fuel drain drip in my 231

[chrisk]

The drain in the floor with the ring you pull is leaking on my 231.  It's a drop about once a minute.  I tried flushing with a long pull and rotating the ring, but it still drips.  Any other suggestions?  I tried searching on the forums, but I didn't get much, although I'm sure I'm not the first with this problem.    I'm assuming a piece of dirt in the drain, or a bad "O" ring.  I'm just curious how to dislodge some derbies, or the cost/effort to replace the seals in the drain?

[carusoam]

It works like the wing drains as well (old memory, so use caution)

I believe I have poke it to visually see what is coming out and collect any dirt particles...

Again wait for a second opinion on this...

Best regards,

-a-

[chrisk]

 

On my plane, there are two ports beside the left nose wheel door gear.  With the help of an assistant today, I was able to verify the rearmost port is for the gascolator and it does not leak when closed.  The front most port is the one that is dripping. Is this what they call a snifter valve?  On the fuel schematic, the fuel pump shows a "nipple" (#19), which I assume is the dripping port.

 

So, is it the fuel pump leaking?  Presumably this port is supposed to expel fuel for some reason, but I don't know what that reason is.  And what would make this port drip? 

 

Anyway, the plane goes into the shop this week to fix the primer plumbing, which is broken at a connector.  The mechanic is quite good, but he is not a Mooney specialist.  Presumably this is not Mooney specific?

[carusoam]

Electric fuel pumps have a drain for when the seals leak the fuel is intentionally dumped overboard.

When my fuel pump leaked, it was a drip every now and then...

When I turned the pump on, it was much more of a flow...

The sniffle valve is related to excess fuel collected in the intake system. This is a check valve type...

A small piece of sheet metal covers the area on the O. Making the job of swapping out the pump relatively easy.

Good luck,

-a-

[Guest]

The nipple is installed in the fuel boost pump body, it is meant to drain any fuel which leaks past a worn seal, thereby keeping it from mixing with any wayward electrons in the pump motor.

Clarence