Old rags in the fuel tank
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- mikeacro
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:07 pm
- Name: Michael Thomson
- Location: Arizona
- Aircraft Type: C-140
- Occupation-Interests: Retired Corporate Pilot
- Contact:
Old rags in the fuel tank
After having a partial power loss ( see my partial power loss topic ) I cleaned the finger strainer, gascolator, replaced the fuel selector valve and blew out the lines. After a successful full power run up, I took off and experienced a significant power loss. After switching to the left tank, all was well and returned to land. Later that day, I took a flashlight and dental mirror and looked the tank. This s what I found. No doubt, this was the cause if the fuel restriction on the right tank. I later went back and did a borescope and found yet another rag, and several remnants. Pretty scary. Wonder how long they’ve been there. Two of the rags were well adhered to the tank. The first one I found was laying right by the finger strainer. Not a bad idea to take a look if you have a borescope .
Cheers, Mike- mikeacro
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:07 pm
- Name: Michael Thomson
- Location: Arizona
- Aircraft Type: C-140
- Occupation-Interests: Retired Corporate Pilot
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Re: Old rags in the fuel tank
Also, the amazingly detailed print on the rags was identified as a pattern for dish towels in the 30’s and 40’s. Wonder how long they been in the tank?
- 6597
- Posts: 380
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- Name: David Sbur
- Location: Vancouver WA KVUO
- Aircraft Type: '46 140 0-200A
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Re: Old rags in the fuel tank
Were they straining fuel with dish towels back in the day? I can't imagine somebody being so clumsy.
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- Name: Matt
- Location: 9B8 CT
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Re: Old rags in the fuel tank
Nice, did you check your turn and bank lately?
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- Posts: 355
- Joined: Tue May 01, 2018 7:00 am
- Name: Mike Smith
- Location: Florida
- Aircraft Type: 140A (2) 1949 & 1950
- Occupation-Interests: Retired aerial power line patrol pilot for Gulf Power Co. CFIA, CFII, MEI
120-140 Assoc. Florida Rep. N9633A & N9688A - Contact:
Re: Old rags in the fuel tank
That business of buying a lottery ticket that John mentioned wouldn't hurt here either. Wow, talk about living on borrowed time.