Aero Pack Motor Retainer

Aero Pack - Motor Retainer {Component}

Contributed by Jack Caynon

Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Aero Pack

PictureBrief:
RMS Motor Retainer

Discussion:
The 29mm motor retainer can now handle Aerotech's 29/40-120 motors, too. The retainer comes in 2 pieces packaged inside a plastic bag with simple instructions. One threaded retainer "ring" fits over the motor tube like a collar. Then a threaded cap that screws on the end of the ring. As with typical RMS stuff, the RMS aft closure still sits on the motor tube. Then the retainer ring surrounds both the tube and the aft closure. The retainer ring is epoxied with high heat JB Weld Epoxy, the kind rated for 600 degrees F. Simply screw the cap onto the ring to hold your RMS system firmly in place.


PicturePros: Instructions are easy to follow with this high quality product. The installation is easy, but you must be sure to plan the installation to insure you have enough clearance (about .250") between the centering ring and the end of the motor tube. You may also want to take into account the placement of the rear centering ring BEFORE you install the ring. I chose to put the ring on the motor mount tube of an Aerotech HV Arcas first. Since I had put CA glue on the inner surface of the motor tube, had to sand both the exterior (with 80 grit paper) and interior (with 220, then 320 grit paper) of the tube to insure a proper fit for the ring, I had anticipated that it would have been difficult to do all this after the motor tube had been installed in the body tube. Then I used a Dremel tool with the sander drum to widen the Aerotech Aerofiber centering ring hole to fit around the installed Aeropack retainer ring and used epoxy to fill the space between the widened ring hole and the motor tube. The installation looks great, is tough, fire proof, and makes it easy to stand your rocket on a flat surface.

Cons: It is a pricy component to add to a rocket, at about $25 after shipping and handling, so I would only install it on rockets that aren't expendable.

Summary:
Easy to use, just screw on, screw off. Excellent, quality product.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

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    This review is provided courtesy of: Aero Pack's Machined Aluminum Motor Retainers ATLANTA, Georgia (ROL) -- Ever so often, a new product comes out that really creates some excitement. This product release from Aero Pack (email: aeropack@earthlink.net ) is one of those. The idea is so simple that it screams KISS and yet is just complicated enough that the average rocketeer couldn't ...

  • Aero Pack Motor Retainer By Phillip Gerringer

    The system is basically 2 pieces. One threaded retainer "ring" that fits over the motor tube like a collar. Then a threaded cap that screws on the ring. As with typical RMS stuff, the RMS aft closure still sits on the motor tube. Then the retainer ring surrounds both the tube and the aft closure. The retainer ring is epoxied with high heat JB Weld epoxy. Then the cap actually screws on to the ...

Comments:

avatar
L.A. (August 12, 2003)
I installed the 38mm motor retainer on my PML Phobos. When I attempted a dry test fit of the retainer, it did not come off! There's no way it's going to come off short of destruction of the MMT tube even though I didn't epoxy or JB Weld it on...but I'm not complaining! The Aero Pack retainer is a beautiful piece of equipment & worth the expense on any prized rocket.

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