Separate tank for peewee 0.020

proctor Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:59 pm

I would like to install a separate tank in my model plumbed into
the integral tank on the peewee to get more run time.
I think I have to make a hole in the peewee tank.
Where exactly do I make the hole and how do I plumb it?
Naturally I would prefer to change engine tank for a bigger one
but don't think there is such a thing.
John

SuperDave Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:30 pm

The simplest thing to do is eliminate the intregral tank entirely and run off an auxillary tank. Drill a hole for the pickup tube in the side of the integral tank, add a longer pickup tube to the venturi and extend it to connect on the auxillary tank.

I did this on a Baby Bee .049 that I used to power a model hydroplane. It added considerably to the hydro's run time. It worked just fine.

microflitedude Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:36 pm

There are two more options.

1. Make your own tank extender that fits between the tank and backplate, like Kavan makes.

2. Use an .020 helicopter engine. These run off external tanks.

Jason_WI Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:45 pm

If you do not want to drill a hole in your pee wee tank I have one with a hole in it already i'm not using. PM me.

Jason

proctor Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:35 pm

Thanks Superdave didn't understand until I took tank off and separated
backplate, ie take pickup tube off and fit new tube from auxilliary tank
to venturi.
What I noted was that pickup tube was set up for c/l , half way up tank
and to outside of circle. Adjusted it to bottom of tank ( I fly micro rc)
and will try a flight first to see if it satisfies.
Know how to do it do it now and will doubtless try it out at some point.

proctor Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:44 pm

Thanks Jason very kind offer but wouldn't dream of asking you
to post one across the pond, but you've made my night offering.
Confirms my warm feeling about this forum.
John

SuperDave Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:57 pm

Proctor:

FYI, my hydro eventually became saturated with castor and therefore unuseable. Wanting to use the Babe Bee .049 in an aircraft once again I replaced the "holed" tank with a new one from Bernie.

It's "hydro days" now over my Babe Bee .049 now powers planes for my grandsons. Eventually I'll work them up to healthy Black Widows when they are ready.

SuperDave Sun Feb 12, 2012 8:05 pm

John:

Jason's kind offer is so typical of the quality people to be found on this forum. And to think that CECF began less than a year ago and we continue to grow in membership.

John Goddard Mon Feb 13, 2012 4:43 am

Hi John
I've got a couple winging there way here from Joe on the forum for exactly this purpose.
Let me know if you want one?
Best
John
Flying

Kim Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:14 am

If you'd care to do a bit of experimentation, it might be possible to run a fuel line to your engine without drilling a hole in it's tank. I was able to make my Golden Bee run an external tank dry by plugging one filler and making the other into a fuel pickup. It may be too cluttered for an installation in a small aircraft, but it might be cleaned up a bit with a little work.

Just a thought!

Separate tank for peewee 0.020 1_79

John Goddard Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:21 am

I think the reason for the slightly 'extreme' way of doing it Kim is the small vents
on the top of the tank on the 020. I think I read something along those lines.
Babe Bee

proctor Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:42 am

John Goddard

Yes for sure, these horrid little fill and vent ' nipples' are a no no for
connecting fuel tube to. Will use the idea though on my 0.049 set ups
Thanks.
Have pm'd you John ref tank for peewee.
John

**Cribbs74** Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:28 am

What about using the small fuel tubing found on TD .010/.020? It would fit over the vent nipples just fine.

Kim, does the fuel actually get drawn into the tank? Or does it just drip in.

SuperDave Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:38 am

cribbs74 wrote:What about using the small fuel tubing found on TD .010/.020? It would fit over the vent nipples just fine.

My solution to the problem exactly. I cut a short piece of the smallest tubing, install it on the fuel nipple then add progressively larger tubing until it fits my small Sullivan fueling bulb. I leave the small piece on the fuel nipple on permanently for the convenience it allows during fueling.

microflitedude Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:54 am

.049 pick up tubes fit on the peewee nipple. I would glue it or have pressure on it, to make sure it won't slip off.

John Goddard Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:58 am

But the Pee Wees also have vent holes at the top of the backplate/tank joint as well/l on the single pipe version they
do anyway.

HEATWAVE SURFS UP ETC

SuperDave Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:06 am

On the GB shown, with one vent blocked, how can the engine draw fuel? Huh...

Kim Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:50 am

cribbs74 wrote:What about using the small fuel tubing found on TD .010/.020? It would fit over the vent nipples just fine.

Kim, does the fuel actually get drawn into the tank? Or does it just drip in.

Probably some of both. With a sport model that you might use this on, it might be possible to mount the tank a bit higher than normal so that it siphons down into the Pee Wee's tank.

The Golden Bee ran out all of the fuel in both tanks...it's just somewhat of a pain to deal with the plumbing.

proctor Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:00 pm

Does the vent on the main tank acts as a vent for both tanks , I think you would
have to vent the GB tank to fill it first from the main tank then seal it.
Hope I am not sounding too smart, this is the boy who hadn't a clue when
he asked the original question last night.
John

Kim Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:32 pm

proctor wrote:Does the vent on the main tank acts as a vent for both tanks , I think you would
have to vent the GB tank to fill it first from the main tank then seal it.
Hope I am not sounding too smart, this is the boy who hadn't a clue when
he asked the original question last night.
John

I think what I did (it's been a while) was to fill both tanks through one of the bee's filler tubes (with the other running to the plastic tank), then plugging that filler and started as the set-up in the photo.

I figured that a tank enclosed in a fuselage might be filled the same way, but have yet to try it out in an actual plane. I HAVE discovered that engines are a little more tolerant of fuel draw than I originally thought.

This is one of the many promised tests I intend to try on my slowly progressing Cox/Sanwa "Q-Tee".

Kim Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:55 pm

SuperDave wrote:On the GB shown, with one vent blocked, how can the engine draw fuel?

It's sort of out of view in the photo, but the fuel line runs to a Sullivan tank, which is vented to the atmosphere. As the bee uses it's fuel, it has to draw it from that tank. I was surprised at how well it worked, though the set-up it a little cluttery.

GermanBeez Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:58 pm

hm. could you connect both vents with a t-connector or would that leave
air in the tank?

microflitedude Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:00 pm

What if you ran a line from an external tank, into the integral tank, and connected it to the fuel nipple on the back plate? Would their be enough suction to draw fuel?

GermanBeez Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:04 pm

lol, that's exactly what we're talking about Smile

look at the bottom on page 1, that's kim's golden bee with exactly that setup.

**Cribbs74** Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:47 pm

Matt,

Correct me If I am wrong but, I think what you are saying is run a tube from the external tank to the vent/fill tube of the integral tank and then pick off of the same tube inside the integral tank and run a piece of line to the backplate nipple?

In essence, no fuel would ever be in the integral tank. Is that correct?

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Separate tank for peewee 0.020