CruiseMaster Additional Aux Fuel Tank

leadsledfan

leadsledfan

New member
I ran into an interesting fellow with an Stinson L-5 that came up with a fairly simple idea to extend the range. He had a small 13 gallon gas tank (Out of a Buick I believe) that he would strap into the back seat for longer Cross-Country trips. He used a small electric fuel pump and filter to transfer fuel from the Aux tank into one of the wing tanks. Simple, Effective, and added 2 hours to his endurance. Whenever he wasn't doing longer flights, he simply unstrapped it, and went on his merry way.

Moving onto my CruiseMaster, My current mission to Northern Idaho from San Francisco leaves me refueling only 30 minutes from my destination, which of course adds 45 minutes to my trip.
So here is the question: Could I fashion a similar setup with a 20ish gallon tank that slid into the baggage compartment? It would also have a small electric pump and fuel filter, and would feed into the normal Aux tank. I would run the Aux tank down, and then flip on the electric pump to fill it back up from the "Long-Range" Baggage compartment tank. 20 Gallons would increase my range to about 750NM with reserves. In theory, it seems like a fairy simple setup, that could be easily removed when back at home base, and not needed. Obviously, this specifically would be for long-range missions, and not for when I would be carrying back seat passengers. I believe that 20 gallons would still leave me within an acceptable CG limit.
Any thoughts on the practicality of this?
and of course, legality? I know that I could not add a permanent Aux tank and plumbing without a 337 at least, but I can legally carry gas cans can I not? I guess my thought is that since it would removable, it may fall into a legal gray area, and essentially would be mid-air refueling.

And yeah yeah, I know, "After 3 hours my butt is ready to be on the ground" makes a lot of sense, but I enjoy long legs, and have flown both of Bellanca's to the edge of their range happily.

Thoughts?
Thanks!
-Adam
 
There have been several Cruismasters approved with aux wing tanks from Vikings. It adds another 17 gallons per side and has little effect on CG. Changing tanks while flying becomes a very careful process. Enough early Vikings starved their engines and crashed with plenty of fuel still onboard that the later Vikings plumbed the main wing tanks and the aux together to cut down on valve changing while flying. I know that Webbers did one set of aux wing tanks in a Master and the other one that I knew of was the plane that was owned by the late Drew Peterson and had an IO-470 in it. The new owner may be a member of the club. I think Dan Torrey has info on adding wing tanks. Maybe you will change your name/title from leadsledfan to OLD IRON BLADDER. _____Grant.
 
Maybe I have an early master, But I don't have 58 gallons. I have 2 20 gallon wing tanks and a 14 gallon aux. Only 18 is usable in each wing so I have a flat 50. I know several owners who have flown with turtle pacs and other ferry type tanks, and I have no problem with doing what's required to make it a safe system. I'm not looking to just stick in a gas tank and go flying off.
 
I knew of the aux wing tanks that have been approved, but I am guessing that they would require cutting into the wings etc, and that would make it not worth it for me
 
Well OK, if you *really* think toting some extra cans is the way to go, here's some things to think about...
You not going to just be able to run a hose to the filler, so altering the plumbing is in your future.. a major alteration... have fun getting that 337.
Temporary ferry tanks exist for specific applications (like the C-185). I've done a few of those. There are also some permanent ones available with STCs, I dont see any for -2s.
If you haul off and do it anyway... It's exactly the thing drug runners do. so much so that the DEA requires you paste a copy of the 337 to the tanks so it can be viewed from outside the plane. The DEA, not the FAA. There are a few occasions when the DEA seized aircraft that had been properly altered, but didn't know about the paste-up requirement.. They love it when C-414 does that.. very handy pursuit plane they find quite useful. They also reward informants... think about that when the gas kid sees you loading up some cans.
Oh. please record your conversation with your insurance company for us all to hear :)
Safe gas can are vented....mmmmm, smell that while you're flying.

sheezuz... just land, take a leak and chalk up another landing in your logbook..
 
