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Stranded need fuel pump 66E Corpus Christi

Matt Michael

By Matt Michael
in General Mooney Talk

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Matt Michael Enthusiast

Matt Michael

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Discovered my fuel pump was leaking significantly during my preflight prior to departure for home today. Been staying at the awesome Amelia's Landing hotel at Port Aransas (KRAS) TX. Probably not a great idea to fly with it leaking. Got the whole family and 1000 miles to go. Called Don Maxwell and left a message. Rough time due to the holidays. Better half needs to be at work on Monday. If anybody has any bright ideas I'm all ears and big thanks in advance. I've got a Weldon A8163A

Matt Michael Enthusiast

Matt Michael

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Mcstealth where are you located?

My number is 515-451-1068, cell/text

I've got pressure just fine. But not real keen on taking off into marginal conditions leaking fuel. Don Maxwell said it would probably be fine but could suck air on climb out. You can imagine how fun that would be!

bonal Grand Master

bonal

Posted
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Can you tell where it's leaking perhaps it's just a gasket that's failed and could be field repaired with some gasket material cut to size. Otherwise you might have to get a car rental get your family home safe then back down with your new fuel pump to get your bird home.

Good luck to you. Always remember it's better to be on the ground wishing you were flying than in the air wishing you were on the ground.

  • Like 1
Matt Michael Enthusiast

Matt Michael

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Leaking out of the blue AN threaded fitting (flare or compression) on the bottom of the pump that I believe is there specifically as a drain. There is a 1 cm hole in the skin directly under the fitting obviously to allow fuel to exit. So, clearly it's designed as a drain. But, now it is dripping a drop approximately once per second which to me seems like a lot. In 18 hours my full tanks were down several gallons! Now that I've shut the fuel valve off its diminished significantly.

Marauder Grand Master

Marauder

Posted
Posted

Leaking out of the blue AN threaded fitting (flare or compression) on the bottom of the pump that I believe is there specifically as a drain. There is a 1 cm hole in the skin directly under the fitting obviously to allow fuel to exit. So, clearly it's designed as a drain. But, now it is dripping a drop approximately once per second which to me seems like a lot. In 18 hours my full tanks were down several gallons! Now that I've shut the fuel valve off its diminished significantly.

Is it about a half inch round? If so, it is a sump drain. Have you ever drained fuel out of it? If not, go ahead and use the sump fuel tester with your fuel sump tester. It is spring loaded just like the fuel sumps. Maybe a piece of junk got caught in it.

If you are talking about the threaded valve, then I think you have an issue to deal with.

N601RX Grand Master

N601RX

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The blue AN fitting is the fuel pump. It is there so when the seal between the pump and motor starts leaking the fuel runs out the fitting instead of filling up the motor side of the pump with fuel. Hopefully someone will be open Friday and can overnight it to you with Saturday delivery.

Yetti Grand Master

Yetti

Posted
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One option would be to bypass the boost pump and just fly on the engine driven pump which is how you fly all the time. 
 
 
You would need to remove the fuel lines from the pump.   The fuel lines are a JIC fitting  http://www.amazon.com/Weatherhead-C5515X8-Flare-Twin-Fitting-Straight/dp/B00BKFQP6M
 
You would need this JIC fitting and some fuel line and clamps   https://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/441500-131280
 
NAPA Auto Parts Address: 1354 West Wheeler Avenue, Aransas Pass, TX 78336
 
Napa would probably have the fittings and fuel line
 
IF not there is an aeroquip dealer over across in Corpus  http://amigosequipment.com/oilfield.htm
 
As always you are the owner/PIC
jrwilson Mentor

jrwilson

Posted
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One option would be to bypass the boost pump and just fly on the engine driven pump which is how you fly all the time. 

 

http://www.mooney.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/sbm20-227b.pdf

 

You would need to remove the fuel lines from the pump.   The fuel lines are a JIC fitting  http://www.amazon.com/Weatherhead-C5515X8-Flare-Twin-Fitting-Straight/dp/B00BKFQP6M

 

You would need this JIC fitting and some fuel line and clamps   https://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/441500-131280

 

NAPA Auto Parts Address: 1354 West Wheeler Avenue, Aransas Pass, TX 78336

 

Napa would probably have the fittings and fuel line

 

IF not there is an aeroquip dealer over across in Corpus  http://amigosequipment.com/oilfield.htm

 

As always you are the owner/PIC

Except then on that 1000 mile flight home he has no backup system should his engine driven pump fail.

While maybe a reasonable work around (maybe) for a short hop to mx, I think in general it is a bad idea. The Weldon boost pump is super easy to field replace, once one arrived.

The smart choice here is good ol' Southwest Airlines and pick the plane up later. I always try to remember "time to spare, go by air." Don't fall victim to get thereitis.

  • Like 3
mooneyflyfast Rising Star

mooneyflyfast

Posted
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You have a hole in your pump diaphragm. You will need a new or rebuilt one. I went through this a few years ago on my J model. I would try to get one Fed X for delivery Sat. and try to find someone to install it Sat. or Sun.

Yetti Grand Master

Yetti

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Corpus is one of  the centers of getting oilfield stuff rebuilt. 

 

Best option.  Pull the pump SWA the family home and get a rebuild.   come down and reinstall the pump and fly it home. 

 

Or order one next day and replace it. Fly it home.  

 

Sometimes when pumps fail stuff goes downstream.  Back flushing the system is a good idea.

  • Like 1
carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

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when you have time...

Update some details like what Mooney you have.

A casual observer might have the part you are looking for but doesn't know what you need.

my experience with the electric boost pump...

The seals leak with age (15 years for mine). My pump got removed, sent out, installed new parts, sent back, and got reinstalled. the R&R was pretty easy. shipping around the country took time...

The other thing I noticed was my boost pump had been leaking for years without me really knowing it. It happens under the plane while you are inside.

the part that made me uneasy... can air be sucked into the fuel system with the leak I had...?

When I saw a drip fall out of the pump drain, while I was pre-flighting, I knew it was time to get it fixed...

good luck!

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