Buckaroo Posted December 27, 2016 Report Share Posted December 27, 2016 I just got back from throwing a bottle of McGuires finest wax on my CTSW. There are two quarter size blisters on the cowl. I'm sure a snag on a rag would peel a unsightly chip. My first thought was to pain a drop of clear nail polish on those but would like to ask members first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted December 28, 2016 Report Share Posted December 28, 2016 That would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckaroo Posted December 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2016 Will do asap! Actually there are others here and there but very small and not circular. This makes me wonder if hot points on certain engine pieces or vibration prone areas from close engine pieces are causing these? They almost appear as stress points from either engine heat or vibration? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted December 28, 2016 Report Share Posted December 28, 2016 I have seen quite a few over the years. Don't pick at it or it will peal a larger hole. It's just cosmetic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckaroo Posted December 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2016 Yes, I think subduing these spots is smart now before they blister off and leave a nasty 1/2 dollar non painted area on the cowl! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted December 28, 2016 Report Share Posted December 28, 2016 They usually stay small if they break off themselves, but if you try and peal it could get worse. It's just where the gel coat has separated from the surface. These are usually very self limiting. These can be re-painted if you had to, but really isn't necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted December 28, 2016 Report Share Posted December 28, 2016 My 2007 CTSW has an area of cracked and peeling paint on the right side lower cowl, about the size of my palm. I think it was caused by radiated heat from the muffler. At some point I will repaint it and apply some heat reflective insulation to the inside of the cowl in that area. For now it seems only an aesthetic issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckaroo Posted December 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2016 I wonder if a guy should coat the whole inside cowl area with heat tape as a preventive measure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted December 28, 2016 Report Share Posted December 28, 2016 No. Leave it alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckaroo Posted December 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2016 I believe you but why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted December 29, 2016 Report Share Posted December 29, 2016 I believe you but why? I'm guessing because it will trap heat under the cowl and raise temps. There are some temp-sensitive components (like ignition modules) under there that don't like the temps to be any higher than necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckaroo Posted December 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2016 Yes that's the only thing I could think of but really it doesn't sound logical! There is so much air shooting into that space a little reflective tin foil would hardly make a difference. I would imagine it's a very small design flaw which after 500 hours or so results in blisters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted December 29, 2016 Report Share Posted December 29, 2016 First you will need an LOA from FD. They won't give it. It will retain heat and may have some unintended consequences. The carbon fiber isn't affected like you think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckaroo Posted December 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 I examined the cowl inside and there's no indication of burning, marking, engine contact etc. on the carbon fiber. I wonder if the blistering on a few places is from vibration harmonics? It would be interesting to see cowls from several CT's that exhibit these small blisters just for curiosity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Post pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Usually what causes a fractured gel-coat on the cowl is flexing. It can be an imperfect Mfg defect where the gel-coat just separated. It could be where something from the outside found a way under the gel-coat and cause it to lose it's adherence to the carbon fiber. It's all cosmetic for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runtoeat Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 My CTSW's right side of the upper cowl has a close clearance at the fuel pump and there's a little area here that's spider cracked. All still looks good for being 10 years old. I still have people who look at it at fly-ins and don't believe that it is a 2006. Most older composite aircraft that have had good upkeep and have been kept in hangars look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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