Creating a Grumman-specific fuel tank dip stick
From Bondline
Introduction
The measurements for the Traveler and the Cheetah standard 19 gal/side tanks are different than the Tiger and long range Cheetah 26 gal/side tanks. The 19 gallon tank measurement is listed first, and the 26 gallon tank measurement is listed last. Note that the 19 gallon tank is NOT measuring inches, but rather the marks on the FuelHawk tube that is sold as a universal model not calibrated to any particular model of plane. The 26 gallon chart is actual inch measurements that can be transfered to any other suitable dipstick such as a wooden paint stirring stick. Sorry for the mismatch of measurement systems, but this is the way 2 different owners provided the information.
Gil Alexander has also turned these tables into calibration charts for those who prefer pictures. Just print the picture and laminate it. Three versions, just pick the applicable one.
Fuel Hawk Calibrations
19 Gallon Tank
| Gallons | FuelHawk# |
|---|---|
| 4 | Bottom of tank (0#) |
| 4.4 | 1# |
| 6.1 | 2# |
| 7.7 | 3# |
| 9.4 | 4# |
| 11 | 5# |
| 12.7 | 6# |
| 14.3 | 7# |
| 15.9 | 8# |
| 17.3 | 9# |
| 18.3 | 10# |
Calibration by Stick
Bondline contributor Greg Amy gives his experience using a "Fuelhawk C-152" from J-Air, available at any FBO, with his 26 gallon tanks on a Tiger. It doesn't matter whether you use this, a paint stick, or your favorite pen, as long as the length of it is sufficient so you don't drop it into the tank (that would suck). What counts is the height of the fuel from the bottom of the tank, immediately below the cap opening. Sporty's makes a "Universal Fuel Gauge", P/N 5304A. I used a permanent marker for the marks, and it's lasted a few year's worth of fuel dips so far.
The first number is the gallons useable remaining, the second is the distance from the bottom of the stick (tank). Experience with many fillups has shown this to be a very handy GUIDELINE; I'd entertain any others' experiences to adjust this.
And a generic calibration for a wooden ruler and large Grumman tanks... perhaps the easiest method of all...
26 Gallon Tank
| Gallons | Distance inches |
|---|---|
| 7 | Bottom of tank (0") |
| 8 | 1/4" |
| 9 | 7/16" |
| 10 | 11/16" |
| 11 | 13/16" |
| 12 | 1" |
| 13 | 1-1/4" |
| 14 | 1-1/2" |
| 15 | 1-13/16" |
| 16 | 2-1/16" |
| 17 | 2-3/8" |
| 18 | 2-5/8" |
| 19 | 3" |
| 20 | 3-1/4" |
| 21 | 3-5/8" |
| 22 | 4-1/16" |
| 23 | 4-1/2" |
| 24 | 4-15/16" |
| 25 | 5-1/2" |
