Alum. header tank question. KF IV

[beeryboats]

My new header tank is here! Ok, now what the heck is this part for?

My replacement aluminum header tank has a couple extra holes that my poly tank did not have. I've figured out all that, but two parts have me puzzled. What is the 3" piece of 1-1/4" radiator hose and flange adapter for? My first guess is for the new sump drain, but my tank is nowhere near the bottom fabric where the 3" hose would reach. And I guess the alum flange would glue to the fabric?

[Dick B in KY]

If your tank is not close enough to the fabric to use the 3" hose, you don't have the tank installed correctly. It should very low down behind the right side seat.

Dick B

[beeryboats]

Thanks Dick,
I'm not the original builder and I'm converting from the poly tank to the aluminum. The poly tank was mounted fairly high in my KF, about a foot above the belly skin. I feel a little bit limited by the aluminum outlet line coming out of the tank as to where I can place the new tank.
Jay

[Paul Z]

Attached are some photos of the aluminum header tank I have. I had 2 of the plastic POS header tanks both leaked badly.
Here is a photo of the top of the aluminum tank. The two top hoses left & right go to the wing tanks. The center hose and clear tubing goes to the fuel warning switch in the round canister above.
I will need to do 4 post to get the 4 pictures that may help you.

[Paul Z]

Here is the front of the header tank. See the tubing line, just under the hose, it feeds up to the fuel filter to the engine. Also look in the next posting to see the tubing, and hose routing. The hose feeds to the right top of the tank and is a fuel return line.

[Paul Z]

This is a picture of the POS plastic header tank but it shows where the return fuel line goes into the tank. Just below the return line there is a drain fitting, just pluged. In the bottom of the header tank there is one drain, that a fuel check valve is installed. I hope this helps, I know you have a IV, and mine is a seven, but I would imagine the design concept is similar.

[Paul Z]

You might consider posting some photos of what you have so we can better discuss your problem.

[beeryboats]

Sorry Paul, I've removed it all. It was hanging off the top rear of the baggage compartment, facing rearwards. And it was reversed front to back. So if you took your tank from behind the passenger seat, then leaned wayyy back behind the baggage compartment, flipped it front to back, and installed it, that's what I had. I'm beginning to wonder if he did it for weight and balance. No worries. If everyone is in agreement that it belongs behind the passenger seat, that's where its new home is going to be! It sure makes it easier to get to.
Jay

[beeryboats]

Great strides were made in aviation today. I mounted the new header tank today and installed all the fittings in both the wing tanks and header tank. I marked the fabric for the flange fitting and removed the tank again. I need to mount the flange now. The old fuel line was cut out of the wire bundle on the pilot side and disposed of. It was plugged solid like the fitting in the header tank was. The new fuel valve and rebuilt gascolator were installed. Now I wait for more parts to arrive....

[beeryboats]

Parts and supplies are arriving daily. I have a question on gluing the aluminum flange to the belly fabric. I assume you glue the flange to the fabric from the inside and glue a patch around it with at least a 1" overlap? Or would you cut a hole for the neck of the flange and glue from the underside? Gluing on the inside makes more sense to me.