Safety Tips & Mods

Fuel Cap Retention and Seal

So with the state of fuel cap losses I came up with this idea of making sure that in the event of me ever losing a fuel cap, that it not only prevents the cap going through the propeller, it will also act as a emergency shut off means to minimize fuel loss.

I have recently been plagued about the plans method of retaining the fuel cap from going through the prop and causing damage. Especially wooden props will be severely damaged from this occurrence. I have modified my fuel selector system and now have two fuel valves under the main spar that is operated with heavy duty push pull cables. I can now fly with both tanks on and do not have to worry about changing fuel or having one tank siphon the other dry in the event of a fuel cap loss.

The picture explains it all - should the cap come loose the airflow over the wing will have the cap pull the "device" (don't know what to call it yet) up into the fuel tank rim and seal the fuel off to a great extent. I have tested the device and could lift a 50 Lbs weight without it buckling under load.

I marked a line around the top of a 2 liter Cola plastic bottle and cut it back 1/2" from the mark. The jitter bug sander finished the edge nice and flat. I drilled a 1/16" hole through the bottle top and neck to accept the cable and nico pressed a sleeve to hold it together. The other end goes to the tab on the fuel cap.

I share this with fellow Canard Builders and they are free to use my device idea. Please help me with a name for this piece.

So far I have had many Kudos' from the Cozy and Long-Ez community and I thank them for that. This is not the final design and it was done merely to demonstrate an idea and invite some lateral thinking from all. The concept seems to be acceptable as a safety device and I will be having a pattern made in order for some company to produce them on a small scale out of a suitable flexible polyurethane or similar polymer that will hold up to the most severe of solvents. It also has to be flexible enough to form into a slight elliptical shape when pulled up into the rim for proper sealing. It will also not have a shoulder or any irregularities that will catch onto the rim and prevent sealing.

Mail me @Jannie Versfeld

Here is another Fuel Safety Idea - By Rego Bruger, South Africa.

Rego graciously allowed me to make known his idea of a fuel safety modification. He is using it on his Cozy and I think that it is a great idea too. I will only be placing photos here but you can mail him.

The safety catch that holds the fuel cap lid closed has a trailing vane on it that when in flight the vane should keep the catch closed.

Mail him @ Rego Burger