Installing a fuel gauge

[Mhetzel]

Hi guys

I own a Windlass with a Rotax 503 DCDI. The aircraft do not currently have a fuel
gauge fitted and I am not comfortable to keep it that way.

Any advice from anybody who has done this before? Can I buy an automotive unit
from say Midas and fit that, or do I need to fit a specialist unit for aviation use?

Any input/tips/comments will be appreciated.

Regards

[goldie]

Get a fuel flow meter. Go to www.optifuel.co.za very accurate.

[Mhetzel]

Hi Goldie

Thanks for the advice, but this s a little rich for my budget. Any alternatives available?

Regards

[Koevoet]

When i bought the trike, it had a analog fuel gauge installed - the trouble with it is not on the ground, but when u start flying it gave me very un reliable info, think its dew to, fuel movement in the tank, and the tanks being tillted backwards during flying. The tank is also in a l shape, more fuel at the bottom as in the top part. The reading keep changing like a boats fuel gauge - wasn't comfy with that.
Some guys told me to put a mirror on one of my rear wheel spats showing the tank.

I opted for a optifeul sytem and installed one - still busy calibrating (fine tuning) but its much more accurate than the gauge and more reasuring for me. It was worth the money.

jaco

[Morph]

A simple float and gauge from Midas will work. Quite a few guys use them.

Make sure the float is big enough to for the size of the tank.

Cut a hole in the top of the tankbig enough so that the float can get through, but not too big that the whole unit falls though.

Us a cork washer, and self tapping screws.

Even though the "electrical" coil of the level is immersed in the fuel, there is not danger of sparks because it is measuring resitance, not voltage.

Additionally, make sure you flush the tank very well, to prevent crap from ending up in your filters and causing an engine out.

[Mhetzel]

Hi there Morph

Thanks for the detailed instructions!

Regards

[Biggles]

MGL do an instrument that can use an automotive type fuel guage that can be calibrated to take into account funny shapped fuel tanks. It also incorperates a fuel flow sensor. I have not used personally but something I have been meaning to install. Lots of other stuff too.

http://www.mglavionics.co.za/

FF-1

[Wargames]

MGL do an instrument that has uses a resistory type fuel guage that can be calibrated to take into account funny shapped fuel tanks. It also ncorperates a fuel flow sensor. I have not used personally but something I have been meaning to install.

http://www.mglavionics.co.za/

FF-1

I have one of those, but since MHetzel is bogged down with a tight budget this won't work for him. The nice thing is that you can add to the instrument when you have the money.

I got a nice fuel level sensor from diesel electric which work really nice. 2 years back that was about R350.
MGL ff-1 was R700 for an out of stock on which ae was just glad to let go.
The fuel flow sensor was R1500 Really nice but also expensive.

The nice thing is that I know my system is pretty much as accurate as is possible in a trike with the windlass tank. I know that the midas one is not that accurate, but you need to get use to the readings as well. But the best fuel gauge is a mirror on your back wheel where you can see the level. That is the most accurate of the lot.

[Duck Rogers]

..........Use a cork washer, and self tapping screws.

And nothing else BUT a cork washer. Do not even think of applying silicone to it.
I'm still wearing the t-shirt, caused by some other idiot's stupidity

[bobthebuilder]

I'm not totally comfortable using self tapping screws to mount the float unit.
My one has a large aluminium washer inside the tank. A slot of about 8mm wide was cut out to form a "C" shape. The slot is a bit bigger than the thickness of the tank. The idea is that it is too big to fit throught the hole on the top of the tank, so it is slid through the cutout in the washer. Hard to describe ..... cut it out in paper and go figure.
It has five holes that were tapped, I think M5. If ou are going to make one, use 6082 T6 Aluminium, it is fairly hard, and can be tapped easily. This is a much more positive way of screwing the unit down.

Solo wings replaced my sender unit about two years ago, and back then, it was inexpensive. They should also be able to help with the mounting and setting up.

[Morph]

I agree a backing plate is much better

I worked on a design a while ago, also requires a slot to be cut

[bobthebuilder]

This is the ring type thing that I tried to describe.
There is no need to cut the slot in the tank. This contraption fits on the inside of the tank.

[Sukkelaar]

Won't work

Regards

[bobthebuilder]

Does work. My aqualla is done this way.

[Morph]

Very clever trevor

If you do have a bit more money, get the resistive tube type level sensor, I bought mine from VDO in South Africa directly.

Finally, please, please Please, PLEASE make sure to rinse the tank out completely. Those little plastic twirls and dust will definately spoil your day.