When the engine is quiet it will always seem like a long time before it starts again. For some people it will seem longer than others. On the other hand IF there is a slight hump or rise in the fuel line anywhere, this can be as little as 1/2", when the line runs out of fuel it will trap air which will stop the fuel from flowing unless there is a high head pressure. I had a T-craft with a wing tank which had a slight rise in the fuel line after the shutoff valve before it went down the door post. When the valve was turned on, the fuel would not flow until I lifted that wing and skidded the plane to push that air bubble through to the main tank. The fuel would not push the air bubble without my assistance.
FYI 53M has 61 gallon tanks & I have flown with maneuvering to land with 4 gallons or less. SB is correct, 2 header tanks, one is under dash on firewall.
I think the aft line from the right tank should run behind the back above headliner and around to the selector so it goes downhill? Right now it is connected to the front line with a tee near the front side of the door. The header tank came with the project and had been modified with a shutoff valve. Selector valve is left, right, off style. No documentation other than a hand written builders log from 1998 stating “fuel lines installed” no other notes or diagrams. I may just re-do this portion.
mike, I looked in two different versions of the parts manual for the PA-18 and they both show the header tank as being prior to the fuel shut off valve. The valve feeds directly through the firewall to the gascolator. The fuel valve will shut off the header tank.
I won’t need the header in this configuration... I don’t have sight gauges....I have sending units. I think tanks were from a Colt. I really didn’t like the right aft line running along the right side, then uphill a little to Tee into the front line. It did tee down to a drain in the bottom of the fuselage. As always, thanks for the help in understanding.....and thanks for the Dakota drawing
