Fuel leaking out around the fuel selector

[markazzarito]

I finished a two hour flight today and noticed fuel around the fuel selector it was damp and not alot but definitely there.. wondering what could be causing this 

[N201MKTurbo]

3 hours ago, markazzarito said:

I finished a two hour flight today and noticed fuel around the fuel selector it was damp and not alot but definitely there.. wondering what could be causing this 

Where around the fuel selector?

 

[Ragsf15e]

7 hours ago, markazzarito said:

I finished a two hour flight today and noticed fuel around the fuel selector it was damp and not alot but definitely there.. wondering what could be causing this 

That would be an interesting place… are you sure it’s not coming in from the sidewall to your left?  There’s a more common place there.  You gotta remove the carpet and maybe the seat and look.

[markazzarito]

5 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Where around the fuel selector?

 

Its damp with fuel right where the fuel selector is in my plane its a concave area with a left tank tight tank and off selectors 

[markazzarito]

1 hour ago, Ragsf15e said:

That would be an interesting place… are you sure it’s not coming in from the sidewall to your left?  There’s a more common place there.  You gotta remove the carpet and maybe the seat and look.

Interesting ok i only noticed in the concave circular area where the fuel selector is I’ll remove the carpet and panels and check further…

[PT20J]

1 hour ago, markazzarito said:

Interesting ok i only noticed in the concave circular area where the fuel selector is I’ll remove the carpet and panels and check further…

Sounds like it could be the o-ring around the shaft on the selector. 

[N201MKTurbo]

Just turn your selector to off when not flying until you get it fixed.

[Jim Peace]

had that years ago....I think LASAR has some sort of kit or did the overhaul on it....

[Echo]

My fuel selector is pretty stiff to move between left and right.  What does this mean/remedy?

[hammdo]

Maxwells or Lasar can rebuild those. Mine was the o-rings crumbled and made it as hard as a brick to turn. The leak I had was the area with the pull ring - Maxwells solved that with a Curtis fuel sump…

You can try some 3 in one oil on the shaft or maybe Tri-Flow and work it but, usually that still means it’s due for rebuild…

-Don

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, Echo said:

My fuel selector is pretty stiff to move between left and right.  What does this mean/remedy?

Might need a new o-ring or something, but probably needs some attention.   You might try dropping a little light oil in it, which often helps.

[Echo]

1 hour ago, EricJ said:

Might need a new o-ring or something, but probably needs some attention.   You might try dropping a little light oil in it, which often helps.

what is the process for this?  Take out handle?  Sorry, not familiar with process of "droppin' in the oil".  Thanks for reply.

[Kelpro999]

It’s the selector shaft o-ring and position o-rings, fuel level is above the selector. Hardest part is the confined space with hard piping to it. Also requires draining tanks.

[Hank]

1 hour ago, Echo said:

what is the process for this?  Take out handle?  Sorry, not familiar with process of "droppin' in the oil".  Thanks for reply.

Pull the ring up and hold; squeeze in 1-2 drops of oil; relax and let ring fall down. Pull and release several times to move the oil down the shaft to the o-rings.

It may be time to replace them.

[Echo]

1 hour ago, Hank said:

Pull the ring up and hold; squeeze in 1-2 drops of oil; relax and let ring fall down. Pull and release several times to move the oil down the shaft to the o-rings.

It may be time to replace them.

Ahhhh.  O.K.  Thanks Hank.  I will give that a try.  Scott

[Echo]

1 hour ago, Kelpro999 said:

It’s the selector shaft o-ring and position o-rings, fuel level is above the selector. Hardest part is the confined space with hard piping to it. Also requires draining tanks.

It's stiff, but not locked up.  I will try hitting it with some tri-flow first before undertaking major surgery.

[EricJ]

5 hours ago, Echo said:

what is the process for this?  Take out handle?  Sorry, not familiar with process of "droppin' in the oil".  Thanks for reply.

No, just drip some oil around the shaft.

[Kelpro999]

17 hours ago, Echo said:

18 hours ago, Kelpro999 said:

 

It's stiff, but not locked up.  I will try hitting it with some tri-flow first before undertaking major surgery.

 My comment was to the original question. 
 In your case some oil like others suggest will help. Also if you have the original H&E valve without a pull ring , there’s a drain tube directly down out of the selector valve. It has a check ball in it that can be used like a sump drain for the valve collector. I use a wooden stick as the usual fuel sample tool is too short.

[47U]

35 minutes ago, Kelpro999 said:

I use a wooden stick as the usual fuel sample tool is too short.

I made an extension out of some 1/4” tube and a short length of hinge pin, JB Weld to hold it together.  

Then I discovered that the GATS jar probe is long enough to drain fuel from the selector valve sump.

[Kelpro999]

1 minute ago, 47U said:

Then I discovered that the GATS jar probe is long enough to drain fuel from the selector valve sump.

That’s good information but I would miss my favorite screwdriver