Re: UC61 (Argus III) fuel tank fittings

coxargus · Post by **coxargus** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 3:09 pm

'I have posted in my album (Frank Cox) three pictures of a fitting that was in the bottom of each tank. Other than a quick drain I cannot work out what it is or what it was supposed to do.
the parts manual does not show it.
Anybody know or have any ideas what it is and what it does?
Thanks
Frank

'

mileslong2k · Post by **mileslong2k** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:47 pm

'I'm wondering if some kind of desiccant was packed in the tube to help remove water from the fuel.

Jim Long
Santa Cruz, CA'

Geoff Guest · Post by **Geoff Guest** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 12:04 am

'? The earlier 24C8E and F's did not have electric fuel guages but instead had a float guage located on the lower surface of the 20 US gallon tanks. They are located near the centre bottom of each tank close to the front and the guages screw into bosses. They are sometimes referred as Stearman style. Seeing that you have a U61K from 1939? it should have 30 US gallon tanks each side which occupy the first three wing bays closest to the wing root as well as electric guages. The 20 gallon tanks do not occupy the inner bay. This may assist in determining what tanks and remnants you have. Fuel quantity sender or float tube? Regards, Geoff Guest

----- Original Message ----- From: coxs.gorrel@virgin.net [fairchildclub] To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, September 15, 2014 2:09 PM Subject: [fairchildclub] UC61 (Argus III) fuel tank fittings

I have posted in my album (Frank Cox) three pictures of a fitting that was in the bottom of each tank. Other than a quick drain I cannot work out what it is or what it was supposed to do.
the parts manual does not show it.
Anybody know or have any ideas what it is and what it does?
Thanks
Frank

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.932 / Virus Database: 4015.1.1/7714 - Release Date: 09/14/14 18:02:00

'

rampratone · Post by **rampratone** » Wed Sep 17, 2014 3:03 pm

'Hi FrankWe have these in our UC-61K tanks and are in the same boat you are in. Trying to figure what they did....
The USAAF Illustrated Parts Manual AN 01-115CA-4 Figure 11 item 16 shows this item as a Cartridgep/n 37B4095-1 made by (United Aircraft)
What USAAF serial number is your plane? Ours is 43-14964
Jim Chybicki
'

FJC · Post by **FJC** » Wed Sep 17, 2014 3:27 pm

'Thanks Geoff, Jim Long and Jim

Interesting that they are described as a ‘Cartridge’ – this immediate brings me to thinking that they are fire suppressants and to that end they possibly pressurised the tank with CO2 or some other inert gas which in turn forced (Dumped) the fuel from the tank via the four large holes in in the base of the fitting through a frangible plug which has since been replaced with a ‘hard’ plug (Bung) when they were civilianised.

I wonder if the cartridge part of it (where the small holes are) is still in there. I pulled the small circlip to see what it retained but what ever it was would not come out. Perhaps we should get one x-rayed – could be interesting if one ‘fired’ with a bung in the dump system.

My S/N is 43-15025 HB751 (Argus III)

From: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 17 September 2014 22:03
To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [fairchildclub] Re: UC61 (Argus III) fuel tank fittings

Hi Frank

We have these in our UC-61K tanks and are in the same boat you are in. Trying to figure what they did....

The USAAF Illustrated Parts Manual AN 01-115CA-4 Figure 11 item 16 shows this item as a Cartridge

p/n 37B4095-1 made by (United Aircraft)

What USAAF serial number is your plane?

Ours is 43-14964

Jim Chybicki

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]'