Can I Open Sealed Motor Package 2 Weeks Before Flight?

I forgot to leave a little bit of the motor mount tube sticking out of the back of my rocket to center my flanged 54mm Aeropack retainer, so I was thinking of opening the motor I just recently bought and sticking it in the MMT to use as a centering device, then drilling the holes for the retainer around the motor and into the centering ring, and then screwing it in around the motor. Will opening the sealed package have any adverse effects on the composite fuel inside?

Normally you do that with a motor casing, not the stuff in the reload package. The hardware should be separate from yhe reload.

rharshberger said:

Normally you do that with a motor casing, not the stuff in the reload package. The hardware should be separate from yhe reload.

Click to expand...

It's not a reloadable motor. It's a single use Aerotech J435.

You should be fine going 2 weeks with it unsealed. Just put it in a zip lock bag when you're done measuring and keep it away from moisture. I had loaded motors sit in my garage for months due to cancelled launches and never an issue.

No, there will bi no adverse effects on motor by opening it now. Many have opened motors months in advance with no ill effects.
For what it's worth, I have done the same or something similar to what you're doing.

I have had motors opened for two years with no ill effects. What you have planned sounds like a good solution.

Composite propellant propellant is very stable and storable. I had a J350 reload in a case for 9 years and it flew fine when I finally got around to launching it.

wyattjohnson35 said:

It's not a reloadable motor. It's a single use Aerotech J435.

Click to expand...

Is that 38mm?

Flyfalcons said:

Is that 38mm?

Click to expand...

https://www.google.com/search?q=Aer...rome..69i57.1610j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I had a CTI I255 opened for 8 years (got it from someone getting out of the hobby). Lit instantly and had a great burn. It was kept sealed and temperature controlled after opening.

Titan II said:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Aer...rome..69i57.1610j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Click to expand...

Super helpful, thanks, my point was to prod whether he'll be able to center his 54mm retainer with a 38mm motor.