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Author Topic: FP20/tank setup  (Read 2655 times)

Offline Gordon Tarbell

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FP20/tank setup
« on: September 16, 2012, 08:54:29 AM »
Would anyone here be able to post pictures of proper tank installation on skyray/flightsreak for the fp20/hayes tank combo? I want to make sure I set mine up correctly according to the Dirty Dan/Brett Buck description. I flew my skyrat yesterday for the first time, bench trim was pretty close but engine would start out too rich . About half way in to flight ran great and easily powered the plane through manuvers. Even tried launching with setting engine slightly beyond peak to the leanside hope it would fall back to the sweet spot. Wondering if my tank setup is not as directed in the DD/BB fp20 papers. In case it makes a difference Larry Fernandez was helping me .
Gordon Tarbell AMA 15019

Offline Brett Buck

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2012, 09:42:42 AM »
Would anyone here be able to post pictures of proper tank installation on skyray/flightsreak for the fp20/hayes tank combo? I want to make sure I set mine up correctly according to the Dirty Dan/Brett Buck description. I flew my skyrat yesterday for the first time, bench trim was pretty close but engine would start out too rich . About half way in to flight ran great and easily powered the plane through manuvers. Even tried launching with setting engine slightly beyond peak to the leanside hope it would fall back to the sweet spot. Wondering if my tank setup is not as directed in the DD/BB fp20 papers. In case it makes a difference Larry Fernandez was helping me .

  "Helping"?  Oh dear...

   I think a careful search of the Stunthangar or SSW archives would get you Dan's epic tome on the topic. I have never used the Hayes tank so I don't know how Dan sets it up. Presuming you put it inboard, I would guess that you put a hard uniflow vent right up against the fuselage side of the tank, and use the clunk as normal, and an overflow as normal. But search and find it.

    I use either a standard Sullivan SS4 tank, outboard, set up for suction with muffler pressure, with the wide part flat up against the fuselage. With that setup it has only minor mixture change over the run.  I also ran a hard tank for a while, and there is a post on SSW with the layout and template. You don't want to use a conventional 2" wide hard tank on the outboard side of the fuselage - the fuel delivery pressure is marginal.

    Brett
   

Offline Mike Greb

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2012, 11:25:34 AM »
The way I use hays tanks is to mount the molded vents to the outside.  This way the vent is a uniflow vent.  It has been working really well for us in the Dallas area.  You have to hold the plane with the nose up to fuel the tank.   The vent is either set up with muffler pressure, or in most cases we attach a small piece of 1/8 inch tubing to the top mounting lug of the engine and run the vent through that. The attatched picture if of a LA 46 setup, but the tank for the smaller motors is set up the same.

Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2012, 12:23:51 PM »
I've been mounting my tanks outboard, and "upright" (with the vents on top).  With muffler pressure it works great.
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Offline Balsa Butcher

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2012, 12:41:05 PM »
Mike: Not to hijack the thread (although I'm sure Gordon won't mind) I like that Hayes tank set-up pictured, very clean. To clarify: The pick-up is to the outside, overflow in middle, and uniflow vent inside? How is the internal tubing set-up? My guess is standard "clunk" for the fuel pickup, for the other lines, I'll hold off speculation. Looks like muffler pressure on this one as well. I only ask because I have been trying to get a similar (Sullivan) tank to work on a profile w/LA-46, so far not much luck. Thanks in advance.  8)
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Offline Tim Wescott

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2012, 01:16:12 PM »
I tried several different Sullivan and DuBro clunk tanks when I was just getting back into CL.  All of them seemed to suffer from one form of bad juju or another.   I gave up and started using metal tanks, then in a fit of desperation I put in a Hayes tank and all worked very well indeed.
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Offline Mike Greb

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2012, 02:13:41 PM »
On the hays tank setup I use, there is no internal tubing other than the clunk line.  There are two molded in vents, and with the tank on the side i use the top vent, which is now on the side as the uniflow.  The vent just below is not drilled at the factory, I drill it out and use it to fill through.  I am running this as a uniflow tank with the uniflow at the very front of the tank.

Looking at the picture, the clunk line is attached to the black fitting, which is the inboard most line,  The outboard vent is being used as a uniflow with muffler pressure. The vent between is used to fill the tank. The airplane has to be held nose up to fill the tank.

Offline Balsa Butcher

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2012, 02:41:40 PM »
Thanks for the clarification. I will give it a try!   y1 8)
Pete Cunha
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Offline Steve Helmick

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #8 on: September 16, 2012, 04:34:24 PM »
Da Dirt used to mount the Hayes tank "upright", with the vents at the top. Last year or so, he changed to use the "top" vent to be a true uniflow, i.e., outboard with the tank's "shoe" flat against the fuselage side. Well, unless the tank was mounted on the inboard side of the nose. Always with muffler pressure, but sometimes with one or two extra NV Assemblies, apparently to make setting the needle more frustrating.

