Estes E-9 Failure

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Yup that sounds like an E-9 to me! I have had four do that to me in the past year or so. Got to love blowing around $5 (depending where you buy them from) to see that!

Breeze1913 said:
Burnt the tail end of the Mean Machine due to an E-9 failure.

If you listen closely, you can hear the clay nozzle 'ping' when it hits the blast shield.

Grrrr...:mad:


Okay, how do I post a movie clip file?
Do I need to create an internet page first?
Click to expand...
 
I've only had one E9-8 failed on me so far; it was a blowthrough on my Estes
SkyBolt model.
 
Sorry to hear about the failure.:( I must be lucky because I have flown about 30 Estes engines of many different types and they all have worked perfectly. Maybe my time will be coming???????
 
cdman said:
Sorry to hear about the failure.:( I must be lucky because I have flown about 30 Estes engines of many different types and they all have worked perfectly. Maybe my time will be coming???????
Click to expand...
I flew 210 Estes engines this year and I only had 1 CATO, sending a big fireball right through the body tube, toasting a Rubicon.

It was a 35 year old D13-3. They were prone to CATO even when they were new.

Of the almost 500 Estes motors I've used in the last 3 years, that was the only CATO. I did have 2 A10-0T's burn through and ignite the second stage while still on the launch rod. They could be considered failures also, but the rockets sustained no damage when it happened.
 
linkey no workey... I searched and found this, I imagine this is your.


<a href="https://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=24637561">Estes E9 failure</a><br><embed src="https://lads.myspace.com/videos/vplayer.swf" flashvars="m=24637561&v=2&type=video" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="430" height="346"></embed><br><a href="https://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.addToProfileConfirm&videoid=24637561&title=Estes E9 failure">Add to My Profile</a> | <a href="https://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.home">More Videos</a>

sorry about your cato, but fly long enough its bound to happen, Estes is good about taking care of you!
 
Sorry about the bad link.

Yes, that is me/us.
Thank you for posting that Jim.

I'll have to get ahold of Estes & see what, if anything they are willing to do.
 
Last year I went through over 100 Estes "E9" Motors and the only problem I had was with my Four Motor Clustered "LOC Starburst". I tried a new motor retention using a washer and screw. Apparently the washer was a little off center and the end of one of the motor casing burnt out. The other three E9's were enough to get it going and off the pad. I love the E9's and build rockets accordingly to fly on them.
 
I emailed Estes customer service via thier web site.

They asked for a photo of the date code on the failed motor, and since I told them I had digital video, they asked me to email the video clip.
They replaced the mean machine & gave me choice of two packs of "D" motors or $20.00 towards merchandise.

They arrived in the mail today.

View attachment Mean Machine #1.JPG

View attachment Liquidator #1.JPG
 
I and my rocket buddies have flown single E-9's with no problems but I have seen catos when they are clustered in groups of 3 or 4.

Has that been the experience of others?
 
...they replaced the rocket?

Wish FSI would have done that after an F100 FSI motor blew, and I mean BLEW, up my FSI Black Brandt.

The F100 was a real 50-50 chance to blow-or-go motor:rolleyes:
 
Warthog said:
I and my rocket buddies have flown single E-9's with no problems but I have seen catos when they are clustered in groups of 3 or 4.

Has that been the experience of others?
Click to expand...

I have flown Two, Three and Four Motor Clustersfor several years and I have only had one problem with a nozzle. The cause was my motor mount and not the Motor itself. Last year I flew 100 "E9's" and only had the one problem, which I was the cause of.
 
GIJoe said:
I have flown Two, Three and Four Motor Clustersfor several years and I have only had one problem with a nozzle. The cause was my motor mount and not the Motor itself. Last year I flew 100 "E9's" and only had the one problem, which I was the cause of.
Click to expand...

It only takes one. I have probably launched thousands of Estes motors over the last 40 years with only 2 CATO's. But...I know folks personally and online that have had several. It's just luck of the draw. The motors have an overwhelmingly positive record overall.
 
never had a problem with E9s, but i had a pack of C6-3s where every one of the three blew out the clay nozzle:mad:, must have been a bad batch. apparently if the motor ever gets wet and then dried out, then the clay nozzle can get weakened, but my three motors were bone dry and all the motors that i had in the same order worked fine
 
This is the only E9 that went BANG ! on me:

P1160121-760x1001.jpg


And yes, Estes made goody goody...
 
Ah yes, that wonderful ping. I'm so familiar with it.

Last time I heard that sound was last summer, when an A10-3T failed on me just like that. Caught the X-Prize Gauchito it was in on fire too. Glad I always have an extinguisher on hand.
 
I have also flown 1000's of estes motors over the last 40 some years and have only recorded a hand full catos in that time. a couple were E15's and C5-3's from a bad batch. and a single D13 back in the early 70's. Clustering D12's is one of my favorite LMR activities.
Please take note of how and were you purchase and store your motors. It's been pretty well established that motors flown in weather 75degrees colder that the highest temp to which they've been exposed greatly increases the likelyhood of a Cato.

Personally I try very hard to purchase my motors during the fall, winter or early spring, from the manufacturer so I can pretty much determine they won't be spending much time in a 140 degree trailer sitting in the summer sun. also try to keep them from baking in direct sun or overheated vehicles on launch days particularly during HOT summer weather.
Hope these tips help a little.
 
hey, if you're going to lose a rocket, then a cato is better than a tree -great photo roadkill, never seen anything like that happen -yet!
 

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