Originally Posted by
43Inches
The only real issue with it was it's location down the left side of the cockpit which made it slightly awkward to operate. The "Off" locking mechanism can be seen to prevent inadvertently going through the "Left" position hastily.
From someone with nearly all his hours in PA28's of various flavours and vintages, actually the biggest issue with the fuel selector being where it is is that there's no way for an instructor to get to it if for some reason the rookie student (TIF candidate even worse) can't do it. Not a biggie with forward planning and in some cases a good thing, but something to consider.
Other points are:
1. Some of the older versions (60's - 70's-ish) don't have locking detents, making it perfectly possible to turn the fuel off in flight if you're on Left but think you're on Right. (Fortunately I've only ever done this once and that was in the run-up bay... never again!)
2. The
corollary is that, on the newer version like the one shown it's next to impossible to turn the fuel off on final for a forced landing and maintain a glide at the same time. The solution? Just don't bother.. it's not worth your life as it is.