Joe McBride

My Feedback: (12)

I'm running the ZDZ 210 with Canisters. The motor comes from RC
showcase with Teflon looking couplers but they don't seem to be
lasting. The first pair lasted about 70 flights, and I already
burned through one of them after far fewer flights.

The coupler is going over 1 1/8" header and canister. Can anyone
recommend another material/tube that will withstand the heat
better? Does anyone make a flex metal coupler that will fit this
size header?

Thanks,
Joe

Blow n Go

Hey Joe,

Afraid teflon is as good as it gets. If it's burning through, you need to push the can and headers together until they are within 1/8" of each other.......preferably until they touch, unless it gives you radio noise. If you have trouble with them pulling apart, you can very slightly flare the ends of the cans and headers to give the clamps something to bite on. Install the couplers dry on very clean surfaces.

There are flex headers, but you still have to couple them to the cans with, you guessed it, teflon couplers.

Also make sure the cans and header are in line with each other. If there is an angle at the joint, you will focus heat on the coupler. That happened to me once, and it did cause a burn through. I straightened the set-up and have never had any more trouble.

CJ

Joe McBride

My Feedback: (12)

Thanks for the quick response. I have the two pipes almost touching (I trimmed the one back so it wouldn't chafe) and they seem to line up pretty well.

I'm thinking it might be the smoke oil causing the reaction/burn through. Are you running smoke?

Any ideas?

Joe

Geistware

My Feedback: (16)

I would also recommend that you try aerotrend.
They sell tubing that is of excellent quality.

Diablo-RCU

My Feedback: (1)

Negatory on the aerotrend tubing. Teflon is the high temperature material of choice for gas engines. Silicone tubing (aerotrend) will not take the high temperatures.

Blow n Go

Well, it sounds like you're doing everything right. How thick are the couplers you are using? The nicest I have seen are the machined ones you can get from Desert Aircraft. They are precise and about 3/16 thick. I have also used others that look like they are just cut from a length of teflon hose.....thin and not very precise. The thin ones do bulge and look bad pretty quickly on a 150cc. Your extra cc's may be enough to blow them out.

If your smoke oil enters into the headers, I guess it could be part of the trouble. My smoke enters downstrean, in the cans. I don't think with my set-up the oil could be much of a factor.

You aren't having any other heat related problems, are you?

CJ

Joe McBride

My Feedback: (12)

Yes, your right about the smoke entering upstream of the couplers. This is the way RCS said to set it up as the cannisters do not come plumbed. These couplers are about 1/8" thick so the thicker ones would definitely last longer. I'm trying to find a teflon supplier to buy some thicker stuff and maybe get bulk for a better price.

Thanks all for your help,
Joe