Tips on getting stuck motor out of motor tube?

[TheSamurai]

I had previously had an E motor in the motor tube and forgot to put the spacer back in when I put a D in it. Well the motor is in there pretty good and I am trying to figure out how to get the stinking thing out without damaging the motor tube or bending the centering rings in the process.

Any ideas?

 

[Creeps]

If you can get a dowel in from the top down the body tube, push the dowel in until it meets the top of the motor. Then gently bang on the dowel as you hold the body tube as close to the motor mount as you possibly can.

That is unless your talking about an Aerotech kit. If so, I'm not sure that would do you much good.

 

[EeebeeE]

If you do have a baffle you might try using a 3/8" drill bit and drilling out the motor nozzle. Then use a coathanger wire. Bend a small part over (small enough to fit through the 3/8" hole). reach through the motor, hook it at the forward end of the motor, and try to pull it out the aft end of the rocket. You might hit your motor block and damage it, but it should be repairable or at worst, still useable.

 

[Green Jello]

I once took a wood screw that was slightly larger than the nozzle opening and threaded it into the hole. Then I had a good handle to pull on.

 

[powderburner]

Never tried it myself but if you are desperate you could cold-soak the whole thing in the freezer overnight, then try taking it out in the sun and working quickly to give the old motor case a push (or a pull).

Safest approach (IMHO) is the "peeling" that pickle suggested.

When you get the old motor out, get a strong light and a good set of eyeballs and check the inside of your MMT. If you applied excess glue during assembly, sometimes a hot motor case will briefly soften that glue enough to "almost" glue the motor in place when everything cools. You will need to go inside there with some sandpaper and clean it out a little.

 

[boomtube]

If it is really really stuck and none of the other methods mentioned here already have worked then you’ll have to attempt to cut the motor casing out from the inside.
Drill out the nozzle and ream out all the leftover crud until there is nothing left but the empty casing.
Using brand new “Click Knife”, those small razer type box cutters with the extendable blade that snaps off in segments, extend the blade all the way shove it down inside the motor casing and cut the motor casing lengthwise from end to end.
It then becomes possible to unwrap the casing from the inside out using a pair of needle nose pliers.
You may need to occasionally re-cut the casing but make sure you don’t cut completely through and damage the motor tube.
Yes; I have done this and yes it is a pain in the posterior.

 

[TheSamurai]

Thank you all for the advice. I have not attempted to remove it yet other than the first night that I tried. We have moved to a new town and unpacking has taken priority over getting that stupid motor out. Plan on trying tonight.

 

[powderburner]

(bump)

What did you finally try? Were you successful? Did you figure out what the culprit was for the stuck motor case in the first place? (Did some "extra" glue soften under motor heat and grab the motor? Some old tape? Was it just a "fat" motor case?) Any lessons-learned that you can share?