American Hatz Association Forum - Stearman Style Sight Gauge

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Subject: "Stearman Style Sight Gauge"

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Ebby37
Member since Nov-3-06
11 posts

Nov-27-06, 04:07 PM (CST)

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"Stearman Style Sight Gauge"

I purchased the Stearman style sight gauge from aircraft spruce. Now I can see it is intended for a larger tank. The part number is right off the plans sheet from Makelan. My questions, is it correct that I have to take this gauge and "cut" it down to a smaller size or is there a different supplier of a sight gauge that is more suited to the Hatz Classic tank? If I have to cut it down I am open to suggestions. It appears to be epoxied together so I don't think that's coming apart. It looks like I might be able to cut the wire and float down to size but the quantity labels would not match the actual amount in the tank. Again what have others done about the sight gauge? Thanks.

Ebby
Hatz Classic 037
A work in progress.

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Subject	Author	Message Date	ID
RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge	alvinsager	Nov-29-06	1
RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge	Ser248	Nov-30-06	2
RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge	Ebby37	Nov-30-06	3
RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge	vtorti	Dec-01-06	4
RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge	alvinsager	Dec-01-06	5
RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge	MTaylor	Dec-02-06	6
RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge	Ebby37	Dec-06-06	7
RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge	mdevroy	Dec-06-06	8
RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge	mdevroy	Dec-10-06	9
RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge	mdevroy	Dec-10-06	10

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alvinsager
Member since Oct-5-04
67 posts

Nov-29-06, 12:52 PM (CST)

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1. "RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge"
In response to message #0

Hi John,
I bought that gauge also. It comes apart easily, it is threaded together, and if I remember right, the float is epoxied to the shaft. I will check it when I get home. I saw a similar gauge in the Wag-Aero catalog for a Piper. That one looks like it has a brass body and a glass tube. If it is too long, it may be more of a problem to shorten.
Al

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Ser248
Member since Sep-16-04
57 posts

Nov-30-06, 10:21 AM (CST)

2. "RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge"
In response to message #0

I used a gauge suitable for a Piper PA-12 or J-5... and I can't remember if I got it from Wag-Aero or Univair. My gauge was too long for the tank so I cut a little off of each end of the tube. I needed to re-thread the ends also. I bought a glass sight tube for a steam boiler and cut it to size and put a couple of o-rings in it to make it seal. My float is a cork on a small aluminum rod but it's not real accurate in bumpy air.... bounces around too much.
Jeff Moore

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Ebby37
Member since Nov-3-06
11 posts

Nov-30-06, 06:26 PM (CST)

3. "RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge"
In response to message #2

Hey thanks. I got to looking at the gauge and noticed the plastic tube does come out. There is a bail on top to guide the cork and was wondering if I cut cut it down and reweld the bail. That way I wouldn't have to weld a piece of 2" tubing around the cork as shown in the Makelan drawings. The bail looks like it would be fine keeping the cork aligned for free movement. I was also wondering about buffing the red fractional index off the outside and replacing it with some small vinyl lettering. Then I would be able to calibrate the gauge to a certain degree.

There is a reddish brown sealant at the top of the tube. If my nose is working correctly it smells like form-a-gasket. I can see now that I've got the gauge apart it won't be much of a problem to shorten. Thanks again.

Ebby
Hatz Classic 037
A work in progress.

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vtorti
Charter Member
36 posts

Dec-01-06, 02:52 PM (CST)

4. "RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge"
In response to message #3

Hi Gang...my two cents on the stearman gauge; I have one on S/N 205 and it really isn't worth it! I found out the hard way that the best gauge is a calibrated 'dip stick' that tells you exactly how much gas you have at the begining and end of a flight. With a watch and known fuel burn rate you can easily calculate your flight time...always anticipate 1/2 hour of reserve fuel! With my 18 gal. top wing tank it works out to about a 2 hour max. flight which is about all my butt can handle. While I'm on the subject, I also monitor how full the tank is getting during fueling by using the dip stick and then reaching in with my finger to feel for the fuel level for the last gallon...I've overfilled more than once before using this method...in addition to making a mess it's pretty embarrasing! I keep my dip stick in the storage compartment behind the rear seat...always easy to get to. Just my two cents.

Stay Hatzy!
Vic in NH

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alvinsager
Member since Oct-5-04
67 posts

Dec-01-06, 03:07 PM (CST)

5. "RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge"
In response to message #4

Sorry Vic,
I like to see the index floating above the empty mark, even though I know there is plenty in the tank. I will spend more than two cents to have it that way.

