I am just finishing up a Carden Cuda. Currently locating the fuel dot and vent etc. Planning a two line system. The vent is easy enough to route out the bottom aft of the gear. Finding a location for the fuel dot is a bit more of a challenge.

Should the fuel dot be located higher than the tank to prevent fuel from syphoning out right after fueling? Or can it go lower than the tank.

There is not much room on the fuselage above the wing so the options seem to be below or possibly up on the turtle deck aft of the cockpit. It would fit nicely on the motor box bottom but access may be a bit dificult (cowl is quite open down there) and it is well below the tank at that point.

Any comments and advice appreciated.

pjp01

I put together a Yak last fall and only had one spot to put the fuel dot and it happened to be level with the bottom of the tank. Did not think anything of it, except when I fueled the tank for the first time. As soon as you pull your filler out the gas starts siphon out so you have to pinch the fuel line and put the dot back in. If you are one that does not empty your tank every day you could put a check valve in-line and problem solved. I have too many planes (yea right!) and feel better emptying them every time.

Fuel syphoning can definitely be an issue with gasoline. I wonder if you could use one of those one-way valves made for smoke systems? That would keep you from pumping out the tank, but there is little reason to do that anyway with gasoline. I think its actually better to leave some gas in the tank; keeps the pickup line soft.

One word.... http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...ource=googleps


Scott

Try to mount the fueler as high as you can preferably above the tank.

Or even just leave enough slack in the fill line so that you can lift it about the top of the tank when disconnecting the fill line.

Thanks for the replies. The hemostats are a good option. I am leaning towards sticking it aft on the turtle deck. Thunderbolt R/C has a red anodized dot that would not be too unatractive. Way above the tank back there. Clearly siphoning has to be delt with one way or another.

pjp01

That's a good work-around but as soon as you accidently drop the fuel line, it spills gas. I always locate it above the tank. Not much above the tank, just at the top level where the vent is. I agree that there are not many places to mount it that high. You also don't want the switch under it....so you don't get gas on it.

In this pic you can see the fuel dot is below the switch but both are above the thrust line. The dot is right at the top of the tank....not above it.

Originally Posted by JoeAirPort

You also don't want the switch under it....so you don't get gas on it.

As stupid as this may sound I've seen in many times at the field. Great point Joe.

Originally Posted by Edgeman 540

As stupid as this may sound I've seen in many times at the field. Great point Joe.

Thanks Edge. I probably actually did this many planes ago and vowed never to do it again.

Thats great, thanks for the picture. Nice vids in your signature. Hopefully this plane flys just a fraction as well as that. First large scale and 3d plane for me. Fun to build.

Jason

Any reason you chose not to go with a three line system? They're just easier and better imo.

As for fuel dot and switch placement, I usually put them on opposite sides of the plane. That way you can put the fuel dot as high as possible without the switch getting in the way or getting contaminated.

+1 on the three line system. Also consider this, eliminating the T fitting from the engine feed line increases reliabilty in several ways. If the fuel dot plug falls off inflight on a three line system, its a non-issue.

Originally Posted by pjp01

Thats great, thanks for the picture. Nice vids in your signature. Hopefully this plane flys just a fraction as well as that. First large scale and 3d plane for me. Fun to build.

Jason

Thanks.

Only planning a two line for weight savings. Seemed like a fairly common setup.
Haven''t ruled out a three line system. It does seem a bit more bullet proof to me.
Thanks for the comments
Jason