So, this weekend I went to sump the tanks on the Cessna 182 and the drain on the pilots side kept dripping. I kept pushing the plunger in and after about 20 times it finally dislodged a small piece of crap and quit dripping. I thought I'd go online to Aircraft Spruce and order two new ones but found they don't have them. And these look like a pain to change anyway.

Instead I made a couple of knurled caps and custom silicone rubber gaskets to screw on if this ever does it again and I'm somewhere with no mechanic or tools. Looks like they will work just fine.

Dave

genius. if only there was a solution for the long ones that aren't threaded...

Those, i believe, are Eagle drains. Easy to remove and change as I recall.

Nice caps, though!

http://eaglefuelcells.com/ga/valves.html

Thanks Jim!

Dave

After a little more research I think they are Cessna 84c drain valves. Looks like you have to remove the bladders to change them.

https://support.cessna.com/custsupt/con ... s_id=29720

Dave

Try this EBay Link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-84c-fue ... Swi8VZOTbP

Not cheap.

Butch

As a diligent copilot on a Citation II in 1980, I drained the sumps(similar type), and they dripped.
The Citation service center was the next hangar, so we tugged it over. They took off the fuel cap, and blew shop air into the drain to clear it.

Then said....don't drain these things...

I like your caps...nice to be a machinist..

Thanks, Jeff. I'm now pondering if there is a market for these caps.

Dave

From a pessimist's POV, what keeps these from falling off in flight?
You may want to add some type of retainer (safety wire hole and copper safety wire it to the existing hole in the drain cap retaining nut).

The compression of the gasket should introduce enough friction to prevent the caps from backing off. If one was to somehow come off, I don't think it would be much of an event anyway.

Outstanding job Dave! I regret that I have but one +1 to give to your post.

That's correct. I also put a little bit of fuel lube on the threads as well.

Dave

I have the standard type with little bars sticking out on each side. They go 5 years or so between replacements. They usually give me plenty of notice by starting with a very slow intermittent drip. To change them I just burn most of the fuel out of the tank and then transfer the rest with a bucket. I count the number of turns on the clamp when I remove the old one, and when I replace I use about the same number of turns. Shhh, don't tell anybody.

Gosh, I love looking at stuff you machinists make. When I grow up, I want to learn how...

Years ago I had a production job in the shop that required a lot of knurling on an aluminum ring so I broke down and spent a little over $1K on a Dorian knurling tool. Nicest tool I ever bought. I guess I should post this in "Your Favorite Tool" thread.

Dave

When I grow up, Dave, I want to be you.

Unfortunately, I think it is too late.