Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/457474
1 Some restrictions may apply. Visit www.aircraftspruce.com/eaaDiscountGuide.html for a list of discounts . 2 Subject to credit ap- proval. Net purchases are purchases minus credits and returns. Accounts must be open and in good standing (not past due) to earn and redeem rewards. Bonus points will be credited to your account within 6-8 weeks after fi rst purchase. 3 Cash back is redeemed in the form of a statement credit. The creditor and issuer of the EAA Card is U.S. Bank National Association, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. © 2014 U.S. Bank National Association Enjoy these benefi ts: • Up to 10% off purchases at Aircraft Spruce & Specialty 1 • 1,000 bonus points after fi rst purchase 2 • One reward point for every $1 spent in net purchases everywhere Visa ® is accepted 2 • Redeem points for your EAA membership, cash back 3 , merchandise, and more Plus, each purchase helps support EAA programs. Cardmembers have already helped contribute over $600,000 to projects including the EAA AirVenture Museum and various youth aviation programs. Apply Now! Visit usbank.com/EAA_Aviation to learn more. Save on purchases at Aircraft Spruce with the EAA Visa Signature ® Card! EAA Webinars INTERACTIVE | EDUCATIONAL | MOBILE What would you like to learn? EAA offers a series of free live webinars moderated and presented by aviation experts on a variety of topics. Register today! EAA.org/webinars EAA Webinars are supported by EAA Experimenter 27 few years ago determined that the valves cannot be over- hauled, meaning that you cannot replace the seal in the field. In fact, you cannot legally use the O -ring, and the original seals are no longer sold on the open market. You may find one at a fly market, but again, per the FAA it is not legal to install it. Your only option is to replace the entire valve. The good news is that the valves are relatively inexpensive and readily available from most aviation supply houses. The most recent Aircraft Spruce & Specialty price on the above-mentioned CCA-1550 is $12.50, so just buy a new one. Another reason you may want to replace the valve is due to age. A 10-year limit on the seal is established by the manufacturer. The biggest problem you will probably have is removal of the old valve. Remember that the valve was screwed in to a jam condition using the NPT tapered threads. It should have been put in with a thread sealant, preferably Tefl on based, but it probably wasn't; and now you have to break it loose. Also remember that the body is soft brass. If you simply use an open-end wrench, or worse yet, an adjustable wrench, the chances are that the fl ats on the brass body of the valve will give way prior to the valve rotating. You then are faced with us- ing channel-locks or vise grips and pretty much destroying the valve to get it out. A much easier approach is to cut of the protruding crossbar ears and use a deep socket or slip on a box-end wrench. (See photo.) The best removal tool is a deep six-point socket. It will easily remove the valve. The crossbar ears can be cut of easily with a fi ne hacksaw, razor saw (available at hobby shops), or (carefully) with a cutting wheel on a Dremel-type tool. Install the new valve with appropriate thread sealant and do not overtorque. A good technique is to lightly torque the valve in place and then put in fuel. If there is a leak around the threads, continue torquing just until the leak stops. Do not overtorque. Fittings can be cracked, which leads to a much more complicated repair. If you fl y a plane that has this type of valve, you may want to keep a spare in stock, just in case. It is cheap insurance against losing a tank of avgas at today's prices. I hope this discussion helps you with building and maintain- ing your bird. Richard "Dick" Koehler, EAA 161427, is an active pilot, A&P; mechanic with inspection authorization (IA), an instructor for the EAA SportAir Workshops, and EAA technical counselor for EAA Chapter 186.