Tuesday, July 19, 2011

DIY Engine Preheater

This is a preheater I made out of an ammo can, some flexible aluminum dryer hose, a dryer conduit nipple, pig putty, and an MSR XGK camp stove. The video demonstrates setting it up and lighting it. I got this idea from an Alaskan flyer who posted on a web forum. His design had two hoses, but my aircraft has retractable gear therefore ample room for one big hose through the gear door under the cowling. I built this primarily because I wanted a "simple" and very portable heating solution since I am based at a tie down with no electricity. Will also come in handy when away from home at a lonely strip ;-) Basically, I cut large holes around the bottom of the ammo can... over 1 inch diameter on the ends, the long sides I used smaller holes. Jig sawed a large 4 inch hole in the lid for the conduit nipple and used high temp pig putty (plumbers epoxy) to seal it in. I have a peice of safety wire to hold the dryer hose in place on the nipple, and also a loose one to hold it from extending when not in use. The hose is fairly limp when extended, it will extend to 5 feet... I just extend what I need and shove it up in the cowling. The camp stove will burn any kind of liquid fuel, gasoline (unleaded), white gas, kerosene, Jet-A, diesel etc. The bottle is 20 oz. and should last up to 2+ hours. Lighting the heater requires it's own prime and preheat. Give the bottle a few pumps. Let some fuel into the heater bowl, light it. Let it heat the jet and bowl up... when it starts "poofing ...

No comments:

Post a Comment