I rebuilt my fuel tank tonight watching your video to switch it to gas from glow! I just had to change my rubber plug for the tank and the fuel tubing! But I was doing it in the same fashion!
Yep! Thank you for the details and comments! I agree that many items seem to come with “common knowledge” instead of instructions. My first tank assembly (1990) leaked until I realized HOW the rubber SPREADS to seal!?! I even tried to glue it first…’didn’t work. Installing brass servo eyelets? I got that one wrong too so many years ago, yet I see now I wasn’t the only one!
Good video! I certainly enjoyed it :-)) I have two things to add to your instructions. The first is that you can actually dunk the entire tank in a bucket of water to test the leaks. Bubbles give away the leaky spots as you blow air into the tank. The second thing is that you have to align the carburetor intake with the fuel line in order to prevent flooding. Some people place the fuel line a little lower than the carburetor intake, but I never found it really necessary unless you have a fuel pump. Also, sealing the opening in the firewall may be a good idea to protect the unburned fuel to sip inside the fuse. However, that is only a precautionary measure, and it may not be necessary if you do a good job in the setup like what you have done here. Take care.
I built two tanks just like this and they both failed the first time I put fuel in them. Guys at the field told me I should have put fuel around the stopper before putting it in the tank to help it seal. Never had a problem after learning that trick.
Interesting, I never heard of the fuel trick. The stopper usually works as long as it’s sealed tightly. But Ill have to consider that next time. Thanks.
I’ll be honest, I have never seen a small fuel pump for rc planes. I guess try to find one online or search rc forums like RCGroups.com or RCuniverse.com to see if people have done this. Im sorry I dont have any ideas. Can you reposition the tank? How far below the engine is it?
They do make the pump systems for adding a smoke system to the plane, you may be able to use something like that. The thing watch also is that any pump system will add weight. It may be a pain, but in the long run it may best to see if you can reposition the tank. The more conventional you go with the setup the less trouble.
Hi. No it should be tight. It should have the outer plastic cap, the rubber stopper and inner plastic plate. The screw will go through outer cap and rubber stopper and into the inner plate. If its loose either its not tight enough or the inner plate is stripped. It needs to be tight so it won’t leak. But you have to be careful not to strip the inner plastic plate. If you can tighten it down and the screw gets tight and its still loose, something is wrong and you may want to see if you can get a replacement. The way it works is the screw draws the inner plate in and that squeezes the rubber stopper to plug the hole. If thats not working something is wrong with the tank.
Well covered and shown.
Thanks
I rebuilt my fuel tank tonight watching your video to switch it to gas from glow! I just had to change my rubber plug for the tank and the fuel tubing! But I was doing it in the same fashion!
Great, I hope it was a little helpful.
Yep! Thank you for the details and comments! I agree that many items seem to come with “common knowledge” instead of instructions. My first tank assembly (1990) leaked until I realized HOW the rubber SPREADS to seal!?! I even tried to glue it first…’didn’t work. Installing brass servo eyelets? I got that one wrong too so many years ago, yet I see now I wasn’t the only one!
Yes, the instructions are lacking for sure. A little trial and error seems to be part of the game in this hobby.
Yeah I like those Sullivan tanks they last forever!
Thank you on the Instructions.
Thanks
Good video! I certainly enjoyed it :-)) I have two things to add to your instructions. The first is that you can actually dunk the entire tank in a bucket of water to test the leaks. Bubbles give away the leaky spots as you blow air into the tank. The second thing is that you have to align the carburetor intake with the fuel line in order to prevent flooding. Some people place the fuel line a little lower than the carburetor intake, but I never found it really necessary unless you have a fuel pump. Also, sealing the opening in the firewall may be a good idea to protect the unburned fuel to sip inside the fuse. However, that is only a precautionary measure, and it may not be necessary if you do a good job in the setup like what you have done here. Take care.
Thanks for the tips. I really like the dipping in water, that makes a lot of sense.
Thanks for all the suggestions here.
I built two tanks just like this and they both failed the first time I put fuel in them. Guys at the field told me I should have put fuel around the stopper before putting it in the tank to help it seal. Never had a problem after learning that trick.
Interesting, I never heard of the fuel trick. The stopper usually works as long as it’s sealed tightly. But Ill have to consider that next time. Thanks.
I need a small fuel pump to pump fuel from my tank up higher than the then it will go by the pressure any recommendations 🤔
I’ll be honest, I have never seen a small fuel pump for rc planes. I guess try to find one online or search rc forums like RCGroups.com or RCuniverse.com to see if people have done this. Im sorry I dont have any ideas. Can you reposition the tank? How far below the engine is it?
They do make the pump systems for adding a smoke system to the plane, you may be able to use something like that. The thing watch also is that any pump system will add weight. It may be a pain, but in the long run it may best to see if you can reposition the tank. The more conventional you go with the setup the less trouble.
Hello, i bought the same tank but I cannot make the rubber tight or locked…I screwed it until it stops but I can remove cap very easy, is it normal?
Hi. No it should be tight. It should have the outer plastic cap, the rubber stopper and inner plastic plate. The screw will go through outer cap and rubber stopper and into the inner plate. If its loose either its not tight enough or the inner plate is stripped. It needs to be tight so it won’t leak. But you have to be careful not to strip the inner plastic plate. If you can tighten it down and the screw gets tight and its still loose, something is wrong and you may want to see if you can get a replacement. The way it works is the screw draws the inner plate in and that squeezes the rubber stopper to plug the hole. If thats not working something is wrong with the tank.
Let me know how it goes. You want to tighten it down nice and snug but you don’t want to over do it since its a metal screw in plastic plate.
Why are you cutting the brass when the rubber seal is on table ?? You are contaminating it ,the extra part was to help with bends
Interesting about the extra part, I had not known that. Makes sense to have a plastic tube to help against kinks.
Thanks, I added that note in the description as well