If anyone is firing old decertified motors, be sure to take part in the old motor testing program to get them recertified for testing purposes and then report the results.
I tested a bunch of FSI motors a few months ago and the data was useful. After I sent in my results i got the following response:
"First E5-0s and D20-3s in the pool. Estes C5-3s are now 3 bad out of 24 tested, although yours were the only ones from those lots tested. Glad you could burn some old ones for us!"
Note that C5-3 motors were definitely prone to "bad lots" which is one of the reasons they were discontinued. Here are my test results and you can see the good vs. bad lot effect on the C5-3 motors that I had.
Decertified motors:
Mfg designation (qty) date code: Date flown Results
FSI E5-0 (6) AUG 1987 5 flown 8/1/2009 1 cato - blow through just past top of launch rod.
1 flown 12/5/2009 1 cato - blow through just past top of launch rod.
FSI D20-3 (3) FEB 1988 2 flown 8/1/2009 2 catos - blow through just past top of launch rod. 3rd motor not fired yet will destroy via underground firing.
Estes B4-6 (3) 31 T 7 3 flown 8/1/2009 all worked perfectly
Estes C5-3 (3) 16 T 10 2 flown 7/25/2009 2 catos split casing at ignition. 3rd motor not fired yet will destroy via underground firing.
Estes C5-3 (3) 20 Y 7 3 flown 7/25/2009 all worked perfectly
Certified but old motors: (since these were all working, I folded the rest of them into my normal motor supply and stopped recording any special data. If I notice anything bad, I will fill out a M.E.S.S. form and you will get that data through normal reporting channels.)
Estes D12-0 (3) 5 U 2
Estes D12-0 (2) 10 R 8
Estes D12-0 (4) 15 Q 9
Estes D12-7 (2) 25 T 9
Estes D12-3 (3) 14 T 8 3 flown 7/25/2009 all worked perfectly
Estes D12-3 (4) 30 T 10 1 flown 7/25/2009 worked perfectly