The comment below about keeping the tail raised is really the right answer. Then you don't have to drain anything. Secondly, since you're a fuel injected engine, pop the line off from the pumps to the engine and turn on the pumps. That is the fastest and cleanest way to drain the fuel.
@@fly4fun24 Also a carpender's belt would save a lot of running around to put pins and such away. tons of pockets for pins and safety clips and places for all of your tools. It should be a major part of your onboard tool kit.
Most people I've seen use a rattle siphon hose from the tanks... no muss no fuss. Once you get the siphon started you can go about opening the turtle deck and unhooking the flaperons... by the time you're done the tank is likely empty.
Go to a helicopter company and look at how we drain fuel out of the Astar. Astar has a nice drain set up, some have a safety lock to prevent inadvertent draining in the bush from the bush or snow pushing up on it.
I do appreciate you sharing this experience. It seems that anyone that has done work on cars, boats, etc would see this going sideways right away. For those that do no have mechanical experience that is relevant....at least you should know this is how you don't do it. Some small and cheap solutions for safely and easily draining the tanks without spilling a single drop are not far away. After a couple of tries, this process should definitely be 10 minutes and be totally mess-free.
The "Gas Valve Plug" you took out to drain the fuel has a depressive valve which means there's another piece that screws into the plane plug to drain things. I believe they put that drain plug so you could drain her w/o taking the plug out. There's a valve that depresses your plug & attached to a hose can be put into gas cans w/ less spillage. Also that special valve could used w/ a pump to do the job fast unless the directions say not to use a pump. I'm just thinking out loud here, I'm not a pilot or mechanic but the plug doesn't need to come out. peace
This is such a pain! 😢. (Removes a few dzus fasteners with a quarter twist and the entire plexiglass piece comes off). 😂. Spoiler: drain the gas, pull the pins and fold the wing. Add 15 minutes of drama for effect….
also, you could hook up a hose line to the valve with a little valve shut off midway on the hose. So you can control the flow and go straight to a gas can
You might consider getting a furniture dolley for the tailwheel when wings are folded. They fully caster. Even though it took 40 minutes there was obvious places to save time. I'm considering a Model 3 and sharing my hangar with a Lazer. Thx for sharing. R
Siphon tank from top is a much easier/ faster way to drain wings. That valve is more for draining header tank only... This worked but hardest way possible...
The Kitfox directions say to drain the fuel because the fuel will come out the fuel vent caps on top of the wing once folded back. Could you build the thing with the fuel vent caps more towards the wing root so when the wings fold back the fuel flows away from the vent caps?
How about pumping or syphoning from the top? I had to drain gas from a WW2 jeep to replace a rusted fuel tank. The majority of gas was syphoned from top with one of those Amazon ball one way syphon. Great video!
A PVD threaded drain tube would speed the draining process along, as would a proper funnel into a gas can. I frown on dumping gas from my airplane into a bucket and then back into the airplane; it is a source of problems. Your time/motion appears a bit flawed; your tools are a walk across the hangar, when you tool box has wheels, and you should have known what tools you needed BEFORE the job. Juggling removed parts and tossing them into the seats is a recipe for getting stuff lost. Think about a couple neodymium magnets in your pockets so that all those steel parts stick together, then stick those to something in the cabin so they don't go missing. All things considered, I doubt the average new guy can do this job in 15 min, but certainly less than 30 min.
Any fireman is going to cringe at the gas fiasco. Here’s the best way. Take the line off that goes to the carb. Splice in a hose that’s long enough to go to gas cans. Then pump out all your tanks. Now I see you have the fuel injected model. Not sure how to use the pump and a hose with that, but I’d look into it. Charge your battery afterwards if needed.
Well that just killed the kit fox for me. The folding wings are a huge money saver for now needing a full sized hangar which costs as much as the plane.
Appreciate your video, tis not to see it. You could either get a different quick drain on that bottom plug or use the electric pump built into the airplane, but your biggest error is using those 5 gallon buckets, just get some VP gas cans that have that wide opening, you can also get one of those big 20 gallon fuel tanks that would hold all your fuel unless you just topped off, they even have their own pump to get it back into the wings without lifting it yourself. Then you just set up the drain, keep an eye on your 6 gallon vp jugs; while that's going on you put your tail cover on, pull the back window, and get the pins started, once its done draining you finish pulling the pins, fold and your done. Could easily be done in 10 minutes by someone who folds their wings every time they fly.
