Unknown Fuel Pump Fitting

[flyingchump]

Gents,

I just got my bird back from maintenance and saw something curious I've never noticed before. 

My fuel pump, previously, had a leather-ish looking cover.  Now the cover is gone so I noticed this fitting (pictured) that is not attached to anything.  The maintenance done was not related to the fuel pump but it was near the fuel pump.  I had the mags done and the governor replaced.

Anyone know what this fitting is for?   It it a problem that the cover is gone?

[EricJ]

That's the drain.   If either of the internal diaphragms leaks either fuel or oil will come out of that.   If nothing comes out, it's not leaking. 

Usually there's a hose that goes from there to a cowl flap exit so that it dumps overboard if there's a leak, and so that you can see during preflight if anything has been coming out.

 

[N201MKTurbo]

3 hours ago, flyingchump said:

Gents,

I just got my bird back from maintenance and saw something curious I've never noticed before. 

My fuel pump, previously, had a leather-ish looking cover.  Now the cover is gone so I noticed this fitting (pictured) that is not attached to anything.  The maintenance done was not related to the fuel pump but it was near the fuel pump.  I had the mags done and the governor replaced.

Anyone know what this fitting is for?   It it a problem that the cover is gone?

Also,

That leather looking (reinforced baffle seal) cover is a cooling shroud. It is there to reduce the chance of vapor lock. I would tell them to find it and put it back on.

[flyingchump]

3 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Also,

That leather looking (reinforced baffle seal) cover is a cooling shroud. It is there to reduce the chance of vapor lock. I would tell them to find it and put it back on.

That's good to know!  I haven't heard much about vapor lock.  Is that a common problem?

[N201MKTurbo]

3 minutes ago, flyingchump said:

That's good to know!  I haven't heard much about vapor lock.  Is that a common problem?

No, not really.

[carusoam]

2 hours ago, flyingchump said:

That's good to know!  I haven't heard much about vapor lock.  Is that a common problem?

if you have heard of hot starts... dealing with or avoiding vapor lock is what they are all about...

So... if you are missing a cooling hose for the any parts of the fuel system... you want to get that back.

 

Looks like an ugly scar near the fuel pump’s drain...

Best regards,

-a-

[flyingchump]

10 hours ago, carusoam said:

Looks like an ugly scar near the fuel pump’s drain...

 

Yup.  The cooling shroud had an aluminum top which was just loose over the fuel pump.  I'd guess the vibration of the engine caused the aluminum cover to wear into the fuel pump and cause that scar.  It might be a mixed blessing that they removed that cover...

[carusoam]

I was trying to see if the pic was needing better orientation...

so I used the sheet metal as guide... (from fuzzy memory...)

Either way... I think I may have found a hole that looks like it may be asking for a screw to fill it...

See the highlighter circle...  

PP guesses only, probably not too helpful...

Best regards,

-a-

[flyingchump]

9 hours ago, carusoam said:

I was trying to see if the pic was needing better orientation...

so I used the sheet metal as guide... (from fuzzy memory...)

Either way... I think I may have found a hole that looks like it may be asking for a screw to fill it...

See the highlighter circle...  

PP guesses only, probably not too helpful...

Best regards,

-a-

Thanks.  I saw that too and guesses the drain hose that WAS on the fuel pump was connected to the firewall with an adel clamp using that hole.  Next time i'm at the hanger I'll fix that.  Might take me all day.