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04-01-2015, 04:33 PM | #1 |
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(Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
Having a bunch of cast iron sediment bowls to restore has gotten me to thinking (I know - dangerous!)
Could I replace the valve needle (Picture 1) With an aircraft type gas tank drain valve (picture 2) Then before every start I could use an aircraft type fuel testing cup (picture 3) to quickly sample the fuel and check for water or other gunk! The aircraft drain valve is 7/16 20 which looks very close to the model A needle valve. Does anyone know the size and thread count of the model A sediment needle valve? |
04-01-2015, 06:31 PM | #2 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
Does the aircraft valve take sample from the "bottom" of the sediment bowl? It appears to have holes just below the sealing face - but won't these be covered when in place?
And if you're sampling higher (there seems to be something, possibly a sample point up on the straight above the thread) what might be the point? Maybe a mason jar will do as well for what you learn? Joe K
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04-01-2015, 08:39 PM | #3 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
For 28$ plus shipping x-2 on mason jar or baby food jar :-)
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04-01-2015, 08:41 PM | #4 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
Can't you accomplish the same thing with the original valve set-up?
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04-01-2015, 09:10 PM | #5 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
I have a few extra valves to play with so I figured it would be fun to experiment. I am thinking of putting the female part of the valve in my drill press and removing the sealing surface of the needle valve which should expose the drain holes to the bottom of the bowl.
As far as cost goes - If I were cost sensitive I'd sure be in the wrong hobby! I enjoy "instant engineering" so the experiment should be fun. The cost of the parts is just the price of admission. My aviation background and interest leads be to believe that this might just be a very convenient minor mod that will result in checking the fuel before EVERY start. A good thing IMHO. Yes the original needle valve will accomplish the same thing, but this mod may do it easier with less chance of a leak. Then again it might not work at all! I'll let you all know if it does. That still leaves my original question: does anyone know the size and thread count of the needle valve? Last edited by pgerhardt; 04-01-2015 at 09:19 PM. |
04-01-2015, 09:14 PM | #6 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
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04-01-2015, 10:39 PM | #7 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
I have changed a couple of those on Air Planes. 115/145 sure is cold out on the flt line in the winter when it runs down your arm. We didn't defuel the plane and just did a quick swap of the leaky drain with a new one and hoped you got it started the first time before your fingers got too cold to feel the new sump drain.
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04-02-2015, 07:33 AM | #8 | |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
Quote:
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04-14-2015, 12:06 PM | #9 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
After some instant engineering I got the an aircraft type gas tank drain valve to work with the case iron model A sediment bulb. Since the threads on the valve were 7/16 - 20, this is same as the Ford part, and so it was a perfect fit. But as Joe K pointed out the aircraft valve picks up the fuel (and water) from the very bottom, some work was needed. First I put the Ford brass "receiving nut" in my drill press and removed the seat where the needle used to seal to allow the AC valve to fit up into the sediment bulb. But then I still had to find a way for the fuel to make its way all the way down to the valve's receiving holes. I took my dremel tool and carefully cut channels through the threads of the valve and matching channels in the Ford brass "receiving nut". After cleaning up the threads of both pieces with a tap and die, it went together perfectly, and worked with no leaks. YEA!
Last edited by pgerhardt; 04-14-2015 at 01:41 PM. |
04-14-2015, 01:07 PM | #10 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
I was thinking of using an SA3 Gascolator, wonder if that would work?
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04-14-2015, 01:38 PM | #11 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
I would think you could use one in place of a sediment bowl, but they are expensive! If I can find someone with a lathe to turn down the valve so that I can fit the cast handles from the original needle, the mod will look 100 percent original. That is something the gascolator will never be.
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04-14-2015, 01:56 PM | #12 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
Not really worried about "looking original". Just would like to supply a clean flow of fuel to the carb. Not being a machinist, I have to look for things that bolt on and will do the job.
Wonder if the price would be less without the STC? I'll have to ask.
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04-14-2015, 02:09 PM | #13 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
Just make sure you get one certified for a Cessna or other high wing aircraft with a gravity feed fuel system. You would not want one designed for the higher pressure of a fuel pump.
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04-14-2015, 02:28 PM | #14 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
Minerva had a cast sediment bowl, when I drained the bowl, I NEVER found WATER?? I drove her 400 to 500 miles a MONTH!
Bill W.
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04-14-2015, 04:57 PM | #15 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
I think it's a neat idea, since you can't see inside the cast iron sediment bulb. You may want to explain to some of the barners how the aircraft fuel sampler cup works, though.
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04-14-2015, 07:29 PM | #16 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
There is no doubt that I enjoy the creative aspect of "instant engineering". However there is a practical reason. The easier and more convenient an operation is the more likely you will do it every time. The aircraft fuel sampling valve is both of those. You insert the pin of the fuel sampling cup and push. the fuel flows down the pin into the cup. Remove the cup and the valve closes and seals. No spills, no drips, no gas smell on your hands. With the original valve, fuel starts to flow as soon as you begin unscrewing it. Most likely getting some on your fingers, and continues to flow as you screw it closed - another opportunity to make a mess.
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04-14-2015, 07:56 PM | #17 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
With a glass bowl, you see 2 flakes of rust & PANIC! In the iron bowl, you just "SET IT & FORGET IT"---It has a FINE, well designed SCREEN, don't you have enough FAITH in it, to accept the fact that it's doing it's JOB properly?
Do you pull your pan every week, just to see if something STRANGE got in there?? Do you also pull the head every 17 days, just to check for CRACKS or what COLOR your head gasket has turned, or to see if you remember??? what style of GASKET you used, 17 DAYS ago! And rustle through yore INVOICES, so's you can complain about SHIPPPING charges (:-( I jist want to git to walking "normal" & spend 2 or 3 hours, finishing Vermin, & see if I can still drive him, with my almost NEW, G-FORCE, RACIN' shoes!! Bill W. Bill W.
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"THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF" Last edited by BILL WILLIAMSON; 04-14-2015 at 08:18 PM. Reason: MISPELLED A WURD & FERGOT A COMMA! |
04-14-2015, 08:27 PM | #18 |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
Bill, With all the alky in the gas Minerva will have to go to an AA meeting to get dried out, dontcha know? " Hello! My name is Minerva and I'm a? Gee, what am I? Cars can't be alcoholics can they? Well anyway, I had my first drink at 75. It was a mixed drink and now I really like the stuff!" Alcohol's great when taken with the right water!
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04-14-2015, 10:48 PM | #19 | |
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Re: (Great?) Sediment Bowl Idea
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Minerva cain't go to AA! She now lives in Hagenborg, B. C, 600 miles North of Vancouver, Canada. Now owned by a BEAR Researcher. Had to sell her when Pat was in a care home & $$$$$$'s were short. Bill W.
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