Hi...I'm getting close to buying a kitplane . I've only flown 150s and 172s. Could you please describe to me what it like to fly the Kitfox? Maybe compare it to the 172 or 150. Thx
My grand papa showed me how to do this just like in the video, said it was the best way. He died in a mysterious hanger fire one day, never did find the cause.
My thought exactly! I've never heard of a pin failure on the Kitfox, but as a mechanical engineer, in my opinion, that connection falls short. I wonder if builders who don't plan to fold the wings have developed an upgrade?
Can't believe that anyone would ask why you need to keep a fuel reserve - fricking ground pounders - Oh shit my plane is out of fuel... let me just get out and push it over to this cloud and park it and walk to the nearest gas station with this 2 liter soda bottle In case ground based geniuses still can;t figure it out - sometimes there is this thing called weather, and you might need to land at a different airport 50 miles further away, or there might be air traffic and you might need to go around the pattern a few times before you can land.
The comment below about keeping the tail raised is really the right answer. Then you don't have to drain anything.
Secondly, since you're a fuel injected engine, pop the line off from the pumps to the engine and turn on the pumps. That is the fastest and cleanest way to drain the fuel.
The master of Kitfox has spoken! I'm going to try this again and see if I can do it in under 10 minutes!
I identified a problem with your process..... You used a lowes bucket instead a Home Depot one
@@fly4fun24 Also a carpender's belt would save a lot of running around to put pins and such away. tons of pockets for pins and safety clips and places for all of your tools. It should be a major part of your onboard tool kit.
One little spark of static electricity, and you'll say goodbye to your plane, the hangar, and everything in it...
If you are just folding to fit in a hangar, build a rolling tail stand and raise the tail so plane is level. No need to drain the gas.
Most people I've seen use a rattle siphon hose from the tanks... no muss no fuss. Once you get the siphon started you can go about opening the turtle deck and unhooking the flaperons... by the time you're done the tank is likely empty.
My first thought when I saw the gas draining out.
Nothing like doing it the hardest way possible and bitching about it the entire time. Entertaining content for sure.
Go to a helicopter company and look at how we drain fuel out of the Astar. Astar has a nice drain set up, some have a safety lock to prevent inadvertent draining in the bush from the bush or snow pushing up on it.
I do appreciate you sharing this experience. It seems that anyone that has done work on cars, boats, etc would see this going sideways right away. For those that do no have mechanical experience that is relevant....at least you should know this is how you don't do it.
Some small and cheap solutions for safely and easily draining the tanks without spilling a single drop are not far away.
After a couple of tries, this process should definitely be 10 minutes and be totally mess-free.
The "Gas Valve Plug" you took out to drain the fuel has a depressive valve which means there's another piece that
screws into the plane plug to drain things. I believe they put that drain plug so you could drain her w/o taking the
plug out. There's a valve that depresses your plug & attached to a hose can be put into gas cans w/ less spillage.
Also that special valve could used w/ a pump to do the job fast unless the directions say not to use a pump.
I'm just thinking out loud here, I'm not a pilot or mechanic but the plug doesn't need to come out. peace
Got to love those LOWES buckets, I mean gas cans
This is such a pain! 😢. (Removes a few dzus fasteners with a quarter twist and the entire plexiglass piece comes off). 😂. Spoiler: drain the gas, pull the pins and fold the wing. Add 15 minutes of drama for effect….
also, you could hook up a hose line to the valve with a little valve shut off midway on the hose. So you can control the flow and go straight to a gas can
You might consider getting a furniture dolley for the tailwheel when wings are folded. They fully caster. Even though it took 40 minutes there was obvious places to save time. I'm considering a Model 3 and sharing my hangar with a Lazer. Thx for sharing. R
Siphon tank from top is a much easier/ faster way to drain wings. That valve is more for draining header tank only... This worked but hardest way possible...
