Securing a fuel filter

[Big-D]

Quick question:

With a inline fuel filter - Is it acceptable to secure the fuel pipe to the fuel filter using a cable tie?

I had a Rotax professional service my plane yesterday and this is what he did, he used cable ties

I am very much non-technical, hence me asking the question - I would have thought a steel fastening clamp is the thing to use

Thoughts?

D

[Splinter]

NOT GOOD!!!!! Hose clamps are safer! Guess a cable tie will work if you dont have anything else and you are stuck somewhere but I would personally replace them with hose clamps asap!

RED

[Cloud Warrior]

I know of a certain old timer microlighter who uses cable ties as standard practice and has never had a problem with them. All you are doing is restricting the ID of the fuel hose so that it cannot move over the barb of the fuel filter. Not much pressure required around the hose to achieve this. My only concern would be whether the cable tie was fuel resistant or not. Personally I prefer something a bit more substantial and because I find that normal hose clamps tend to damage the fuel hose, I use Oetiker stainless steel one-ear clamps instead.

[Duck Rogers]

I know of a certain old timer microlighter who uses cable ties as standard practice and has never had a problem with them. All you are doing is restricting the ID of the fuel hose so that it cannot move over the barb of the fuel filter. Not much pressure required around the hose to achieve this. My only concern would be whether the cable tie was fuel resistant or not. Personally I prefer something a bit more substantial and because I find that normal hose clamps tend to damage the fuel hose, I use Oetiker stainless steel one-ear clamps instead.

This is almost exactly what I wanted to say except that the cable tie doesn't make a nice complete seal around the hose because of the little square section where the "ratchet" part of the cable tie is. Underneath this section is where it doesn't compress the hose completely. If the hose fits very tightly over the barb then this is not really a problem but the steel wire type clamps with the little "ears" on are the best as the normal worm screw type clamps have the same problem as the cable ties, they don't crimp 100% under the screwy section.
To answer the question, yes a cable tie is acceptable, IN MY OPINION, only as long as the fuel line already fits very tightly over the barb .

[Massimo]

Personally i think its a cheap and nasty way out. I would feel much better with a proper clamp on it, and looks much more professional. Yes cable tie could work, but its not the solution, i would not accept it.

[Oupa-G]

The Oetiker clamps is the way to go. I use the double ear clamp. You need a special side cutter to take them of . They do not hurt the pipe and they seal and do not distort the fuel line.

Cheers Oupa-G

[Duck Rogers]

The Oetiker clamps is the way to go.

Yebo yes! That's the name I was looking for....