Fresh water fill port vent?

[gwchitty]

The cast aluminum fill port on my 65 Caravel has a hole in it. It is 1/4 inch in diameter. I guess this is an air vent? It looks like part of the original casting. Problem is, it's located on the underside and water runs out when I go to fill the tank. Does anyone else have one of these vent holes? Is there a plug or screw I'm missing?

Thanks,

Bill AKA cosmos

[ventport]

How about a picture of what you have?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by cosmos

The cast aluminum fill port on my 65 Caravel has a hole in it. It is 1/4 inch in diameter. I guess this is an air vent? It looks like part of the original casting. Problem is, it's located on the underside and water runs out when I go to fill the tank. Does anyone else have one of these vent holes? Is there a plug or screw I'm missing?

Thanks,

Bill AKA cosmos

The tank is supposed to be fill by taking that cap off, inserting a water hose into the neck, and slowly fill the tank, until water flows out of the top of the filler neck.

That's how it was designed.

Andy

[Tom Nugler]

My '67 had a vent in the cap. The filler neck had casting seams but nothing that looked like a cast in vent port.
Vent on the 72 is completly different with a vent on the top. Don't think a vent on the bottom would make any sense.
Pics would be good.

Tom

[purman]

my 68 also have a vented cap. I got a new one from Andy at inland RV. Show us a pic.

[ventport]

Originally Posted by cosmos

The cast aluminum fill port on my 65 Caravel has a hole in it. It is 1/4 inch in diameter. I guess this is an air vent? It looks like part of the original casting. Problem is, it's located on the underside and water runs out when I go to fill the tank. Does anyone else have one of these vent holes? Is there a plug or screw I'm missing?

Thanks,

Bill AKA cosmos

Was that originally a pressure tank system? My 64 Avion had a round aluminum tank with a drilled and threaded hole in the bottom side of the fill neck also. The cap had a hole in the center of it with a schrader valve stem from a tire in it. I believe the tank was filled about 3/4 full with water and then pressurized with air to move the water to the faucets. I wonder if the hole in the neck was for a pressure release of some sort to keep the tank from being over pressurized.

[gwchitty]

I will take a picture. Filling with the hose end makes sense, as the hose goes beyond the hole. I think this is the first year for the pump - type tank instead of the air pressure tank. I installed a new tank and inlet/ outlet pipes and hoses. I rebuilt the original Parr pump. I have the original aluminum fill port casting and cap. I plugged the hole in the filler neck with part of a chop-stick.

I understand the need for a tank vent so air can get in as water goes out. So I had already added a vent line to the tank plumbing.

If no one else has this vent, maybe it was one of the transition features going from pressurized tank to pump tank. I'll just use my plug for now I guess.

Thanks for all the good responses!

Bill

[dwightdi]

There needs to be a small hose from the tank to the vent port in the casting. This allows air to leave the tank as the water flows down the main hose to fill the tank. If you push a hose into the fill port and turn it on full blast, it will pressurize the tank and blow the sides of it out, if you do not have the second vent line. You need the vent open and fill the tank at a reasonable rate.

[gwchitty]

Here is a link to a picture of the water- fill.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resi...GsaWryn38qB4Zk

You can see my wooden plug. This is redundant since my tank plumbing has a built- in vent/overfill going to the drain line thru the floor. The Caravel owners manual says to fill with fresh water using a hose or bucket. But water runs out of the hole if I fill with a bucket.

Bill

[Chris Shaw]

Is there a source for replacement fill necks? Mine is cracked at the flange and I'd like to replace it.

Thanks,

Chris Shaw

[purman]

Originally Posted by Chris Shaw

Is there a source for replacement fill necks? Mine is cracked at the flange and I'd like to replace it.

Thanks,

Chris Shaw

check with inland RV they have the caps and might have the necks.

[gwchitty]

I've seen them on eBay ocaisionally. You may find that this small part can be easily weld repaired by a competent aluminum welder. Especially if it's only the flange and there is no leak.

[reinergirl]

Originally Posted by Chris Shaw

Is there a source for replacement fill necks? Mine is cracked at the flange and I'd like to replace it.

Thanks,

Chris Shaw

Coming soon to the VTS website


Cast Water Fill Neck & Cap

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks everyone, I'll repair mine while watching for a used one or the new one coming from VTS.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Chris Shaw

Thanks everyone, I'll repair mine while watching for a used one or the new one coming from VTS.

New machined caps have been available for several years.

Andy