Do I need to unload the RMS motor I did not use at Dairy Aire?

I don't think you need to completely unload it. Just back off on the closures to relieve the pressure on the o-rings, and put it in a ziplock bag. When you are ready to use it, don't forget to tighten the closures!

James

From the FAQ under "Help" at the

compression set of the delay element. If it is necessary to store the motor before a launch, loosen the aft closure slightly (about one turn) to reduce the pre-loading of the delay o-rings.

Take a look at the warranty and you'll note:

more than twelve hours before flight ...

snipped-for-privacy@excite.com wrote:

Yes and no. Depends on the reload and the liner.

If your reload uses a paper liner, pull it apart. Some H reloads from Aerotech use a paper liner. The grease will soak the liner over time and when you fire it, it will burn through and trash your casing and/or your rocket. If your reload is AT and uses the black phenolic liner, they seem to be alright to leave loaded. Back off the ends so there is no pressure on the o-rings. I would also take out the delay element just as a precaution. The slight amount of grease you applied to the forward rubber washer might soak into the delay causing problems. Make sure to label it in a zip lock so you know what it is when you go to use it. :)

-Booms

Note to this and the other responses:

Do **NOT** back off the closures on the motor if the ejection charge has been loaded in the motor. Backing off on the closure and then retightening with BP already on board will result in the BP grains contaminating the o-ring seal. The results will NOT be pretty.

And it doesn't matter at all which end you back off: unscrewing the nozzle end still uncompresses the delay / ejection O-ring and contaminates the seal.

If you have NOT installed the BP, then you can do this.

There is anecdotal evidence that a delay of months, or even a year is not a problem. But I wouldn't recommend anything that long. IIRC the original poster said 7 months, so I'd disassemble everything, seal the cumbustible stuff in an airtight ziploc, and clean the grease and BP off the O-rings.

(yet)!

Good point, Bob. If there is BP in there, backing off the closures would be a bad thing.

So, Caneman (I know who you are!), bring that motor to me. I'll see to it that it gets burned in a timely manner... 8^)

James

Luckily I did not put the ejection charge in. I have gone ahead and dissassembled the motor and cleaned off all the grease.

Thanks to all for the help!

KT

James, is that you? You could add the motor to your pile of HP motors so we are even safer from stray rockets because the pile of motors to hide behind is taller! Joking aside, I had not put the BP charge in because I did not want it spilling all over if the paper cap came off. So I was ok with either backing of the closures or dissasembling and cleaning grease of the liner. I did the latter.

Thanks for the help!

KT

Many people have suggested greasing the ID of the casing to make it easier to remove the spent liner and cleaning the casing becomes a snap. I have tried it with the last few launches and it works great. That is why there is grease on the liner.

KT

quick! find another HPR launch to go to!!!!!!

solves most of your problems :)