Section 31 Fuel System, Aircraft Specialty fuel line and Filters

RV14 Build January

Fuel System

I decided to go with the wing root fuel filter kit from Aircraft Specialty to make future filter cleaning easier and so each tank will have a seperate fuel filter, just in case 1 gets clogged then hopefully the other tank is still good.

Since my wings aren't on yet this is a picture from the website showing the setup.

Since the filter will be in the wing root, no point in keeping the filter in the center channel since it would be too tempting not to service. I luckily still had the AN fitting that came with the fuel pump and installed that first after removing the rigid line I put in.

Installing the metal braided line was a little tricky do to the tight spaces, but I was able to get it on and torqued with a crows foot.

Section 31 Fuel System .5 Hours

Section 31 Fuel System

RV14 Build February 22 & March 31

Fuel System

Finally got the courage to bend the new tubing and flair it out. I bend most of the tubing at home since, well its more comfortable to work at home lol. I did for get the construction plans so I had to use a digital version. It wasn't too big of a setback since my bender radius is 1.5" and the plans use 1" so my bend weren't going to track the plans exactly.

The tube from the pump to the firewall has a weird double bend bend in it, I was trying to figure out how to lay that out and bend it with my tube bender.

 I accidentally installed one of the collars upside down, so now I cut it apart and re-bend. I was gald a reused as much of my first attempt at flaring tubing to make these new parts, it left lots of extra from the new 8' section I brought from vans.

Trying different ways to debur to get a clean flair. In the end I think a crap ton of oil to lubricate the flaring tool was the ticket.

Finally have all the lines in! Mine didn't line up perfectly to the fitting so some messaging of the tubes was required to take up the slack. You can buy pre-made lines after market...for $350ish that might have been worth it, but I wanted to give this a shot.

Fuel lines going into the selector, I still need to prime and the selector face will come off thats why the control knob is still removed.

Fuel lines are in and secure.

This last bend going down needed the most messaging to get the fittings to line up.

After I was done top coating I put the fuel selector back together 

Fuel System 6.5 Hours

Section 31 Fuel System

RV14 Build January

Fuel System

I was back and forth on this, and still might be, I can buy a prebend kit of fuel lines for $300ish but I wanted to do the work and learn it so I bought an imperial tube bender, parker flair tool, and a pipe cutter. All together it was about half of prep bend it.

The fuel pump and filter, have to crimp on the ground insulated connector ring. I don't have a good picture but I also installed the fuel line brackets, there was some clearance struggles with the pop riveter, but I used the trailing edge V shaped piece "tool" the plans have you make for the elevator to get in the tight spots. Liz came to the shop and build the fuel selector!

The plans have diagrams you can use to match your bends too, but they use a 1 inch radius and my new bender is 1.5. Reading the directions for the bender is confusing at best. Lots of trial and error.

Finally have tubes that basically match the plan dimensions, now time to flair!

 And this is wear my lack of experience bites me. The soft metal is getting torn up by the flairing tool.

The bur left by the cutter is falling apart and getting pressed into the flair.

Yeah, definitely not going to work.

Ordered new tubing, after some research it seems if I debur the tube and keep the flair tool WELL lubricated the flairs will come out better. I am going to practice on the old tubing for a bit.

New technique looking MUCH better, now I just need to courage to try it on the new tubing!

Fuel System 6.0 Hours