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Barry Gardner
Wheaton, IL

Lehanover@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 12/28/2005 6:55:42 PM Eastern Standard Time, wrjjrs@aol.com writes:
Has anybody out there got any experience with the carbon apex seals? Mostly I wonder what the service interval is for them. It would seem to be preferable to replace the seals and not have to deal with rotor housing wear.
 
When do the single piece corner seals become preferable (if ever)?
 
Monty
I have three sets of carbon seals, and one set of ceramic seals. The carbons seal well and wear out rather quickly, even with premixed 2 cycle oil. The housings show no wear at all.
Maybe you could get 100 hours (about a year of average flying) between seal sets. They might go even longer than that. The 6,000 to 6,500 RPM is far less destructive than our 9,600 RPM. I just have no data on a lesser output but at a 100% duty cycle.
 
The ceramics even live through disasters like melted rotor bearings. They are also easy on the rotor housings. But the price is just stupid. I was not aware that Tracy's seals are ceramic.
 
Here is some fun stuff to look at.
 
 
Lynn E. Hanover