Someone please help me ASAP

[DIXIE BOY]

I have had my plane for one month now and havent even flew it and i want to fly so badly. I have this air leak somewhere, i have check my hoses but I havent check the engine or the fuel tank. Also when I bought my tank the plastic thing on the bottom of the rubber plug wouldnt fit on the tank, so I shaved alittle bit on the tank do you think that could be the problem. Please tell me, thanks, and sorry for the long post.

[Dave Robelen]

Hi DIXIE BOY,
I am not sure why you would suspect the engine, so we will leave that part alone. To really check the tank, pull it out of the airplane, pinch or squeeze all but one hose, push the empty tank and hose ends under water, and blow real hard into the last hose. Any airleaks will show up as bubbles. Sometimes a fuel line will get a split right at the fitting where it slips over the metal tubing. Be sure the ends of the tubes are sanded smooth with no sharp edges. Wiggle the tubes that connect onto the engine and lok for any splits there.
The cap of the tank really needs both a smooth hole, and the plastic piece on back must be pulled tight by the screw in the middle. It would be OK to shave the edges of that plastic piece, but it is bad news to cut in the neck of the tank.
Good Luck, Dave

[DIXIE BOY]

This is really agrevating me. I took the engine out and looked at the hoses and did what you told me to do. I took it back outside and tried to start it, it started but quit, I adjusted it and it cranked. But there is still air in the hose. I cant find the dang air and I havent even flown my plane, someone please help me!

[Dave Robelen]

Hi DIXIE BOY,
It sounds like your troubles are related to the fuel pickup tube in the tank. Either the weight is not on the hose and the end is rising out of the fuel, Or maybe even the two lines are swapped and you have the vent line going to the carburetor. If you use your fuel pump to draw fuel from the tank, does it flow out smooth with no bubbling? If you see air bubbles there, I bet the lines are swapped. If it only bubbles when the engine is running, There is either a split in the line to the carburetor that opens up with vibration, or the vibration is causing the hose to rise up out of the fuel.
Good luck, Dave