RobertGary1 Posted October 16, 2015 Report Posted October 16, 2015 Curious if anyone here has replaced their wing root fuel hose. It looks like it buffers stress from wing flex. It doesn't look like a very beefy hose, it looks like a 5/8" heater hose. I've been replacing all the oil and fuel hoses in my plane and ran across this. But I've not found anyone else who has replaced these. If they leak the entire content of your fuel tank will end up on the cabin floor. Just curious if I"m the only one who's considered replacing these. -Robert Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted October 16, 2015 Report Posted October 16, 2015 More likely the fuel gauges will leak and fill the cabin with fuel. The hoses are fairly easy to replace once you remove the interior. They are guaranteed to be hard as rocks and you will probably need to cut them off. Quote
RobertGary1 Posted October 16, 2015 Author Report Posted October 16, 2015 But most of us replace our fuel gauge gaskets every 5-10 years when we smell fuel. Is anyone replacing the rubber hoses there as well? -Robert Quote
Yetti Posted October 16, 2015 Report Posted October 16, 2015 This was highly suggested. I saw them when replacing the panels. There is that old let sleeping dog lie phrase and if it aint broke don't fix it. They will get done some day. I would think National Aviation Part of America would have replacement. Looks to be the same size hose as the oil drain back hose from the rocker covers maybe a size bigger. Quote
Andy95W Posted October 16, 2015 Report Posted October 16, 2015 I'll put myself in the camp of suggesting to replace them if you have the panels out, but don't worry about them if they're not leaking. The locations of these hoses are adjacent to the points where the wing spar bolts to the steel roll cage. At that point there really shouldn't be any flexing- and if there is, you probably have much bigger problems! Quote
RobertGary1 Posted October 16, 2015 Author Report Posted October 16, 2015 If there is no flex why would Mooney put a hose there? The engineers must have seen some reason to interrupt the hardlines that are otherwise used. Hardlines are obviously more durable. -Robeer Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted October 16, 2015 Report Posted October 16, 2015 The aluminum tubing is easier to integrate into the wet wing tank. To put an AN fitting there would require a beefy flange be built into the side of the tank. Besides, I think their design if great. Most of those hoses were put there over 40 years ago and they almost never fail. If they do it is cheap and easy to repair. Quote
Shadrach Posted October 16, 2015 Report Posted October 16, 2015 Curious if anyone here has replaced their wing root fuel hose. It looks like it buffers stress from wing flex. It doesn't look like a very beefy hose, it looks like a 5/8" heater hose. I've been replacing all the oil and fuel hoses in my plane and ran across this. But I've not found anyone else who has replaced these. If they leak the entire content of your fuel tank will end up on the cabin floor. Just curious if I"m the only one who's considered replacing these. -Robert Go ahead and replace them while you're in there. I don't think that any one has or ever will experience a "catastrophic" failure that fills the cabin floor. There is not a lot flex taking place at the root of the wing. Quote
Andy95W Posted October 16, 2015 Report Posted October 16, 2015 If there is no flex why would Mooney put a hose there? The engineers must have seen some reason to interrupt the hardlines that are otherwise used. Hardlines are obviously more durable. -Robeer Inexpensive and ease of assembly is my bet. What I was trying to say about the flex issue is that even a 50 year old hose could handle any really small movement that might occur in that area because of the rigidity of the structure. Quote
carusoam Posted October 16, 2015 Report Posted October 16, 2015 Things to consider... 1) Fuel hose chemistry and construction has changed a bit over the last 50 years. 2) Old/ancient hoses can sluff off small bits that go towards the next screen. They may also swell and harden... 3) People report small unidentified bits blocking their fuel injectors. 4) There are a few low pressure hoses that are worthy of replacement every couple of decades... 5) Some are longer than others. - fuel tank hoses. - flap hydraulic fluid return. - engine oil returns from the rocker boxes on the cylinders. - fuel pressure and oil pressure lines that deliver hot or flammable fluids to the cockpit are worthy of updates. These are the small hoses that were replaced at various annuals for my M20C. - I am a CB. - I am a fan of letting sleeping dogs lie. - I am also a value hunter at annual. While you are planning to be in there... - I also keep both eyes open. I cleaned a stain off the belly panel last year, and it's back this year... Thoughts of a PP, I'm not a mechanic... -a- Keep in mind this is my experience from my M20C. Quote
testwest Posted October 17, 2015 Report Posted October 17, 2015 I replaced these with a piece of of the same hose material, MIL-H-6000 I think. It was fast, easy and relatively cheap. Quote
Guest Posted October 17, 2015 Report Posted October 17, 2015 (edited) If there is no flex why would Mooney put a hose there? The engineers must have seen some reason to interrupt the hardlines that are otherwise used. Hardlines are obviously more durable. -Robeer Cost would be a driver. Three inches of Mil-H-6000-3/8" hose and two clamps is cheaper than one Union, two "B" nuts, two sleeves and the labour to flair both ends. The hose is under no pressure so the hose is simple and effective. Clarence Edited October 17, 2015 by M20Doc Quote
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