Pipe Life Question(s)

[Buff Miller]

1. What is the life expectancy of today's pattern pipes?  
 
2. Is there an effective cleaning solution that will bring a pipe back to
its original efficiency? 
 
3. When is it time to reincarnate the pipe as a "wind chime"?
 
Lately my, 140 RX has been off its feed.  Normally, running a Greve pipe,
17x12 prop on 15% Cool Power this RX would easily turn 7900-7850 rpm.
Instead, of late it has been doing well to hit 7000.
 
First, I discovered a blown header "O" ring so I figured that had to be it.
I replaced it with no improvement.  Next I replaced the bearings.  They were
due, but no improvement.  Next, the ring was replaced, no improvement.  I
thought maybe the pickup line in the tank developed a pinhole leak and was
sucking air.  I replaced the tank and all fuel lines.  No improvements.
 
All this time, I'm on the phone with my good buddy and well know engine
guru, Earl Vincent.  Along with many questions of what I tried, Earl asked
if I could hear anything rattling loose in the pipe if I shook it.  No
noise, everything about the pipe seemed OK.  He once had a similar problem,
but in his case a baffle had come loose.
 
Well, this afternoon while we were at the field, Earl asked me to take the
pipe off the plane so he could look inside.  In short, looking and blowing
into the pipe finally told us what the problem was.  It was quit difficult
to blow through the pipe.  Earl set out to "field" clean the pipe the best
he could.  I won't go into all the things he tried, but he was successful
enough to let us know that a plugged up pipe was my problem.  We were able
to get the R's up to 7600 and change.  Still missing another 200-300 rpm.
 
Hoping to regain the remaining R's, I now have the pipe in a solvent called
"Purple Power".  A solvent sold in local automotive stores in this area as a
degreaser.  It's manufactured by Aiken Chemical Co. of Aiken, SC.  Tomorrow
I'll find out if this was worth the effort or not. 
 
In the mean time, I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter?
 
Buff Miller
 
 
 


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