Bendix-Stromberg Carburetor

[darflyboy]

I am having a hard time starting my 7AC after not flying it for a few months. I have previously found cork pieces floating in the tank and tried to wash them out as best as I could. I removed an old J-3 type fuel cap with a bad looking cork and am trying to remove my old internal gas gauge and replace it with one purchased at Wag Aero. The fiber washer on the gas gauge won't budge, but that is another issue.

The problems I think I have are (1) there is cork particles clogging the needle valve, and (2) the carburetor is leaking with the fuel lever turned on. I believe it is a Bendix-Stromberg carbuetor and I have now read a EAA article about neoprene vs. steel vs. delrin fuel flow needles and this makes me very nervous.

I plan to pull the carburetor next weekend to check for any cork around the needle valve, but I will also try and deteremine what kind of needle I have.

MY questions are: (1) has anyone had any experience with replacing the needle valve (I understand that is a different seat for each of the needles and the needle and seats can be ordered from Aircraft Spruce.), and (2) can anyone tell me a good way to flush my tank to be sure I get rid of the cork particles? The only way I can figure is to drain the tank, pour some gas into it, slosh it around (moving the tail up and down & shaking the wings) and draiing it out throught the fuel drain. A next step could possibly be let the tank dry out and maybe vaccuum it with a shop vac with a very felxible hose. (I plan to check the filter on the gascolater after I've done all of this.)

Any insight I can get on the needle valve, flushing the tank, and getting the fiber washer off (it it safe to simply break it off and will I be able to get the rest of the gauge out once I'v done this?) would be much appreciated.

David Reynolds
Lawrenceville Ga
770-633-7906 (cell)

[Mikek]

I am having a hard time starting my 7AC after not flying it for a few months. I have previously found cork pieces floating in the tank and tried to wash them out as best as I could. I removed an old J-3 type fuel cap with a bad looking cork and am trying to remove my old internal gas gauge and replace it with one purchased at Wag Aero. The fiber washer on the gas gauge won't budge, but that is another issue.

The problems I think I have are (1) there is cork particles clogging the needle valve, and (2) the carburetor is leaking with the fuel lever turned on. I believe it is a Bendix-Stromberg carbuetor and I have now read a EAA article about neoprene vs. steel vs. delrin fuel flow needles and this makes me very nervous.

I plan to pull the carburetor next weekend to check for any cork around the needle valve, but I will also try and deteremine what kind of needle I have.

MY questions are: (1) has anyone had any experience with replacing the needle valve (I understand that is a different seat for each of the needles and the needle and seats can be ordered from Aircraft Spruce.), and (2) can anyone tell me a good way to flush my tank to be sure I get rid of the cork particles? The only way I can figure is to drain the tank, pour some gas into it, slosh it around (moving the tail up and down & shaking the wings) and draiing it out throught the fuel drain. A next step could possibly be let the tank dry out and maybe vaccuum it with a shop vac with a very felxible hose. (I plan to check the filter on the gascolater after I've done all of this.)

Any insight I can get on the needle valve, flushing the tank, and getting the fiber washer off (it it safe to simply break it off and will I be able to get the rest of the gauge out once I'v done this?) would be much appreciated.

David Reynolds
Lawrenceville Ga
770-633-7906 (cell)

Gas gauge tools and parts:

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/modelaparts/gasgauge

Manual for Carburetor

http://www.aeronca.com/manuals/

There are (should be) 3 screens that filter the fuel before it get to the needle.

1. on the shut-off valve in the bootm of the tank course
2. Gascolator medium
3. where the fuel line goes into the Carb. fine

Dirt can come for the fuel, tank, fuel gauge cork, gas cap cork, inside fuel line.

To clean tank you would need to remove the shutoff value & place the tail up on a saw horse to get the tank in level flight.

To check Carb you might want to work with your A&P IA its not hard but you need to get the float level set correctly.

Mike K