The Kitfox directions say to drain the fuel because the fuel will come out the fuel vent caps on top of the wing once folded back. Could you build the thing with the fuel vent caps more towards the wing root so when the wings fold back the fuel flows away from the vent caps?
How about pumping or syphoning from the top? I had to drain gas from a WW2 jeep to replace a rusted fuel tank. The majority of gas was syphoned from top with one of those Amazon ball one way syphon. Great video!
This was a great video to show “real world” vs marketing
thank you. great content.
btw...that other toy in the hanger with the two jet engines looks incredible. do you fly that too?
A PVD threaded drain tube would speed the draining process along, as would a proper funnel into a gas can. I frown on dumping gas from my airplane into a bucket and then back into the airplane; it is a source of problems. Your time/motion appears a bit flawed; your tools are a walk across the hangar, when you tool box has wheels, and you should have known what tools you needed BEFORE the job. Juggling removed parts and tossing them into the seats is a recipe for getting stuff lost. Think about a couple neodymium magnets in your pockets so that all those steel parts stick together, then stick those to something in the cabin so they don't go missing. All things considered, I doubt the average new guy can do this job in 15 min, but certainly less than 30 min.
You should write yourself a checklist
No safety wire on the drain plug?
Any fireman is going to cringe at the gas fiasco. Here’s the best way. Take the line off that goes to the carb. Splice in a hose that’s long enough to go to gas cans. Then pump out all your tanks. Now I see you have the fuel injected model. Not sure how to use the pump and a hose with that, but I’d look into it. Charge your battery afterwards if needed.
I followed your entire build.
"How to turn a 10 minute job into an hour"
Well that just killed the kit fox for me. The folding wings are a huge money saver for now needing a full sized hangar which costs as much as the plane.
Maybe you should get a pair of gloves.
Wow that was some serious whining! Thanks for the demo.
Do you regret building a STI kit fox vs an S21 Rans?
Good information.
Where did you get the vertical stabilizer & rudder cover with the padding?
Appreciate your video, tis not to see it. You could either get a different quick drain on that bottom plug or use the electric pump built into the airplane, but your biggest error is using those 5 gallon buckets, just get some VP gas cans that have that wide opening, you can also get one of those big 20 gallon fuel tanks that would hold all your fuel unless you just topped off, they even have their own pump to get it back into the wings without lifting it yourself. Then you just set up the drain, keep an eye on your 6 gallon vp jugs; while that's going on you put your tail cover on, pull the back window, and get the pins started, once its done draining you finish pulling the pins, fold and your done. Could easily be done in 10 minutes by someone who folds their wings every time they fly.
Hi...I'm getting close to buying a kitplane . I've only flown 150s and 172s. Could you please describe to me what it like to fly the Kitfox? Maybe compare it to the 172 or 150. Thx
Did he disappear after this one?
My grand papa showed me how to do this just like in the video, said it was the best way. He died in a mysterious hanger fire one day, never did find the cause.
So the folding wing option isn’t really practical?
Just that Fuel part alone will declassify kit Fox as being removable wings for me...
Thanks !
From: Herman the german
Disclaimer: don’t mix wool and synthetics while you try this at home 🤣💪
Is it bad that I can smell it from over here
This was painful to watch. Thanks for the real world demonstration.
Shouldn't there be a fuel line shutoff valve somewhere to stop shenanigans? A proper plumbing job would prevent most of this video. 🤦♂️
one pin for the whole wing...... one critical pin. I would have mine NDI'd
Still better than a helicopter when it comes to critical bits! 😵
My thought exactly! I've never heard of a pin failure on the Kitfox, but as a mechanical engineer, in my opinion, that connection falls short. I wonder if builders who don't plan to fold the wings have developed an upgrade?
This dude agitates me.
Reply if you are interested in selling!
What an unbelievable pain in the ass. There's no way to do it without spilling gas everywhere.
Can't believe that anyone would ask why you need to keep a fuel reserve - fricking ground pounders - Oh shit my plane is out of fuel... let me just get out and push it over to this cloud and park it and walk to the nearest gas station with this 2 liter soda bottle
In case ground based geniuses still can;t figure it out - sometimes there is this thing called weather, and you might need to land at a different airport 50 miles further away, or there might be air traffic and you might need to go around the pattern a few times before you can land.