AMW L1400

[gkieley]

Just started to put the motor together and noticed that I had a fiber washer. The directions do not call for one.

It appears as though it was glued to something. Any insight... maybe the aft end (white) of the delay grain. Thanks.

 

[Donaldsrockets]

If this is the L1400 Skid then I'm sure this washer goes against the nozzle and bottom propellant grain.

What this does is it deflects the sparks away from the nozzle so it doesn't get chewed up.

 

[gkieley]

Yes it is the skid. Thanks for the input. The grains are numbered 1-5 with specific note to place one end of the 5th grain against the nozzle. I will make certain the washer goes there. Thanks again

 

[ben_ullman]

Yes it is the skid. Thanks for the input. The grains are numbered 1-5 with specific note to place one end of the 5th grain against the nozzle. I will make certain the washer goes there. Thanks again

Do they taper the cores? Ive never seen the L1400 Skid grains.

Ben

 

[gkieley]

The bore was not tapered. Went off without a hitch today. Beautiful flight of an OOP Public Enemy 6" Honest John.

 

[Donaldsrockets]

Glad to hear that everything went ok.

I love Skids, got any pics or video???

 

[harsas]

Glad to hear that everything went ok.

I love Skids, got any pics or video???

Grrrrrrr......
:dark:

 

[Donaldsrockets]

Grrrrrrr......
:dark:

Hmmm, do I need to fly one at the next launch to rethink your rather low interest of sparkies???

I'm not talking a measly G, I'm talking a large I or a J Skid.

 

[gkieley]

Picked up this kit a few years ago on ebay and finally got around to finishing this spring. Glassed and added a few more inches to the payload to accommodate larger chute. Thanks to Gary T for helping out at the launch.

 

[GaryT]

Yup awesome! flight, Picture perfect! And only had to walk a few hundred feet to get the beast.

 

[gkieley]

This is the first big sparky I have flown. There is "crud" still inside the motor case just above the nozzle after soaking & cleaning. Any suggestions for removing this stubborn stuff. :confused2:

 

[JDcluster]

That was one Loud motor!



JD

 

[Pantherjon]

This is the first big sparky I have flown. There is "crud" still inside the motor case just above the nozzle after soaking & cleaning. Any suggestions for removing this stubborn stuff. :confused2:

What you have is what is called 'slag'..From what I have been told, it is a very common after effect of the sparky motors..maybe use a small screwdriver and scrape it off?:confused2: Did you have a bunch of this 'slag' on the top part of your nozzle?

 

[mi-nan]

Be careful scraping your nozzle with a screwdriver. It is easy to scrap away graphite too. Try soaking your nozzle in water for a couple of days and then letting it dry completely. Many time the slag with pop off when it dries. The easiest way to clean slag out of a nozzle is to run a motor without metal through it. One flight and it is perfectly clean.

 

[ben_ullman]

set it slag side down on a concrete floor overnight.

Ben

 

[gkieley]

The easiest way to clean slag out of a nozzle is to run a motor without metal through it. One flight and it is perfectly clean.

Since the L1400 is the only non M for that case.... I guess that means it's time for L3:headbang:

 

[ben_ullman]

Since the L1400 is the only non M for that case.... I guess that means it's time for L3:headbang:

heck yeah!! :clap:

 

[cherokeej]

Be careful scraping your nozzle with a screwdriver. It is easy to scrap away graphite too. Try soaking your nozzle in water for a couple of days and then letting it dry completely. Many time the slag with pop off when it dries. The easiest way to clean slag out of a nozzle is to run a motor without metal through it. One flight and it is perfectly clean.

If you put your graphite nozzles in water, you'll want to dry them in an oven afterwards. Graphite is very porous. There will be a lot of water in there. You need to get it out of there S-L-O-W-L-Y. If you assemble a motor with a lot of moisture inside the nozzle, and ignite it, the nozzle heats to 2500+ degrees almost instantly, and the steam will crack the nozzle. :shock:

I have a 54mm graphite nozzle in the oven right now.

To remove metal slag from a graphite nozzle, take advantage of the thermal expansion differential between the graphite and the metal.
Put the nozzle in a baggie, and put it in the freezer. It works.