Accessing Fuel Tanks - 701

Hi all,

I am in the planning stages of adding an Edge Performance EFI to the engine in my 701 and so I must install a header tank. This header tank needs to be vented and I think it's been determined that venting it to the top of one of the wing tanks is the best option. 

What's your opinion on doing this the best way? Should I remove the wing and gain access that way or should I remove the "shoulder" panel from the cockpit roof up to the wing? I don't mind drilling out rivets but I'd rather not if I don't have to. 

The plane was purchased already in flying condition, I didn't build it, so I don't know how easy or hard it is to remove the wings. If that's not a complicated endeavor, maybe it's my better option? 

Please let me know what you think.

Matthew

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Permalink Reply by John Burns on March 30, 2024 at 1:55pm

Every (I really mean this) Zenith is different. They were all custom built.  In the case of my 750 STOL it was not hard to drill out the rivets and open the wing root area to work on the fuel senders.  My 750 is not painted so that was not an issue.  I am sure in my case this was much easier than removing the wings.  Your results may vary.  

Permalink Reply by Jason Scholten on March 31, 2024 at 8:13pm

Matt, 

  I’ve been contemplating this exact task as well, I have a rotax 912uls and the Rotax service bulletin for the “new” fuel pump requires a vapor return line to the tank. The best position for the return line to enter the tank is at the filler neck. The only way to access this area would be to remote at least part of the wing skin over the fuel tank. I was thinking of cutting the skin with an olfa knife flush to the inside of the tank bay and fabricate a new removable tank panel like many other aircraft have using screws to secure it down. 

Permalink Reply by Shay King on April 1, 2024 at 3:20pm

Hi Matthew, I installed a vapour return line to my left wing tank. I didn’t remove the wings or the wing skin, just the wing root top skin. I had installed that one with nutplates for annual inspection anyway. I’ve only got a few photos on my iPad, if you’d like I can take more photos tomorrow, I’m doing my annual inspection at the moment and have the panels off.

 The routing is down the left side of the cockpit, under the pilot’s seat, up along the fuselage sidewall behind the seat into the baggage area, then up to wing root. 

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