Fuel Pump

[Butch Pannell]

Working on a PA 24 260 with fuel injection and changing out the old obsolete Bendix Aux fuel pump to a Dukes. Got the bracket and pump from Matt with a Piper drawing that shows a vent line thru the bottom skin. The old pump wasn't vented anywhere and hate to cut a hole in the skin if I dont have to to run a vent. All the Piper manuals don't show a vent line I can find and wondered if I should just plug the two 1/8" ports on the top of the Dukes and what problems this may cause? If anyone else has run across this let me know. Thanks!

[9089P]

Hi Butch,

I have a 260B that came with the Dukes. It has the drain line through the skin. The purpose of the line is to drain off leaking fuel if/when the seal between the motor and pump fails. Mine did this some years ago and the way I discovered was by the blue stain on the hanger floor. Call me silly, but I think you need that drain tube.

Good luck, Don

PS as I recall the drain comes out of the bottom of the union between the pump and motor.

[Butch Pannell]

Thanks for the info and looks like I will have to install a drain to be safe.

[N3322G]

Butch,

The shop I use, Clifton Aero says that when repairs are made, folks frequently forget to but those drain lines/skin cuts back in. They do so many pre-buys that it is on their check list to verify - they feel it is a safety issue, in case the pump leaks fuel, it doesn't accumulate and cause a fire.

I'm like you, hate to punch holes in a perfectly good skin ... and it is just another thing to catch dirt and clean around

[Butch Pannell]

Thanks Pat for the information. I have been advised from other people Clifton Areo is a very good shop and probably will let them do the annual this year, to be sure we have not missed anything. We will cut a hole and install a drain tube to be on the safe side for the new aux pump.