O.K. so what's the black stuff on the tank? It is Carbon Fiber strands to give it a little more strengh. Tanks have been know to expand if too much presure builds up and after a while, you will end up with a whole in the tank. A better exampple would be for you to look at the tanks (provided you didn't add any support) while you fuel. Most of the time, you will see the tanks expand a little. Now imagine you have 30 flights on a new pair of tanks, how strong are they now? Now go to 50+ plights, how strong are they now? Most of us use the Sullivan 11oz. Banana shaped tanks and they tend to rip at the seam after too many expansions and contractions. Not everyone adds the Carbon Fiber, but I would highly recommend it and so do many Jet Manufacturers.
When Installing Fuel tanks, you have to keep in mind some basics. Air Leaks and foaming result in a Dead Stick. I always try to add something to the fuel lines to make sure they fit snug and no air is entering the fuel lines. You can achive this in many ways, 1. Buy Fuel line keepers 2. Add an extra ring of fuel tubing to the fuel line where it connects to the brass pipe. 3. Tie a piece of soft wire around the fuel line at the brass pipe 4. BVM mow sells a metal cap and fittings to add to any tank and the kit comes with a brass barb that you weld to the Brass pipe to keep the fuel line in place, and there are many more. The thing here is to add a safety layer of protection to maximize you chances of a succesful flight. On all the following pictures I used Pink fuel line to represent Vent Pressure and blue for the Actual Fuel Flow.
If you are installing multiple fuel tanks you must make sure the Fuel line are the same length between tanks. You connect the Fuel pick up line from tank#1 and same line from tank #2 with a T-connector and then run that one to the Carburator. You connect the Vent lines in the same manner and then run the T-connector to the pipe or preasure fitting you are using. I fyou are going to have Two main tanks plus a Header tanks the you proceed in the same manner, Pick up from Tank#1 and Tank #2 connected to a T-connector (making sure the length from both tanks is the same to the T-connector)then run that line to the VENT of the header tank. The fuel Pick up is then connected to the Carburator. Run the Vent lines the same way, to a T-connector and straight to the pipe or preasure system you are using.
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