2 newbee questions

[brunobl]

Please bear with me folks. After playing with planks for 30 years and flying a Raptor 50 for 9 months, I'm taking the plunge into gassers.

Almost afraid to ask... this one is "fuel 101": How do you guys fuel/defuel your gasser tanks? Are there gasoline-specific manual (or electric) pumps? Is there an added safety issue with electric fuel pumps for using with gas as opposed to methanol (I supose gasoline is more volatile and more prone to accidental ignition)?

Also... I've seen pictures of Xcell Spectra-Gs with all-black as well as white/silver landing skids. Is that optional equipment? What is the standard, kit-supplied skid?

[rbort]

Here I am again! More answers from me! :-)

I use a squeeze pump from Dubro. Not sure if they still make them, but I've seem similar pumps for boat engines. Basically you squeeze it and the fuel flows in a direction. You turn it upside down and squeeze it and it flows in the other direction.

I would recommend a manual pump to reduce the amount of things to take to the field (no battery). Also with no battery there is less chance of spark and fire as gas is very flammable. Use either the squeeze type or the hand crank type designed for gas. Make it a part of your gas gan so it is one unit easy to carry and fuel with. Use only Tygon tubing (yellow) and none of the white "garbage" fuel tube that comes free with pumps and gets hard as a rock after a month of use.

As far as the landing gear on mine, its from a 99SE kit and not stock Spectra. The stock spectra gear is white with silver tubes. I preferred the black so I put that on, but I also do have the white/silver that came with the kit still new in the box.

Get JR rubber landing gear dampners and use them to install the gear on the machine. It will raise it up some for more ground/tailrotor fin clearance and give the gear an easy way "out" should you God forbid crash. The rubber dampners will rip in half and most of the time the landing gear/frame is undamaged. Well worth it and in my opinion never hard mount the gear as you are only inviting more damage.

-=>Raja.

[brunobl]

Here I am again! More answers from me! :-)

Keep them comming Raja, being able to talk with you guys is the second best thing next to being there at your flying field. It's actually even better because in that case you'd be answering instead of flying. This way at least you can do it in free time! :D

The squeeze pump is a good idea. I've seen them used in boats.
As for the manual (not electric) rotary pumps, to date I've only seen them specifically built for methanol. The little search I did manage to do to date has shown only rotary pumps labeled "not for gasoline", but I still have more search left to do. I use a manual pump with the nitro heli, attached to the gallon. One less thing to connect/disconnect. I agree that's the way to go!

It's a pitty that the kit skids are white/silver. I'd rather have the black ones.

Took note of the soft landing spacers. Will definately look into that. My Raptor sometimes does a little shaking when speeding up to speed on a hard surface even if the main blades are not too tight (don't know if the gassers may do that too?). The spaacers might actually help preventing this.

[carlos]

I took the STD white UC off my spectra and fitted the MA tuff strut(Black) to give a little more ground clearance for the tail.

[CustomPC]

I use a squeeze pump from Dubro. Not sure if they still make them.....


I use the same pump and it works great. It's Dubro part number 519.

For transporting the fuel i'm now using a 5 litre steel jerry can from http://www.proquip.com.au/1000.jpg

I used a 1 gallon plastic jerry can for a while but found that it swelled in our hot climate and vented fumes into the car when travelling. I also read reports that gasoline can go off if exposed to light and some plastics.

[ddavison]

I have seen three methods for fueling. 1. The squeeze bulb inline pump works good but it you would want to defuel the line connections must be disconnected and reversed. 2. Use a squeeze bulb to pressurize the fuel container and force the fuel out in the tank(attach the bulb to the fuel container vent). 3. Use a conventional manuel hand crank pump to fuel, lines to pump stay connected, pump is reversable to defuel if needed. Number 3 is the method I have used for ten years. Dubro makes a pump rated for gas and I have used it for quite awhile with no problems.
I use a one gallon plastic gasoline container, I mix fuel a gallon at a time , this way my fuel is fresh and easily handled, stored and transported.
As was said use only "Tygon" brand yellow tubing and not others which will harded in a short period of time.
I prefer the white struts to the black because it add to the visibility of the model but there are black struts available. If you would like more ground clearance there are heavy duty "Tuff Struts" available in both black and white, these are higher and the shids are longer but there are a little heavier. My preference is hard mounting of landing gear, Rbort's idea is good also.

[CustomPC]

The squeeze bulb inline pump works good but it you would want to defuel the line connections must be disconnected and reversed.

The Dubro bulb pump has a floating ball check valve inside it which lets you reverse the flow by holding the squeeze bulb inverted. It works really well.

[ddavison]

Sorry it was late and forgot about that bulb.

[brunobl]

Thanks for the many ideas guys,
As noted, Dubro has a manual rotating gasoline-rated pump, that is what I'd go for.


One step closer... :D