I find it interesting that is so very complex to change a 185 to a carb. The fuel tank lines on a 180 and 185 go to a fuel selector. From there the system is very complex on an injected 185 but one simple line to a gascolator and on to the carb for a 180. What am I missing here? Sad that some planes are going to be museum displays because of a fuel problem.

I find it interesting that there are popular mods to convert an injected engine to a carb--
the 470-50/XP470 (converting IO520 to carb) being one,
and the Norland (converting IO470 to carb) being another.
Then on the other hand some guys want to convert perfectly good carbureted engines to fuel injection--
such as putting Bendix FI onto an O470.
Maybe a case of the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence?

In this case, since the OP wants a mogas-capable airplane,
I'd suggest that he just pass on the 185 & work at finding a 180.

180Marty wrote:I find it interesting that is so very complex to change a 185 to a carb. The fuel tank lines on a 180 and 185 go to a fuel selector. From there the system is very complex on an injected 185 but one simple line to a gascolator and on to the carb for a 180. What am I missing here? Sad that some planes are going to be museum displays because of a fuel problem.

Those airplanes aren't going to a museum because of a fuel problem. The simple answer, as Hotrod noted is just sell the 185 and buy a carbureted airplane......

The issue also isn't that it would be impossible to change a 185 to a carbureted system, but getting an APPROVAL for it is likely impossible.

So, acquire the proper airplane for your needs in the first place....

MTV

hotrod180 wrote:I find it interesting that there are popular mods to convert an injected engine to a carb--
the 470-50/XP470 (converting IO520 to carb) being one,
and the Norland (converting IO470 to carb) being another.
Then on the other hand some guys want to convert perfectly good carbureted engines to fuel injection--
such as putting Bendix FI onto an O470.
Maybe a case of the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence?

In this case, since the OP wants a mogas-capable airplane,
I'd suggest that he just pass on the 185 & work at finding a 180.

I'm putting the Bendix style FI on my 180 as soon as I can get the approval completed and the parts assembled. My 470 is an ice machine. I have to run carb heat almost always. It's a cold wet climate here and I've talked with guys that have done it on many 180s and to a man they like.

Converting a 185 to carbed or adding methanol injection.....geesh lots of money. I can't wrap my head around justifying that, but I am pretty conservative.

I echo what Hotrod and Mike Tango Victor say.

hotrod180 wrote:Then on the other hand some guys want to convert perfectly good carbureted engines to fuel injection--such as putting Bendix FI onto an O470.
Maybe a case of the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence?

There are a whole bunch of airplanes out there with the the Bendix FI mod. It is really nice and creates a perfectly good fuel injected engine!

C180_guy wrote:There are a whole bunch of airplanes out there with the the Bendix FI mod. It is really nice and creates a perfectly good fuel injected engine!

I'm sure it does.
It's just interesting & kinda funny that people will spend money (quite a bit sometimes) to go both from carb to FI, and vice versa.
I don't know much aboutnthe Bendix FI mod--
does it require a header tank & fuel return line, as does the stock set-up on a C185?

hotrod180 wrote:

C180_guy wrote:There are a whole bunch of airplanes out there with the the Bendix FI mod. It is really nice and creates a perfectly good fuel injected engine!

I'm sure it does.
It's just interesting & kinda funny that people will spend money (quite a bit sometimes) to go both from carb to FI, and vice versa.
I don't know much aboutnthe Bendix FI mod--
does it require a header tank & fuel return line, as does the stock set-up on a C185?

Nope. Firewall mounted boost pump and that's it on the airframe.

akaviator wrote:

hotrod180 wrote:

C180_guy wrote:There are a whole bunch of airplanes out there with the the Bendix FI mod. It is really nice and creates a perfectly good fuel injected engine!

I'm sure it does.
It's just interesting & kinda funny that people will spend money (quite a bit sometimes) to go both from carb to FI, and vice versa.
I don't know much aboutnthe Bendix FI mod--
does it require a header tank & fuel return line, as does the stock set-up on a C185?

Nope. Firewall mounted boost pump and that's it on the airframe.

Is there an STC? Or are they all done via field approval?

It’s two STCs.

SE1CE is to convert the engine, SA108CE is for the airframe install.

Currently held by Precision Airmotive, but not really supported. They will send some of the STC documentation at no charge so you can look it over.

Also, I believe several parts are no longer available so some substitutions will have to be made.

Chris


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A1Skinner wrote:

akaviator wrote:

hotrod180 wrote:

C180_guy wrote:There are a whole bunch of airplanes out there with the the Bendix FI mod. It is really nice and creates a perfectly good fuel injected engine!

I'm sure it does.
It's just interesting & kinda funny that people will spend money (quite a bit sometimes) to go both from carb to FI, and vice versa.
I don't know much aboutnthe Bendix FI mod--
does it require a header tank & fuel return line, as does the stock set-up on a C185?

Nope. Firewall mounted boost pump and that's it on the airframe.

Is there an STC? Or are they all done via field approval?

I THINK there were two STCs: one for the engine, one for airframe. I’m pretty sure some were also field approved.

There was a looooong discussion of this over on Supercub.org.

MTV

mtv wrote:There was a looooong discussion of this over on Supercub.org.

MTV

^^^^ This. Extensively discussed on supercub about 2 years ago.

C180_guy wrote:

mtv wrote:There was a looooong discussion of this over on Supercub.org.

MTV

^^^^ This. Extensively discussed on supercub about 2 years ago.

Doesn't do me much good as I'm not a member there. But thanks to airchris for the actual info.

I did it a year ago (Bendix FI) and I love it. Got about 150 hours behind it now. It’s a very simple system with no returns or headers. Adds about 3 lbs over a carb’d setup. Approval is easy and expeditious. I also haven’t had difficulties starting when hot, warm, cold etc. Some of the info online is dated. If you PM me I can get you all the parts and approval without delay. Did I mention that I love the Bendix FI?