baught a new fuel gauge assembly on UNIVAIR (glasstube, bushing,float......) but I have no idea how to fix the glasstube.... Do I need glue ? Which kind? Due to the price of those pieces I want to be sure !!!!!
thanks for your help.

[Steve Pierce]

I use EZ Turn on the cork gaskets. http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...?clickkey=9406

Here is a link to a picture of parts breakdown.

http://www.supercub.org/forum/showth...0-sight-gauges

[Pomalaurent]

Thanks steve, I am going to check that.