The Hayes tanks are the ones least likely to leak. I have tried two Sullivans and had problems with 50% of them...probably due to an elderly rubber plug...leaked like a stuck pig. I've used Hayes tanks on a "Skyrat" (I like it!  LL~) and the F'Twister with very good results, both with the vents at the top, "shoe" down, and with muffler pressure. The F'Twister is now in Tim's hands, and I expect it is still working well, despite the ugliness. I thought seriously about turning the tank 90 deg. and putting the top vent to work as a uniflow vent, but didn't like the idea of having to tip the plane to fill (either tail down or inboard tip down). I think Dan fills his with the inboard tip down. I just don't think it should be that much hassle to fly a model plane.   Z@@ZZZ Steve
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In 1944 18-20 year old's stormed beaches, and parachuted behind enemy lines to almost certain death.  In 2015 18-20 year old's need safe zones so people don't hurt their feelings.

Offline Gordon Tarbell

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2012, 10:20:24 PM »
I have my hayes tank mounted similar to Mike Grebs with the exception of mine being mounted inboard with the "shoe" against the fuselage. I will roll it 90* so the shoe will be at the bottom. Not sure I will be able to center the black fuel outlet to the needle though. That will probably affect upright and inverted. Just for the record I am using muffler pressure fed to the furthest nipple and the middle is drilled and used for fueling and blocked for flight. The reason I call it Skyrat is it is scratch built from skyray plans with my own ratty Ideas as to which way the wind blows. I will take it back out next week for the M&M and atleast get some more sorting out done. Thanks guys.
Gordon Tarbell AMA 15019

Offline Mike Greb

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2012, 04:14:32 AM »
If you have the tank in the inboard side with the shoe mounted on the fuslage you have a suction tank, no uniflow. That would explain the rich to lean during the run that you have been getting.  with the shoe mounted to the center of the circle you have a uniflow tank, but being on the inside you will still have to set the engine a bit lean because the vent is inboard of the needle valve by about an inch. Assuming that the model is pulling 4g, that would be like setting the motor on the bench and then lifting the tank 4 inches into the air.

Offline Gordon Tarbell

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #11 on: September 17, 2012, 06:23:48 PM »
Not vented, using muffler pressure
Gordon Tarbell AMA 15019

Offline Heman Lee

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #12 on: September 17, 2012, 08:20:22 PM »
Would anyone here be able to post pictures of proper tank installation on skyray/flightsreak for the fp20/hayes tank combo? I want to make sure I set mine up correctly according to the Dirty Dan/Brett Buck description. I flew my skyrat yesterday for the first time, bench trim was pretty close but engine would start out too rich . About half way in to flight ran great and easily powered the plane through manuvers. Even tried launching with setting engine slightly beyond peak to the leanside hope it would fall back to the sweet spot. Wondering if my tank setup is not as directed in the DD/BB fp20 papers. In case it makes a difference Larry Fernandez was helping me .

Here Gordon,
Brett keeps asking me as I was taking this shot, " haven't you taking enough picture of my Skyray" .  I said its still the most FAQ on the Internet.



The next day, Brett installed a  brand new OS 25LA.  You need to get one of those!

Offline Steve Helmick

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2012, 11:47:10 PM »
Apparently, Brett uses a Sullivan tank, and not the requested Hayes product.  And Dan changed from the "standard" Hayes box shape to a "Slimline". Works, tho.  y1 Steve
"The United States has become a place where professional athletes and entertainers are mistaken for people of importance." - Robert Heinlein

In 1944 18-20 year old's stormed beaches, and parachuted behind enemy lines to almost certain death.  In 2015 18-20 year old's need safe zones so people don't hurt their feelings.

Offline Brett Buck

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #14 on: September 18, 2012, 12:19:42 AM »
Here Gordon,
Brett keeps asking me as I was taking this shot, " haven't you taking enough picture of my Skyray" .

   Actually, what I REALLY said was "Don't you think the world has enough pictures of this damn thing?"

    Brett

Offline Dennis Vander Kuur

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2012, 08:48:07 AM »
Mike Greb,
Looking at the picture of your LA .46 and tank setup I noticed something unusual. It appears that you have some type of baffle installed in the venturi. Would you be able to share some information on this feature? Thanks.
DennisV
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Offline Mike Greb

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #16 on: September 25, 2012, 10:43:52 AM »
This is actually a picture of Dale Gleasons Big Ringmaster.  It had a stick of wood stuck into one side of the venturi to reduce the choke area.   

Offline Dennis Vander Kuur

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Re: FP20/tank setup
« Reply #17 on: September 25, 2012, 12:24:42 PM »
Thanks Mike for the quick reply.
Ah yes, the old Popsicle stick in the venturi trick. Bud Bodzioch shared this nugget of wisdom with me many years ago. I was thrown off by the precision shape of Dale's insert (in contrast, my venturi stuffing efforts usually utilized roughly shaped pieces of whatever scrap wood was available).
DennisV
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