any suggestions on a possible way or type of adhesive that might help. I'm going to zip tie it but thought if i added some sort of adhesive, it might help. what do you guys think ?

Zip ties do not work well because of the vibration. Often enough it comes off. What I find works is put the diverter on, put a screw through it into the muffler's stinger and secure with a zip tie behind the screw. That will keep it from sliding off.

Make sure to select a diverter that fits the muffler sungly. Use as many zip-ties as possible. If you do decide to "Pin" it in place with a small sheet metal screw, before you drill the pilot hole for the screw, ball up some tissue or paper tower and insert it into the muffler extension just beyond the screw location. After you drill, when you remove the paper wad, you will also remove the metal drilling's/fragments so they cant get scavenged back into the engine. If the muffler is OFF the engine, then of course, you can remove the debris with compressed air.

The most important part of keeping the exhaust diverter on a muffler is to start off with a clean surface, free of oil, and a clean exhaust diverter, AND, of course, to get the right size for your engine. You don't need adhesive, and most will melt or de-bond with the heat.

I have Dubro exhaust diverters on all of my planes, not a one has come off at any time. This is because I did as I suggested, AND used two zip ties in the slots provided. You have to pull the zip ties tight, use a pair of pliers then trim them close. If you break one by pulling to tight, well, remove it and put a new one on. Use the small size that come with the diverter because they are the most flexible and will wrap completely around without having gaps. Again, if you break one, remember how much you pulled it together and put another one on but not quite as tight (common sense stuff).

You only need two zip ties and put them in the spots shown by the manufacturer. I have only used Dubro and they all come with two slots or spots for the zip ties.

The key thing here is to make sure your muffler exhaust port is clean. Use alcohol to get ALL of the oil off and wipe it dry. Check it to make sure oil did not dribble back out on the surface. If it did, clean it more. Depending on the muffler (OS 70 AX for instance has OS Power Box mufflers that come apart), you can disassemble the muffler, clean it really well, then install the deflector first, then put it back together.

CGr.

The trick to tightening a zip-tie is not to pull on the tail, but to place a long-nose pliers against the retainer and rotate the pliers to pull the tie end out. (It doesn't always work!) One alternative that has been somewhat more secure is to wrap two turns of electrical hookup wire (solid wire, insulated) around the exhaust diverter and then use the pliers to twist the ends very tightly. Not a guarantee, though.

The problem with the electrical wire is that if you are not careful, and if you use a small gauge, it will cut into the rubber of the deflector. Your method of tightening Zip Ties is a good one. But, as with any method, if you tighten to tight, they will break off or stretch and be useless. It takes care and an "easy does it" approach to get them just right.

CGr

As Cg said the best way is a clean muffler and small zip ties. I've never lost one.

The best fuel and oil remover to use is Westley's bleach white tire cleaner, spray it on, rinse it off, no scrubbing needed. works great on tires too!

I like to take a cutting wheel in the Dremmel and make a shallow groove in the muffler outlet. Then make sure one of the zip ties is over this groove. This will give it something to get a hold of.

David

I just pushed the deflector on, drilled a 1/16 hole though the deflector and nuffler, and ran some safety wire through the hole. It was simple and it works.

Hey, guys.. this ain't rocket science. If you clean the muffler tube before you put the deflector on, and put it on right, using both zip ties and tightening them properly, it won't come off. If it did, or does, you did something wrong when you put it on. I have three OS 1.20's and two OS .75's as well as numerous .46's and a 50. They all have Dubro Deflectors on the mufflers and not a single one has come off.

Don't make it more than it really is. Hey, remember, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

CGr.

More Rocket Science:

A slight bead formed around the outlet tube with JB weld (not much more than a bump) just behind where the zip ties go. Works well even if you have a fit too loose on the outlet pipe.

John

i had a pitts muffler with a pin hole in it , so i used a small blob of epoxy and its been there since , im sure you could use some for the deflector if you wanted it to be more secure.

I had an exhaust diverter on my ASP .46 and had it at full throttle on the ground. When it popped off and the RPM's raised, I dropped the diverter in my flight box and never put it back on again.

My Tower Nitro ST-15 came with a standard muffler and exhaust diverter. After I got playng with it I took the diverter off of it and it was faster.

Exhaust diverters drop the power available to your engines. Leave it off and clean the goop off of the plane.

The use of red gasket sealer on clean surfaces (as CGretired mentioned) and zip ties are enough.

When I put mine on, I clean the surface real good with alcohol. Put it on with the zip tie as tight as I can get it with a needle nose pliers. Then wick some thin CA. Haven't lost one yet. And when it comes to removal, it will pry off with some persuasive twisting.

Same here stuntpilot. I have never drilled or altered my muffler at all. I just make sure the surface is clean and use some needle nose pliers and pull that zip tie nice and snug. I am going on 3 years with one and the other one is going on 3 year and it was involved in a mid air and stuck in the mud and didn't come off. I am sold on a clean oil free muffler will be good enough.

Joe

AMEN!

Folks, we used these at Boeing [link=http://homeavcables.com/900-005.html?productid=900-005&channelid=FROOG]cable tie gun[/link] this little sucker will get a zip tie tight enough to cut that little silicone tube in half. Thankfully they are adjustable, they even clip the excess off once it is tight. Just so happens I have one at home I use for my ties I never have lost one of the deflectors.

The ones for the aircraft industry are of course some over priced $600 FAA approved, wonder why a airline ticket cost so much thing. I found this one works just fine.

(edit: I got mine from best buy, a few years back dunno if they still have them or not )

That's pretty good, but I can get mine pretty tight with a pair of pliers. By grabbing it with the pliers and rolling it up against the zip tie. A good needle nose works pretty good.

put a piece of braided fishing line under the zip tie before tightening and tie it to the muffler screw. works even when oily and doesn't alter the muffler.

Thanks for all the replys. Today i cleaned it with alcohol and cable tied it as tight as i could. I'll fly tommorow and report back.

I second the bead of JB Weld. I do this to all my mufflers and never lose an exhaust extension...EVER!!!!!

Cheers
Curt

Mine has always been zip tied on and never had a problem.

If you use a razor blade to score the muffler tip all the way around it about 3 times, one ziptie will work. The cuts give the deflector something to grip, and definitely clean it first. I've had mine on with on ziptie for quite a while, and I can't even rotate it after its in place. If you want the end all solution, go to the auto parts store and get the small hose clamps for it. They can be tightened up a lot and you can practically hold the weight of the plane from the deflector.

happy to report nice and tight, cleaned w/ alcohol and tight zip ties . Flew about 6 times today, did notice about a 15 % reduction in power. thinking of cutting a inch or two off the end, maybe.