jlunseth Posted March 7, 2021 Report Posted March 7, 2021 On 11/19/2020 at 2:38 PM, toto said: Anyone have a photo of where exactly you stick this thing during preflight to ensure the vents are clear? No photo, but it would be into the vents, one on each side, small round hold about 2/3rds outboard, under the leading edge. The vents should be visually checked every pre-flight. Favorite spot for spiders to build nests, or mud daubers. Quote
GeeBee Posted March 7, 2021 Report Posted March 7, 2021 23 minutes ago, EricJ said: I thought Porsche invented oil leaks? I said if they leak, they repair them immediately. Ever seen a poor Porsche mechanic? Quote
exM20K Posted March 7, 2021 Report Posted March 7, 2021 2 hours ago, GeeBee said: It is Germany, they are not allowed to have oil leaks and if they do, they repair them immediately. Ask my Mercedes mechanic. Exhibit 1: BMW Motorrad vs Harley Dan 2015 R1200R 2016 K1600 GT Quote
hammdo Posted March 7, 2021 Report Posted March 7, 2021 39 minutes ago, EricJ said: I thought Porsche invented oil leaks? Harley did... ;o) -Don 1 Quote
dfurst Posted July 22, 2021 Report Posted July 22, 2021 On 12/16/2020 at 7:33 AM, Graf_Aviator said: I have 3D-printed fuel vent covers using flex material, they perfectly fit on my Ovation. I have designed the cover with a small breather hole, about 2mm, maybe 1/16" in size. That allows some air exchange but it is definitely not enough for flight operations with the cover on. So, I have printed a small storage board also which is glued to the back wall of my luggage compartment. It holds both fuel vent covers and the pitot heat cover... In order to not forget to remove these covers I have added a line to both the outside- and regular check list. Just before starting the engine I turn my head and look to the back. If I see 3 red tags, all of the covers are removed. In case anyone is interested and wants to print it, I have posted the parts on thingiverse. Thingiverse Download Or if you are in my neck of the woods, come by my house in Munich for a chat and I'll print them for you. (After Covid19 has eased of...) Happy landings ! Downloaded and uploaded to makexyz.com. $31. Came in the mail today. Can't wait to try them out! 1 Quote
DXB Posted July 22, 2021 Report Posted July 22, 2021 On 11/27/2020 at 7:28 PM, GeeBee said: In thinking about this and "covers" for the vents, it occurs that the "cure" may be worse than the disease. If you forget your vent covers, it could have fatal consequences. Sure you can put red streamers on them, but I've seen a lot of planes return after take off with. the red streamers hanging from the wheel wells (gear pins.....dough!) I think it is safer to preflight them for obstructions, than to cover them. Sure we cover pitot tubes but you can fly without airspeed indications, and if you forget your intake covers, you'll know it before run up, but fuel vents................ Interesting thread. I agree with sentiments above but am still a little unclear on how best to preflight these things for obstructions effectively - btw I have the O&N bladder vents that look like this. Blowing into them with tubing could dislodge sediment into the tanks? Quote
J Bird Posted July 24, 2021 Report Posted July 24, 2021 On 7/22/2021 at 4:31 PM, dfurst said: Downloaded and uploaded to makexyz.com. $31. Came in the mail today. Can't wait to try them out! Just ordered 2. Thanks for the lead on Makexyz.com Quote
carusoam Posted July 25, 2021 Report Posted July 25, 2021 Note for Dev… Blowing into the vent tube could stuff junk into the tank… Most bugs are forced to keep their nest close to the end of the vent… The O2 is limited as the bugs enter the tube… So… a good visual inspection is pretty helpful… The mud nests leave a lot of visual clues in the area… Statistically, I’m at N=1 for number of mud nests I found in my tank vents… One was enough… Best regards, -a- Quote
Matty Posted June 17 Report Posted June 17 I justttt had what has to be a mud dauber event in my M20M. Thanks to this thread for confirming symptoms. Curious thoughts for 'prevention' and something like a foam mic cover to be added to cover it. Just throwing out a random idea to see thoughts. Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted June 17 Report Posted June 17 7 minutes ago, Matty said: I justttt had what has to be a mud dauber event in my M20M. Thanks to this thread for confirming symptoms. Curious thoughts for 'prevention' and something like a foam mic cover to be added to cover it. Just throwing out a random idea to see thoughts. Go to the auto parts store and find some nice rubber hose that will fit over the vent tight enough so it doesn't fall off. Get some RBF keychains from a pilot shop. Cut off about 4" of hose and poke a hole in the hose and thread the keychain loop through the hole. The ring in the hose will still let the tank breath a bit, but will stop any mud daubers from getting to the tank. https://www.amazon.com/Rotary13B1-PREMIUM-QUALITY-REMOVE-BEFORE/dp/B0CCT22M6Y https://www.amazon.com/Ucreative-Temperature-Silicone-Vacuum-Tubing/dp/B089LMS3Y7 Quote
Pinecone Posted June 17 Report Posted June 17 I use a big pipe cleaner. From Amazon. Red, to be visible, but they don't fully block the hole. Cheap also https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KVYZKTX?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1 Quote
Fly Boomer Posted June 18 Report Posted June 18 10 hours ago, Matty said: I justttt had what has to be a mud dauber event in my M20M. Thanks to this thread for confirming symptoms. Curious thoughts for 'prevention' and something like a foam mic cover to be added to cover it. Just throwing out a random idea to see thoughts. I use this Caulk-Savers and this Remove-Before-Flight There may be better solutions, but this is "okay". I cut most of the long spike off. Quote
jamesyql Posted June 18 Report Posted June 18 I use this Caulk-Savers and this Remove-Before-Flight There may be better solutions, but this is "okay". I cut most of the long spike off.As a urologist, I think my patients would be pretty interested in the caulk saver. 2 Quote
MikeOH Posted June 18 Report Posted June 18 8 minutes ago, jamesyql said: As a urologist, I think my patients would be pretty interested in the caulk saver. And, I'd be looking for a new urologist 1 3 Quote
Pinecone Posted Friday at 12:02 AM Report Posted Friday at 12:02 AM Remember you don't need to fully block the vent, just make it too small for insects to build a nest in. Quote
Will.iam Posted Friday at 02:28 AM Report Posted Friday at 02:28 AM as an ultimate CB I just use a scott's blue paper towel and roll up one corner and stick it into the vent hole with the rest of the towel hanging down as a pull before flight reminder. Since my left vent is so close to my pitot tube when I go to remove the pitot cover it's impossible to miss the blue towel next to it. If I did some how forget it the wind would most likely pull the towel out of the vent tube since most of the towel is hanging out side the tube. If the wind blew one away (has not happened yet) it was a $0.05 loss and I have a whole roll of replacement towels in the baggage compartment for cleaning bugs off the wings anyways. 1 Quote
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