Forum

[Alan R]

Hi Guys-------- DENNIS, that's a natural error there. Methyl Alcohol is normally known as Methanol (or Wood Alcohol)whereas Ethanol is another member of this Alcohol group and is the one being blended with petrol at 5% (E5) or even 10% (E10). Have a look at this }------- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol ------and this }--- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol -------------I also used Methanol (and Methanol "blends") when Grass-Tracking, but it's the ETHANOL that gives the problems. Keeping on track (?) the dear old monoblock still has a place in the modern world then ?? Finally---as an ex-military Marine Engineer myself I'm intrigued to know where you were getting your supplies of AVGAS from ------ Hmmm?? Best regards-------------

[Les H]

Well spotted Alan, I also used the word methanol by mistake, and you are right there is a difference and it does mean the chemical effects are also different. Having said that ethanol seems not to effect the brass copper components in carbs whereas ethanol's properties are listed that it does....must be the concentration but even so over a period of time...who Knows.....wish they would stop mucking about with petrol.

[simon]

Yes good article thank you. I too puzzled over the fibre washer and ended up giving it the heave ho. I also made a Perspex cover for the float bowl to be able to check the level but whilst this allowed me to see the level of the fuel it didn't tell me if it was correct. the method you describe will be my next move once I have a moment of spare time. I still have a brass float in my 389 and have employed the solder method to increase the needle valve lift. No sure why but the fact that it is reversible gives me comfort.

S:)

[Dennis C]

Alan, Thanks for the science lesson, it just goes to show you are never too old to learn, sorry if anyone was mislead. ---- Avgas was never difficult to obtain and is still available if you ask in the right places though I have no use for it now. ------ Les, I am not sure if the Ethanol scare is similar to the unleaded valve seat scare, yes I have seen evidence of damage to plastic and tank liners but not as yet any metal damage, time will tell of course.

[PeteF]

Dennis, I did think of a blob of resin (it's a plastic float) but came to the conclusion that petrol would get to it eventually. Didn't think of the metal strip wrapped round though. It would have added weight to the float of course but perhaps not enough to matter. I even thought of cutting the needle in half and introducing a 2mm stud to make the needle adjustable but there isn't a great deal of clearance. I had already fitted a vitron tipped needle thinking that this was the problem.

[Dennis C]

Hi Pete, The position of the needle contact patch is so close to the pivot point that the slight weight makes no difference, I am not in any way criticizing the method you found just pointing out an alternative for people who do not have access to a Lathe, as others have said a very useful well written article.

[simon]

Ethanol (delicious) Methanol (blindness) is how the good old boys down here differentiate the two.