Terry Ross:
On a Sierra BE-C24R (MC-554) the Fuel Cap Adapter has rust flaking off. I believe this is part number 169-380024-3. My mechanic has seen a Musketeer with Stainless Steel Fuel Cap Adapters. Does anyone know about the availability of these for the Sierra?
This airplane had SB-2045R3, Fuel Fill Restrictor, complied with by the installation of Kit# 36-5013-1 S. If the Fuel Cap Adapter is replaced, can the restrictor be removed from the old Adapter and installed on the new one? If not, does the fuel cap have to be replaced, currently a Shaw Aero 531-046, or is the restrictor available?
John Rutkowski:
I replaced mine on MC-2, boy was it a job; lots of scraped knuckles. I took the rings off, beaded, epoxy primed, and finished. Took six hours.
You need small hands and some stubby wrenches. Best to drain the tank, you will drop lots of rubber crud from the o-rings on each screw and washers. O-ring, rubber washer and metal washer with the lock nut. You need to pivot the fill tab to get to the lower screw. Remove from the uphill side first.
Editor:
I have never seen the adapters in stainless steel, but I have also never seen serious corrosion on the adapters. The restrictors are normally installed using a special tool, and are then lightly staked in place by slightly bending a tab. It is probably possible to remove and re-install them; I have not had to do removal before. While I have tracked down some of the other part numbers, I have never found one for just the restrictor itself. The smaller-body cap for the restricted filler is PN 36-380095-1, available from RAPID for $192 each.
Beech still has some of the kits to install restrictors, at a very high price. The kit includes the restrictors, installation tool, and two new fuel filler caps. The kit costs $867, and does not include the adapters. A few of the filler adapters are still available new from Beech, for $383 each. At one time Arrell Aircraft had one of the kits for a much lower price. Separate cap parts are not normally available new from anyone; I have the numbers but have never found them. Note that the restricted adapters require a different cap; it has a smaller body and latch pawl OD, while retaining the same top OD.
Your best bet, if the corrosion cannot be corrected in place, is to remove the adapters, have them bead-blasted and powder-coated, and reinstall them. Ideally the adapters should be cadmium-plated, and only the exposed outer surfaces painted (paint on both caps and adapters). The internal body of the caps is typically anodized for corrosion protection. It is preferred to not use any form of paint on surfaces internal to the tank, to prevent the possibility of paint flakes in the tank.
The adapter gasket is still available from Beech for $15. You will also need the proper polysulphide sealant. While not terribly difficult, the job is not exactly a piece of cake either.