How to use motor spacer?

[TheSamurai]

I bought the Estes Vagabond rocket. It has the spacer for D motors. The motor tube is made for E motors. But I really don't know how the spacer works. Is it as simple as slipping the spacer over my motor and sticking the whole thing in the motor tube? Is there something that I am missing? Thanks in advance for the responses. The Estes instructions don't contain any information on using a spacer.

[KennB]

Once you've built the rocket per the instructions, you can fly it on the recommended E motors or the D motors.

To use the spacer, simply put that in the motor tube first and then the D motor; the spacer just fills the gap that is the difference in length of the D to the E motor.

Let us know how it flies for you.
K

[TheSamurai]

Once you've built the rocket per the instructions, you can fly it on the recommended E motors or the D motors.

To use the spacer, simply put that in the motor tube first and then the D motor; the spacer just fills the gap that is the difference in length of the D to the E motor.

Let us know how it flies for you.
K

But is the spacer just free floating in there or is it supposed to be secured to something?

[TheSamurai]

For instance, when I put the spacer in there it just slides back and forth between the motor block and the engine hook.

[SacEsq]

It just slides in ...

Slide in the orange spacer (most are orange or red) and then the motor as posted before. After recovery you remove the spent engine and the spacer. Sometimes the spacer will get stuck a bit with soot and such and you have to poke a screw driver in there (carefully) to get it out. The spacer is reusable.

[o1d_dude]

The motor block at the top end of the motor tube and the motor inserted from the back end hold the spacer in place.

Think of it as a "spacer sandwich" between the motor block and the motor itself.

[JStarStar]

The spacer is reusable but will get pretty gritty and sooty after several flights.

You can make your own spacers easily simply by cutting off a 1" long segment of an expended D/E motor casing with a razor saw.

[[POW]Eagle159]

I would never use a E engine in this kit, so I wrapped some tape around the spacer and slid it in the motor mount. This is so it wouldnt move around and fall out or get lost.

[paul.nortness]

I would never use a E engine in this kit, so I wrapped some tape around the spacer and slid it in the motor mount. This is so it wouldnt move around and fall out or get lost.

Well, you are selling yourself short. The Vagabond loves Es!

[JStarStar]

From many reports and reviews the Vagabond flies quite well on the E9 and probably will fly fine on the E12.

I'd slide that spacer out if you can and continue to fly it interchangeably on D's and E's.

The spacer "getting lost" is no big deal since as I noted above, you can make a new one in 5 minutes simply by cutting off a piece of a 24mm casing.

[BEC]

Well, you are selling yourself short. The Vagabond loves Es!

Yeah...especially the new E12s! Takes a Vagabond to about 1100 feet in a very spirited way.

[TheSamurai]

It just slides in ...

Slide in the orange spacer (most are orange or red) and then the motor as posted before. After recovery you remove the spent engine and the spacer. Sometimes the spacer will get stuck a bit with soot and such and you have to poke a screw driver in there (carefully) to get it out. The spacer is reusable.

Thanks for your help. That makes a lot more sense.