Ebby,
The bail that guides the cork is only staked in. It can be shortened after getting it out, then file a notch at the end of each leg as it was. A small punch will keep it there.
Al

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MTaylor
Charter Member
383 posts

Dec-02-06, 06:28 PM (CST)

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6. "RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge"
In response to message #4

I believe that a fuel gauge is required for license sign off...right?

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Ebby37
Member since Nov-3-06
11 posts

Dec-06-06, 04:00 PM (CST)

7. "RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge"
In response to message #6

Modification of the gauge is complete. I clipped the bail off near the top according to the tank depth then rewelded the stainless bail. I saw that the bail was staked into the base but didn't want to mess around with that. I clipped the brass wire 2" after taking the red indicator off. The red indicator is epoxied back onto the brass wire. The lucite rod was cut approximately two inches of the bottom and tapped for the AN plug. I used a buffing wheel with tripoli to remove the red quantity fractions and polish the lucite rod. Later I will add vinyl numbers corresponding to approximate fuel levels. If I recall the only one that needs to be accurate is when the tank is empty.

Ebby
Hatz Classic 037
A work in progress.

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mdevroy
Charter Member
97 posts

Dec-06-06, 09:23 PM (CST)

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8. "RE: Stearman Style Sight Gauge"
In response to message #7

Hey Hatz Nutz!

'Crazy' Mike here!

All that work!!!

I'm too cheap to buy the ACS ($30.00) or Wag-Aero ($66.00) gauges (indicators?), so made TWO DIFFERENT SETS(s) for my 'other' biplane - i.e. left & right wing tanks, for about $40.00!

Materials:

1.) SMALL O.D. version

- 1/2" O.D. acrylic tubing
- AN912 Bushing
- 1/4" allen head machine screw (w/ neoprene & stainless washer)
- Wine cork
- 1/8" aluminum TUBING (from hobby shop)
- 1/8" aluminum rivet(s)
- 1/8" countersunk aluminum pop rivet (w/ backing plate as washer)
- red rubber(?) 'thread' protector (for lower incicator), tested for fuel resistance, of course!
- 'Indianhead' sealant (for cork)

2.) LARGE O.D version

- 5/8" O.D. acrylic tubing
- AN911 Nipple
- AN910 Coupling
- AN913 Plug
- wine cork
- 1/8" aluminum TUBING (from hobby shop)
- 1/8" aluminum rivet(s)
- 1/8" countersunk aluminum pop rivet (w/ backing plate as washer)
- red Hobby 'Bead' (for lower incicator), tested for fuel resistance, of course!
- 'Indianhead' sealant (for cork)

* Threaded O.D. of the acrylic tubing to fit inside the Bushing (or Coupling & Nipple)
* Threaded I.D. of the opposite end of the acrylic tubing to fit the 1/4" machine screw (or AN913 Plug)
* Joined same
* Lubed/Sealed top w/ Clear Epoxy
* Lubed/Sealed bottom w/ Fuel Sealant (kinda like Pipe Dope)
* Placed aluminum rivet into ONE end of 1/8" aluminum tubing and WELDED end shut
* Drilled 1/8" hole thru center of cork
* Milled cork to Bushing (or Nipple) O.D.
* Slid cork onto open end of 1/8" aluminum tubing
* Using 'counter-sunk' aluminum backing plate & rivet, pop riveted top end of aluminum tubing to retain cork
* Epoxied thread protector (or Hobby Bead) to welded end of aluminum tubing
* Coated cork with Sealant

Further assembly will hopefully be self explanitory.

I have installed and flown with the SMALL O.D. version, and have yet to see the first indication of a fuel leak.

I built the LARGE O.D. set in the event the SMALL O.D. should 'inadvertantly' get snapped off! In addition, I carry a AN913 Plug to plug the tank should I need an EMERGENCY Field Repair!

On a related note, my Wag-Aero (simple) Vented Fuel Caps had a tendency to vent fuel... (1 gallon in 45 minutes!!!)

NAPA sells a BEAUTIFUL!!! Chrome Plated, Vented - i.e. via CHECK VALVE, fuel cap for about $6.50!!! Part Number 733-1220!!!

Works Great, Lasts a long time!

Hope this helps,

'Til next time,

Happy Landings!

Michael R. Devroy
W1257 Luscome Lane
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
C: 847-224-5192
H: 262-248-4190
mdevroy@earthlink.net

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