I have had nothing but trouble with the saito mufflers. On my 91's I've had problems with the mufflers coming lose no matter how much I tighten them, hot or cold. I've also had trouble with the pressure nipples coming out of the 91's and 100. Can anyone give me any advice on how to keep thes problems from occuring?


John

Use Teflon tape on the muffler and pipe threads and Loctite the nipple before you ever run the engine. I still have a hard time believing that actually happens, I have 10 Saitos and it has never happened.

I have the same problem with the muffler nipples on a Saito 180.
Tried loctite, still a problem.
Tried JB weld ... still a problem.
Got desperate and tried Alumiweld ... ruined the muffler ( my fault ).

On my mufflers (have three .. one completely ruined from experimentation) the threaded hole(s) miss the thick aluminum used in the exit port so that only about 3/4 of the hole has threads. Pressure nipple keeps coming loose.

Hanger 9 did send a new muffler after I explained the problem.
Same hole problen ....
Nipple comes loose on it also.

I'm OK with the muffler and exhaust manifold !

Maybe someone else is having the problem and has a fix.

Just to let you know someone else is experiencing some of the same problems.

the permatex ultra copper also works. teflon just as well also.

Well hobbsy, it does and has happened. I probably wouldn't have had this problem if I would have known to use loc tite and teflon tape before I ever ran the engine. But, woulda coulda shoulda. Now that the problem has happened, can I still prevent the muffler from coming loose if I apply the teflon tape, that is since the engine has been ran?

John

If the threads are in reasonably good shape it should work fine. I put two layers, it makes the pipe go in and the muffler go on a little tight but its do-able. And don't be afraid to put some muscle on the lock nuts.

Hobbsy,

What about the pressure tappet. I don't have another. Do you have any suggestions or home remedies on replacements. I really don't want to have to order another if I can rig up something else that will work. After all, the hole that the tappet goes in looks to be stripped of it's threads.

John

You could get a larger one like that for a Fox, I think it is the same as a 6x32 bolt.

I had a broke pressure tap recently... the muffler got damaged on a wheels up landing.

Here's what I did:

First I closed up the damaged pressure tap hole with TechnoWeld.

Next: I was going to mount a new pressure tap with 3mm threads. But there's not much to tap in that muffler... it's pretty thin walled.

So I took a piece of 2mm piano wire and grinded a really sharp point on it.
Then I chucked the piece of wire in the drill, set the drill on highest speed, and pushed a new hole in the muffler wall...

This way the metal deformed inwards (be carefull, it gets hot), and I had more meat to tap threads...

I live in Europe, so I use metric stuff, but you could do the same with imperial threads...

Rudeboy
Sounds like a good idea to try next time I have a problem.

Thanks Rudedude errrrr ... boy

I need someones help!

I have given up on the original mufflers (2) on my Saito 180. Keeps blowing out the pressure fitting. Tried LockTite, teflon tape, and JB Weld. I give up!

I do have a Saito 270 twin that I bought new mufflers for from Horizon. These are the flex tubes with what I guess is a pressure tube fitting on one of them up near the engine. Just checked the threads and it fits okay.

Can anyone tell me if this will have any adverse effects on the 180. The thing I like about using these mufflers is there is only one threaded section that screws into the engine. The rest looks like it is brazed together. It can also be bent around so that the oil will not get all over my H9 Edge 540. It sure gets to be a pain to clean off especially when it gets cold outside.

Thanks for any input.....

RSN

Everyone that's having problems with the saito mufflers need to go to the Horizon Hobby website and file a complaint . They have a "Contact" site you can click on and you can email them with your complaint. It won't cost you anything and you might actually get a free muffler out of the deal. They will never correct the problem until they get enough complaints about it and hopefully they will fix the problem, maybe with a one-piece muffler with a built in tappet! Right now they're getting more rich off of us buying replacements, and yes, they are expensive! Just a thought.

John

For What It's Worth

I plugged the original hole with JB Weld and a small screw type clamp.

Up near the muffler inlet the aluminum is much thicker than at the bottom. It is on a bit of an angle. I drilled and tapped a whole for the 8/32" pressure fitting. I used Locktite to hold it.

Have 12 flight on it so far with no problems. The engine ran just fine.

Anyone see a problem with having the pressure fitting up near the inlet to the muffler?

RSN

I have 5 Saito Engines and found the SLIMLINE PITTS style mufflers alleviate these problems . After having all the same problems I made the switch and never looked back. Sheldons Hobby seems to have the best prices on these

Have Saito 180 & same pressure nipple problem. Plugged hole & tapped muffler on angled part near exhaust inlet. Have since had 20+ flights with no problems.

Thanks for the feedback.

Looks like we did the same things. I think I will stop worrying about the pressure fitting now.

RSN

P.S. Wish I could afford five Slimline Mufflers. Heck I wish I could justify (to myself) buying one. After spending what a Saito 180 costs you would think they would come with a decent muffler!!!

TRY BALANCING THE PROP,OR BRING IT TO ME AND I'LL BALANCE IT FOR NOTHING OR CALL ME 323-1183.
STAN WILDS
WEST MONROE LA.

Well you could do like I did, bought a muffler from performance specialties in NV, has a great setup, but I ended up having to run the my saito 72 without the line on the nipple, I don't block off nipple, but just let vent line hang and runs great, steep dives, snap rolls, inverted, never misses a beat.

Stan,

I know how to balance a prop, in fact,the prop had already been balanced. The problem is that the old style saito mufflers are crap.
The pressure nipples are put where there is nothing for the threads to bite to. In fact, Saito is aware that there are flaws in that particular muffler, so thay have come out with a new/updated one that is made of cast material. I eventualy fixed the problem by applying teflon tape and high temp. loctite to the nipple threads. I also applied a small amount of JB Weld around the outside of the nipple where it meets the muffler. It hasn't come out since.
Thanks for the help anyway, and, you need to get your old ass back out to the field and fly with us. I'm sure you're aware we've got the Big Bird event coming up. We've got our back runway coming right along too, in fact , lots of guys are using it only. Try not to be a stranger.

John