NicoN Posted February 24, 2020 Report Posted February 24, 2020 We have Shaw 431 fuel caps. And they are painted. Over the years and especially as my co-owner were using pliers to open and close them, they now look awful. Is it possible to strip off the paint and polish them? Just an idea. I like those polished fuel caps Quote
carusoam Posted February 24, 2020 Report Posted February 24, 2020 A great question for @OSUAV8TER strip, clean, polish... fuel caps. -a- Quote
RLCarter Posted February 24, 2020 Report Posted February 24, 2020 6 hours ago, NicoN said: my co-owner were using pliers to open and close them, they now look awful. I can see maybe once, hard to imagine using pliers when it’s an easy fix Quote
bradp Posted February 24, 2020 Report Posted February 24, 2020 I have seen some appear to have been polished. Just have the set screws adjusted to that Goldilocks happy place or no water let in but still able to be opened Quote
xcrmckenna Posted February 28, 2020 Report Posted February 28, 2020 @KSMooniac has stripped and polished caps. They look great!! 1 Quote
KSMooniac Posted February 28, 2020 Report Posted February 28, 2020 [mention=6924]KSMooniac[/mention] has stripped and polished caps. They look great!! I wish I did! You're close...I took the caps from my salvage plane and had them professionally polished, then I carefully masked and painted the wells for the tabs to finish the makeover... and then went to my plane and discovered they didn't fit!Someday I'll do it again with my current caps.Sent from my LG-US996 using Tapatalk 1 1 Quote
LANCECASPER Posted February 28, 2020 Report Posted February 28, 2020 On 2/24/2020 at 6:26 AM, NicoN said: We have Shaw 431 fuel caps. And they are painted. Over the years and especially as my co-owner were using pliers to open and close them, they now look awful. Is it possible to strip off the paint and polish them? Just an idea. I like those polished fuel caps Yes it is. I polished them and then sent to these guys: https://www.engravers.net/fuel-caps.html 1 Quote
ArtVandelay Posted February 28, 2020 Report Posted February 28, 2020 Yes it is. I polished them and then sent to these guys: https://www.engravers.net/fuel-caps.html How hard is it to maintain it, how often do you have to re-polish it? Quote
xcrmckenna Posted February 28, 2020 Report Posted February 28, 2020 I wish I did! You're close...I took the caps from my salvage plane and had them professionally polished, then I carefully masked and painted the wells for the tabs to finish the makeover... and then went to my plane and discovered they didn't fit!Someday I'll do it again with my current caps.Sent from my LG-US996 using Tapatalk That’s right. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
LANCECASPER Posted February 28, 2020 Report Posted February 28, 2020 I haven’t done anything and they still look the same Quote
carusoam Posted February 28, 2020 Report Posted February 28, 2020 Aluminum will stay polished pretty well for a decade... Some of the mirror finish gets oxidized... Helps to keep it indoors. Clean and repolish as needed... Best regards, -a- Quote
RobertGary1 Posted February 29, 2020 Report Posted February 29, 2020 On 2/28/2020 at 5:44 AM, LANCECASPER said: Yes it is. I polished them and then sent to these guys: https://www.engravers.net/fuel-caps.html Why do you have to fill both wings evenly? -Robert Quote
OR75 Posted February 29, 2020 Report Posted February 29, 2020 The fuel caps should not need pliers to be removed tHe castle nut need to be adjusted properly the cap need to be aligned properly before looking ... I tell refuelers that I will remove and reinstall the caps myself Quote
thinwing Posted February 29, 2020 Report Posted February 29, 2020 I saw a set that were anadized (aluminum parts)steel tab powder coated on a friends Beech duke Quote
RobertGary1 Posted February 29, 2020 Report Posted February 29, 2020 5 hours ago, OR75 said: The fuel caps should not need pliers to be removed tHe castle nut need to be adjusted properly the cap need to be aligned properly before looking ... I tell refuelers that I will remove and reinstall the caps myself Can be a variety of reasons. I have one where the lever on the plunger itself is very very stiff. Only thing I can think is to drill the pin out that holds it and find another pin to replace it. -Robert Quote
carusoam Posted February 29, 2020 Report Posted February 29, 2020 7 hours ago, RobertGary1 said: Why do you have to fill both wings evenly? -Robert when you follow all the procedures... all the stall characteristics will match book values... Or... it is a best practice to follow... The note will advise the lineman to not put all 50 gallons on one side... An un-even fuel load will lead to using additional rudder input to level the wings... Small reasons to help get closer to an ideal T/O situation... or avoid surprises.. Check the POH... a similar guidance is probably found under refueling... PP thoughts only, not a mechanic... or cfi... Best regards, -a- 1 Quote
cliffy Posted February 29, 2020 Report Posted February 29, 2020 Mooney factory has said there is a negligible roll factor felt with one tank full and the other empty The same ain't true in a 727. You don't want to know how I know. 1 Quote
carusoam Posted February 29, 2020 Report Posted February 29, 2020 In an M20C... The plane can be kept on the magenta line by balancing fuel... Combined with the pilot shifting weight... Weight shifts to the left are more challenging... somebody put a window there that doesn’t open... In an M20R... the AP will keep the plane flying on the magenta line with a very large imbalance of fuel... So... The Mooney factory is right... And there is a best practice for those that want to follow along... The factory also promotes very conservative operation so small differences in WnB2 don’t cause big problems... (balance in two directions) PPs don’t usually take the cross direction balance into account... usually by keeping the wings equally loaded... Like initial conditions in a mathematical equation... 0 imbalance, ignore the math... The worst case is an empty tank and a full tank on a Long Body... 65gs on one side, 390LBs, out past the fuel cap... (to add some visualization to where I’m going) One of us is going to get the new line man... right after a really long flight... Best regards, -a- Quote
RobertGary1 Posted February 29, 2020 Report Posted February 29, 2020 1 hour ago, carusoam said: when you follow all the procedures... all the stall characteristics will match book values... Or... it is a best practice to follow... The note will advise the lineman to not put all 50 gallons on one side... I’ve never heard of an fbo accepting a total fuel order. I’ve always given the fuel order per tank. -Robert Quote
GeeBee Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 Never allow unattended fueling of your airplane. Quote
carusoam Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 Hang out wherever new line men are hired... +1 on being there for the entire process... when able... As somebody has figured out how to put Jet A in some Mooneys... (old threads around here) Best regards, -a- Quote
RobertGary1 Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 20 minutes ago, GeeBee said: Never allow unattended fueling of your airplane. That’s not realistic for most people. -Robert Quote
Hank Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 3 hours ago, RobertGary1 said: I’ve never heard of an fbo accepting a total fuel order. I’ve always given the fuel order per tank. -Robert They always remember "fill both tanks." When I've tried to specify hiw many gallons in which tank, confusion frequently reigns. Quote
redcatcher27 Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 Boy! Those polished caps sure do look great! But I heard somewhere that in the middle of the summer, in full sun, that they were "hotter than a June bride". Quote
Hank Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 5 hours ago, redcatcher27 said: But I heard somewhere that in the middle of the summer, in full sun, that they were "hotter than a June bride". I can believe that. I used to keep a pair of gloves in the back when I lived in WV; now it's down to a few tools and a pair of mechanics gloves. That would be a good time to wear them. Would also keep your hands clean when handling the nasty black fuel hose . . . . 1 Quote
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