Get a Super Viking with long range tanks. Messing with that Cruisemaster is a very bad idea! :shock: Lynn the crate
 
Well given the response I had, I'm going to put that back into the "pipedreams" box. Maybe one day when I'm recovering or making a repair I'll look into the wing tanks. I'll still keep it in mind for when I make that bucket list round the world trip : D
 
Here's another scenario. Let's say your involved in an incident with your airplane(God forbid.) And, that it has nothing to do with your fuel system. Now the FAA safety inspector looks at he back seat of your plane, and spots the "extra" tank. You won't be able to tap dance fast enough. Tom Robinson
 
I dont think that any Cruismasters came with the aux wing tanks. They were a Viking thing, but since the wings have the same rib spacing the Viking tanks will fit into Master wings. I am not sure, but I think it can all be done from the underside of the wing. They are actually 2 small tanks that plumb together to give the 17 extra gallons per side. All later Vikings had the wing tanks (main and aux) installed from underneath so that it cut way down on leaking tank covers that have ruined so many Bellancas. I used to have a set of Viking wing prints, showing the aux tank installation. Talk to the factory. ____Grant.
 
I chafe over the short legs on my Cruisemaster as well. It is always tempting to cut into the reserves to finish a trip. In less you run the tank until the engine stops (and your passengers vow never to fly with you again) there are two gallons or so left in each tank you have used cutting your real usable down from 50 to 46 then leave an hour in reserve and you have 2.5hrs real range. Not so very much.
 
Ralph,
I have two 20 gallon wing tanks and a 14 gallon aux. I have found that the "18 gallon usable" is a pitch issue, with the last two gallons not feeding at high angles of attack (landing) to maximize my fuel, I do the following:
Take off on right tank and climb to cruise altitude (11500-12500 when flying to idaho)
Switch to aux tank when level and run dry (I have a fuel flow monitor and watch for fuel pressure drop around 14 gallons)
Switch back to right tank and run dry using same method (if you switch tanks and run the boost pump when the fuel pressure starts to wobble, the engine won't cough) this allows me to use the full 20 gallons in the right tank
Switch to left tank and land within 1 hour
This leaves me with about a 30 minute reserve on the ground.
I am confident pushing my fuel a bit further because the fuel flow monitor allows me to know fairly exactly what I have left.
This generally give me a 3.5 hour range burning 11.5 gph
 
Hi All,

I think there is an approved option in the -2 Type Cert for a 20gal aux tank. It's only 6 more gallons but, that would give you another 30 minutes or so. It has an extension at the bottom of the tank that goes a little ways under the rear seat.
 
Thanks Jack!
I had heard something about a 20 gallon viking tank?
Does anyone know if these tanks are available anywhere? Or if a viking aux tank would work?
Also, I know that certain tanks fit through the door and others don't. Any advice is appreciated
 
leadsledfan, give me a call. I have the early Viking aux tanks and I have the 20 gallon fuselage tank. The fuselage tank can be removed/installed thru the cabin door, but the existing 14 gallon tank is wider and fabric has to be cut to remove it. The wing tanks will give you 34 more gallons and have little effect on C.G., but the fuselage tank only gives you 6 more. The early wing tanks require two fuel valves in the cockpit where the later Viking aux wing tanks just plumb together with the main tanks and only have one fill point which is farther outboard than we are used to seeing. I dont think that the early tanks could be plumbed together with the mains because the lines are sized for engine fuel burn and the newer ones have much larger plumbing between the aux and mains for quick filling. In reality, the newer ones are not aux tanks at all, you just have a Bellanca with much larger mains. Talking to the factory or Dan Torrey will give you much information. Since installing the aux tanks requires swapping the mains (or welding in a tube) it would be a good time to mount your mains from underneath and seal up (forever) our Bellanca killing tank covers.______ Grant. 707-279-9119. P.S. Dan Torrey runs his fuselage tank dry before switching to mains. He said that when you get pushed against the shoulder harness, swap tanks. That is braver than me.
 
Thanks Grant,
I'll try to catch up with you sometime soon. If I have to cut fabric to get the old tank out, it probably makes it not worth the trouble. I'll keep the viking tank set up in mind if I ever have to dig into the wings. Seeing as I have good fabric and paint, it seems somewhat ridiculous to start cutting into it, and I am assuming the cost of good replacement fabric work would he astronomical
 
I have heard lots of back and forth on running tanks dry and leaving a gallon or so in. The way I see it, the engine is still making compression, spark, etc when fuel runs out, so reintroducing fuel will always lead to a start. However, given the somewhat unsettling feeling of having an engine cough at altitude, I typically monitor my fuel closely, and switch as the tank starts to run empty
 
Leadsledfan, this is exactly how I run mine when I am alone, but after letting the fan quit between tanks on a trip to see the grand-kids my wife now begins to point at the fuel gage and make that “if you really loved me” face as the gage gets low. Oh well I guess I will be landing a little short and getting fuel. :roll:
 
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