| Re: Refueling Isolator valve [message #63290 is a reply to message #63285] |
Fri, 06 November 2009 12:07   |
jwillard
Messages: 118
Registered: May 2004
Location: Silver City, NM
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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I actually did this a while back and it works great. Here's what I did....
I went on line and found an aircraft surplus 1 1/4" slidevalve. They are not too hard to find actually. I already had the tanks out so I cut the Fuel Inlet pipe between the two tank outlets and inserted the slide valve. I then ordered a very small air cylinder for the actuator on the slide valve and used a solonoid valve with a toggle switch on the dash utilizing "Bag air".
I also moved the Onan fuel to a tee upstream of the fuel tank selector valve and installed a seperate electric pump for the engine (Carter) and the Onan (cheapie Autozone unit)
Proceedures...
When I stop for fuel, I flip the switch and both tanks fill normally. I then close the valve and now the tanks are isolated.
What this accomplished...
The gauge now really tells me something. I don't drive for hours with little or no gauge movement then it falls like my stock portfolio. No more "cross filling" on up and down grades etc. The Onan and the engine run from the same tank. I can keep a "reserve" by switching tanks at say a quarter tank. I usually run on the front tank first so if I stop for fuel, it fills that one without using the valve.
What I'd do differently...
Originally I didn't wire the switch to an always hot power source.
I didn't put an idiot light on it... yet.
I used a one way air cylinder and relied on a spring to close it. It doens't always close and I sometimes need to lay on the gound and "help it" close. A 2 way cyl would solve the problem.
Thats what I did. I thought I had pics but I can't find them right now
Jeff Willard
Silver City, NM
1973 ex-Glacier
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