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G’day Team,
The restoration of VH-BFR is moving fwd again thanks to the team at Alpine Aviation.
That said, I received a call today, from the maintenance team, to advise that the fuel selector valve was cracked and needs to be replaced.
If you have a serviceable fuel selector valve and are willing to part with it, please let me know as a matter of urgency.
Hilly
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Hello Hilly,
The F-1 fuel valve are starting to become scarce and finding one in good condition is very hard to say the least. Here is a link to one that I found on eBay. It’s NOS and the price is kind of steep.
I hope this link works. If not just do a search for “F-1 Fuel valve”
Good luck,
Don
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G’day Don,
Many thanks for such a quick response and for your advice, your link worked by the way. Quick as you are mate, you have been beaten to the punch, Sam Taber has come to the rescue.
FYI, as it happens the valve removed from my L-5 was an E-1 and as I said to Sam ‘I didn’t know there was a difference’, still, I am more than happy to refit the F-1 and will look for an appropriate dial for the F-1.
Many thanks once again.
Hilly
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Hilly-
We have found that when replacing the F-1 fuel selector, soak it in avgas for a day. The cork is over 80 years old and may or may not leak. I have seen new F-1’s leak after installation. The Spring 2003 SOPA newsletter shows a fix by using o-rings and an internal plate to prevent leakage. I had this mod done for my G model and haven’t had a leak.
Charles
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Do not attempt to turn an NOS valve out-of-the-box until it has been disassembled,the cork seal (a cone) has been re-hydrated, and the valve reassembled with “EZ Turn” or a similar synthetic lubricant that is unaffected by fuel or solvents and meets Mil-Spec Mil-G-6032D.
Also, watch for swelling of the cork seal at the fuel ports. Any amount of distortion of the surface can cause the cork to be torn by the sharp edges of the ports, thereby rendering it useless. It would also be wise to polish the internal edges of the fuel ports if there is any roughness to them.
In our experience (me, Sam, Duncan, and many others), 2 out of 3 NOS valves have some interior corrosion or other defects from improper storage over the last 60-80 years since manufacture. If possible, get a refund or replacement guarantee from the seller.
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Do not attempt to turn an NOS valve out-of-the-box until it has been disassembled, the cork seal (a cone) has been re-hydrated, and the valve reassembled with “EZ Turn” or a similar synthetic lubricant that is unaffected by fuel or solvents and meets Mil-Spec Mil-G-6032D. Likewise, a fuel valve on any flying L-5 that is difficult to turn should receive the same treatment. One unnecessary fuel starvation accident that occurred around 15 years ago was attributed to an F-1 valve that wouldn’t turn freely.
Also, watch for swelling of the cork seal at the fuel ports. Any amount of distortion of the surface can cause the cork to be torn by the sharp edges of the ports, thereby rendering it useless. It would also be wise to polish the internal edges of the fuel ports if there is any roughness to them.
In our experience (me, Sam, Duncan, and many others), 2 out of 3 NOS valves have interior corrosion or other defects from improper storage over the last 60-80 years since manufacture. If possible, get a refund or replacement guarantee from the seller. Twenty years ago, when you could by buy them by the dozen for $25-$35 each, that didn’t matter so much.
JG
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