My Muffler fell off today

[SB]

I was flying, had just landed put it in to idle-up1 (very modified curves, not like you 3-d pilots, i use idle-up1 to transition from Normal to Idle-up2, easier on the machine) back to my point i put it in idle-up1 which pushed the throttle to 58% and the pitch to -1. this is my way of burning off the leftover fuel in my tank (usually my header tank). so i was standing there controller in hand and the noise tone and level changed. I thought something had gone wrong and my engine was running lean. then it just fell off. both screws had backed out. can i put blue thread lock on my muffler? or will this light on fire or blow up or something?

Thanks to all that reply (I love stories :D )

P.S. Throttle Kill did not work i had to hold the switch and push the trim all the way down

[Maxx26]

You can use threadlock ! I used longer bolts and nylon locknuts to :glasses2:

[flyinfool]

When you put the muffler on if you apply a very thin layer of epoxy to the muffler to seal it to the engine and use lock washers on the screws it will never fall off again.
I have used everything from the cheapest 5 minute epoxy to JB Weld and just about everything in between and never had a failure. I now use which ever epoxy is within reach of my hand when I need it.
The muffler still will come off easily when you want it to, and it is a simple matter to peel the old epoxy off with a razor blade to clean it up for next time.

Loctite will not hurt anything but it does not help much either, Loctite cures into a plastic that melts at less than exhaust temps. Heat is what loctite recommends for easy removal of Loctited fasteners.

[BarracudaHockey]

This usually happens when someone uses gasket material, different materials expand at different rates and as things heat up it loosens the muffler. Bolt it up clean, snug the bolts after the first flight. If the surfaces arent true then yes, epoxy is a good alternative.

[SB]

Thank you for the info,
I used the gasket that came with it :dontknow
but i will take that off and use a combination of all the above.
I'm just happy i was on the ground when it happened.

[WayneBrown]

it sucks when they fall off while inverted.

[SB]

it sucks when they fall off while inverted.

:WOW :WOW :WOW :WOW :WOW OUCH!!!!!!

[kama1]

yeah i did the longer bolts and nylon nuts too
hold really good ...no issues yet

[hookmaker]

Gotta check those nylon insert lock nuts once in a while though, my experience is, that the nylon inserts melt/burn away over time.
:twisted:

[gobysky]

I found some high temp Loctite at NAPA auto parts store rated at over 700 degrees F. I've used it on my muffler bolts and haven't come loose yet. I'm not sure how hot that area of the muffler gets, but 700 degrees worth of temp resistance is pretty tough.