Fuel leak from interior sump valve

[Michael Koff]

Hey all,
Need some help, apologies for the long story:
I went to pickup my 260B in New Orleans to bring it back to Atlanta, and had a bit of an event. It should also be noted I just bought the plane recently.
After an hour of flight I switched to my other aux tank, and about 30 minutes in the engine sputtered and hiccuped and died. I immediately turned on the fuel pump, switched tanks, and went to fill rich on mixture and it immediately started backup. Other than my heart beating out of my chest, everything was fine...so I kept going. I burn about 13 gph in cruise so I time each 15gallon aux tank for 55 minutes.
Upon landing, I quickly looked in the tank of the right aux and it was bone dry. Then I noticed fuel leaking from underneath the central sump. Not sure if all Comanches have the same sump procedure, but I have a small panel between front seats with spring loaded lever to drain fuel from each tank...while in the cockpit.
When I looked in this panel, I could see fuel dripping rapidly (not pouring, and not directly from the drain valve). I lifted up with some pressure on the spring loaded sump lever and it clicked hard, then the fuel stopped dripping and stopped leaking out the bottom of the plane. Now, however, the lever seems stuck as I'm unable to push it
To drain.
So....I'm a new owner and not sure where to start....seems like maybe the linkage isn't setup correct or a busted O-ring? Any advice on what to do and where to look is appreciated. I'm a bit of a novice at this stuff....still learning....but the plane is grounded until this gets solved.
Thanks everyone.

[Joe Greene]

Start by taking the panel off the bottom of the plane where the fuel drain/sump exits to the ground. You'll be able to get a better look as to what is going on I think!

[Michael Koff]

Here is the update...
I pulled the panel off there bottom where the fuel valve is located. The fuel valve is leaking from the tip of the metal valve...
I turned off the fuel from the fuel selector inside the aircraft, and was expecting the fuel to eventually stop leaking out of the valve. It didn't. When I press the spring loaded sump lever rearward with the fuel selector on any of the 4 tanks (they all were topped off when I landed, which I now regret) the fuel streams out as usual. When I select OFF with fuel selector, it basically slows down to a steady constant drip. I tried to close off the drip with some hose and vice clamp, but it just started leaking out of the top of the hose, so I currently have a 5 gallon gas can and funnel under the plane. In about 6 hours, the gas jug has probably one gallon of fuel in it. So...obviously its not just the valve that needs removal and rebuilding...that would have been too easy...
No A&P's were available over the weekend, plus I don't know any yet as I just moved here to the Atlanta area. I plan on calling Webco first this in the morning, but any advice for you experienced Comanche owners os much appreciated.
Thanks.

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

The O ring in the fuel drain is bad. If you can get on the valve itself (not the "actuation linkage"), pull it down hard and rock it back and forth and see if you can get the O ring to seat better. You also have an issue with your fuel selector valve. It should shut off the ful better than just slowing it to a slow drip, so that may be something you will need to address at some point as well.

Zach