3 hours.
I got over my tubingbenderphobia long enough to make the filter output line for the AFP fuel pump. This line delivers clean fuel from the fuel filter to the high-pressure AFP boost pump. I also mounted the Andair fuel valve in it’s plate. This was particularly fun because at first try, I was unable to get the screw out of the valve knob so I could take it off. There’s a spring loaded release knob on the main knob and you have to lift this up to get a custom, cut down hex wrench in there to get the screw out. This is all good, but the release knob doesn’t lift far enough to clear the screw, so what you have to do is pull up on the main knob while loosening the screw and the whole thing comes off the valve shaft. Genius, really. It insures you won’t lose the screw accidentally, which is great. The stainless steel screws don’t look much different from metal shavings once they hit the shop floor.
Here’s the valve and pump in place:
Here are the two stick boot rings waiting to have the center holes cut out. My Dremel died a sudden and traumatic death a while back, so I’m at a loss for things to use for precision cuts on small pieces. I guess I could sack up and use the air-powered cutoff wheel, but that thing has a way of going wild and I’m not sure I trust it on a piece like this. If I don’t get a new Dremel soon, i’ll just have to do it that way.
This is the pump with the pump supply line installed. I haven’t pressure tested this line yet, I need to get an AN6 plug and a fitting with a schrader valve on it so I can give it 20lbs of air and see if it leaks. Anal, sure, but fuel spraying all over the cockpit on first start is not a scene I want to shoot.
A couple of gratuitous shots of the Andair valve. Maybe by now you’ve guessed correctly that the expensive stuff gets more photo action.
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