Pipe Life Question(s)

[Lance Van Nostrand]

More than once i've seen baffles come loose on both aluminum and carbon 
pipes.  It's always the last thing to come to mind when the engine doesn't 
run right.  sometimes the baffle is loose so the engine starts fine but in 
the air at full throttle the loose part moves and either seals off the 
airflow or messes up the tuning.
   One design approach we took with the Mintor aluminum pipes, to eliminate 
the possibility of a loose baffle, and to allow for possible internal 
inspection/maintenance, is to make the pipe in sections with the baffle 
forming the "floor" of each section.  This way the baffle is not press 
fit/glued/welded in place and can not come detached.  Each section actually 
screws into the previous section, so it is theoretically possible to 
dissassemble and service any clogs due to debris or buildup.  Sadly though, 
I've found the high temp loctite used to hold the screwed sections together 
is pretty permanent stuff and I don't know how to get it to release to allow 
for disassembly.

I think this is the right track though, so anyone's suggestion on this last 
problem that works could result in a pipe that will last longer.

--Lance
aeroslave.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Buff Miller" <fmiller2 at sc.rr.com>
To: "NSRCA" <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 10:44 PM
Subject: Pipe Life Question(s)


> 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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