cloth covered fuel hose

[Horst]

Prologue:
The manual on one of the aircraft I fly, the A-Star, is very specific about the pre-flight check. If the aircraft was sitting for more than 2 days, all cowlings need to be opened and everything needs to be inspected. I was thinking about this the other day and how I don't regularly check. Good thing this time I decided otherwise.

I have cloth covered flexible fuel hoses in front of the carburetor. They looked perfect.

IMG_0408.JPG

Somehow I decided to have the engine running and look for leaks. And to my surprise, a nice spray of fuel was coming out of one of the hoses. After removing the hose and cutting away the cloth, it was evident how deteriorated the rubber actually was.

IMG_0409.JPG

I have a feeling that the drive would have been less of a fun, also because of my recent event emptying the fire extinguisher

[m3a1]

Yup. Nothing lasts forever.

[Horst]

well, that's not the point. It is that a hose with a cloth around it seems to be a bad idea. Like the cloth wrapping around the fuel lines.

[rickf]

Ask any old VW owner about that type of fuel line. Many V-dubs have burned to the ground thanks to that stuff. When I just tore my 71 down that fuel line just crumbled.

[lpcoating]

Good catch Horst. Another good point is actually looking things over from time to time.

Guy