[f-AA] Need Gascolator

[Duane Fey]

Hello all,

Does anybody have a spare Gascolator they're willing to part with? My Chief has a Latour Aero Gascolator and the glass has a chip. A previous owner put a bunch of goop on the gaskets, so it didn't leak. I replaced screen and gaskets and it leaks. I pulled it back apart and the little piece of glass, that was nice and rectangular and I thought was part of the design, came off. No, I didn't over-tighten it. Anyway, money's tight and times are hard, so if I could get a legal used one I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

Duane
'46 Chief, N85981
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[Cy Galley]

McMasters Carr sells Pyrex tubing to fit.

[j...@joea.com]

No its not cheap but its done correctly and forever!!

http://www.stevesaircraft.com/gascolator.php

Joe A

[jcpa...@comcast.net]

Yes Joe, you are correct. I installed one several years ago when the old one developed a small leak. Love it. Peace of mind was well worth the money.

Jim

[Ray Durham]

I put one on my Champ about 5 or 6 years ago. I really like it, and would recommend it to everyone.

-----Original Message-----
From: Aeronca [mailto:aeronca...@westmont.edu] On Behalf Of jcpa...@comcast.net
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2016 6:28 AM
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Subject: Re: [f-AA] Need Gascolator

Yes Joe, you are correct. I installed one several years ago when the old one developed a small leak. Love it. Peace of mind was well worth the money.

Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: j...@joea.com
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Sent: Sat, 10 Sep 2016 05:38:57 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [f-AA] Need Gascolator

[Paul M. Anton]

The problem with this gascolator it that it's so pretty that you will want to use it for a coffee table decoration so you'll need to order two.
Paul
Salome, AZ

No its not cheap but its done correctly and forever!!

http://www.stevesaircraft.com/gascolator.php

Joe A

_______________________________________________

[Duane Fey]

Thanks Cy,

I'll take a look, that would be awesome.

Duane

[Cy Galley]

The Old one lasted how long?

-----Original Message-----
From: Aeronca [mailto:aeronca...@westmont.edu] On Behalf Of j...@joea.com
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2016 12:39 AM
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Subject: Re: [f-AA] Need Gascolator

No its not cheap but its done correctly and forever!!

http://www.stevesaircraft.com/gascolator.php

Joe A

[Duane Fey]

Cy,

If you're asking me, I'm not sure, it was on the chief when I bought it from Harvey Brock. It was a leaker until one of the previous A&Ps put goop on the gaskets, so it wouldn't leak. Roger is sending me a duplicate, so I should be in good shape, provided I don't break the glass.

Thanks,

Duane
'46 Chief, N85981

[Doug Rounds]

The previous A&P should have replaced it..Difficult to save an airplane when the engine doesn't run..Mama always told me that playing with airplanes that don't run cost money and. .fill in the blanks....Doug

[Duane Fey]

Doug,

You're 100% right.  There have been a few instances with this plane where somebody took to low road and tried to save money.  Also, there was a hole in the fuel screen.  There's no way the hole just appeared, it had to have been there the last time it was taken apart. I understand frugal, but not cheap.  This is a $3.00 part, it's just stupid. 

Duane

'46 Chief, N85981

[Doug Rounds]

Find out who signed the last annual and send them a note with a few exclamation points..Cheap is one thing--dangerous is another. I have found that this is part of the old airplane thing and the lack of knowledge of the newer  Jet/Turbo A&P's of them. If you buy an old airplane to enjoy--find an old A&P that knows them. I am going on 83--retiring and will give up my IA-too old to go to court for somebody else oversight or lack of knowledge. They don't produce real manuals anymore for these "old" airplanes. "If it ain't a jet it don't know". I never did jet maintenance..just flew them and noticed the maintenance excuse FAA forms in the log book. Never let something serious, like bust your butt things  go unattended to cost mentality and ignorance --possible fuel leaks and hot engines could mean fire..and a bad day..Doug

[Bob Jacoby]

On the old gas gascolators I soak the [new] cork gasket in a 50/50 mixture of fuel lube and acetone for a couple days (sealed container) and then loosely wrap it in tin foil for a couple days to let the acetone evaporate.  This really helps with the leaks.

Having said that, I switched to a Steve's gascolator after the wire bale on my AC Gascolator literally fell apart in my hands (i.e. broke in half where the tension screw assembly mounts).  Fortunately I was on the ground, but having it fall apart in my hands screwed me up a little (what if I had been in the air when this cracked component finally let go?).  So after sitting down for a couple minutes I ordered the Steve's.

I've been very happy with it.

Bob ( who is flying home from Triple Tree ( SC00) to Jacksonville (KHEG) in about an hour.

[Gregory Horrell]

Hi Gang,

   Here's a thought....from an Accident Investigator's standpoint, the typical cause of a post-accident fire is usually the weakest point in the fuel system. I've seen accidents where the fuel system remained intact (Cessna 185) and the front of the airplane was really a mess. The Cessna aluminum gascolator didn't fail. Aircraft designers, knowing this, usually moved the fuel out to the wings and used aluminum gascolators. 

   The old glass gascolators, however quaint and nostalgic, are weak and will not sustain an impact without shattering. In that sort of impact, the pilot doesn't have time to turn ff the fuel. On a tailwheel airplane that is always a real possibility...especially with an off-airport landing due to an old engine giving it up. Think about it.

   My vote is to go with a Steve's gascolator, which is easier to service and easy to install. My 2 cents (Alaskan money).

Gregg Horrell

Juneau, AK

[Rich Dugger]

That is a very important, excellent point.

Thanks, Greg.

--

Anything is possible if you don't know what you're talking about.

[Paul M. Anton]

 

Another vote for the Steve’s gascolator is that they’re very easy to service