Motor Retainers

I am looking to be starting construction of my L1 rocket soon. I just ordered motor holders from Giant leap Rocketry for retention. I am referring to the standard two clip holder. I was wondering if anyone here would know where to drill in the rear centering ring for this retainer? Maybe some data would help. The LOC Bullet is 4" in diameter and has a 38mm motor mount. So, I am guessing that there is about a good 2 1/2" of centering ring all the way around. Nothing has been epoxied in. I also ordered a set for my Nuke Pro Maxx which will be built after the Bullet. Any help, suggestions, or thoughts would be helpful.

If you are talking about the standard 2- t-nuts or threaded insert nuts with the mirror or screen door clips .as they are called. A 1/4 in from the edge of centering ring to center of insert, is uaually what's called for. You can double check by simply putting your motor casing in the tube with the centering ring on, put the clips where they would be holding the motor in and mark. I have always used 1/4 and have never had a problem.

This is my L1 rocket. I have not bought any motors yet.

Here I found the instruction sheet at BSD. Hopefully you have this type of retainer.Hope this helps

Will this work for my LOC Bullet though?

Do the clips you have look similar to the ones shown? if they are threaded inserts or t-nuts, the set back will still be the same. I'll go to giant leaps web and check.....

OK thanks. Let me know. I think they are the same. I don't have them yet. I sent the order for them this morning. I ordered 2 sets. One for the Bullet and the other for my Nuke Pro Maxx which has also yet to be built.

In a word Yes. The Bullet is a 4" rocket so there is plenty of room.
You don't need to have your motor just a casing if you are using Aerotech, AMW or Loki hardware. If you are using Cesaroni you will need the reload but an expended one will work.
While your choice of motor retention will work and work well I still like the Slimline or Aero Pack type retainer. The older snapring and the newer threaded Slimline retainers will work with AMW cases, you just need to make a spacer from a piece of 38mm motor mount tube. The Aero Pack retainer needs no spacer..
Yes they are a little expensive but I like the look and ease of use.
Just my $0.02 worth.
Have fun and fly free.

So I cannot use these retainers with AMW motors? Good thing I found that out now. I was thinking about putting the Nuke Pro Maxx in a BB.

Yes I just got back from giant leap website, assuming you got their generic motor retention system. The one for 7.99 plus shipping.
Same thing, BSD sells use with either the nut's or inserts.
Which by the way, I have on at least 15 rockets from 2in to 6in diam.
You can buy the same thing at Home Depot.Lowes Ace etc for about 1.50 a set. Go to the hardware dept and most items are in the drawers. the brass inserts run 50. a pair . the clips are commonly called mirror clips or sreen door clips. 4for a dollar and the screws or allen bolts abound every where for 6-8 for a buck.
So before you install them , take to a hardware store , so you can show the salesman, and buy more for your next rockets .

Sweet, thanks.

The giant leap retainers you have just bought will work with AMW. I do it on a regular basis in 38mm I-315 skid AND 54MM j-230 SKID.Most of my larger stuff 75mman98mm, has Aero-Pack and they all fly regularily on AMW no modification to hardware or retainer. And that is that.

Thank you for your help. You have any pictures of the skids?

Yes I do, but they are too big too post. Send me a pm with your e-mail and I will glady send you my latest shot ...M2200 skid.

Cool. Thanks. Of course I have to wait awhile before flying them. I saw a J skid in October. It was a wonderful flight. At least now I know I will not be firing motors at the crowd upon ejection.

How this? A j-230 skid drag at last years winternationals Mine is the yellow and blue Thor on the left,which by the way is using the same motor retention youasked about

I love it. Great shot. I cannot wait to be able to fly the big ones. I think these retainers will assist in me getting my L1.

Here's the I315 skid:


<img src="https://www.rocketryforum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=321553">

That was actually a drag race with blackjack2564, but his rocket took off significantly after mine, so that shot only shows mine.

I'll let you have that one! But remember what REALLY happened. I never did find out how high you went, the LIL' MACH-ING BIRD hit 5800 something on that I 315 they are really fun motors.

What?

I know I was out there hiking for over 2 hours trying to find it, only to come back and discover it at the RSO table (frustrating), while yours landed perfectly about a hundred yards away...

Ahh well, at least I got it back (and that is an INCREDIBLE motor - I need more ).

Hey the same thing happened later to me .I launched the wildman rocket, after searching for over an hour I hear them calling over the PA that it was at the table

Originally posted by blackjack2564
How this? A j-230 skid drag at last years winternationals Mine is the yellow and blue Thor on the left,which by the way is using the same motor retention youasked about

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That was an awesome race last year. I was there. I wish I had a rocket to fly on that motor, but the only one had was too heavy for it.

Skids are kewl, but there's nothing like multiple skids going off at the same time

Are you going to back for Winter Nats this year?

Well, using updated sims, I get right at 5100 feet. However, actual was probably lower because of the weird wobble it did right off the pad. A realistic estimation is around 4500 feet or so. Still not sure why it wobbled like that - it flies perfectly straight on other motors...

It has flown wonderfully on many motors, including the H123W, I211W, I405 Loki White, and the I284W, among others, yet on the I315 skid, it had a fairly significant wobble just after liftoff (and it then straightened out into a beautiful flight). I've never seen that except on that one flight...

Anyone know what might have caused it?

Markm how heavy is your rocket? My THor 7.5naked....10.5 on the pad and went 2800 ft.
Yes I will be back. If they do it , I will be in the J-230 skid drag.. definately in the m-2200 wildman 3-way drag. I won it last year.
And I have a super top secret project call " Gone Bananas" that will debut there on a M-2200 or a M1730.. hinthint...it is 7.5 tubes, spiral wound with kevlar thread[2wraps] followed up with 2 wraps of 5.5oz carbon fiber,vacummed heat treated, bla bla bla. point being, the 48 in tubes only weighed 6.45lbs finished vs 5lbs bare! And in keeping with the Crazy JIm rockets, it is the wildest paint scheme to date.
CJl I think it was just a severe cross wind blast, before you were up to full pressure. Remember how windy it was, and you know how sometimes those skids kinda "fart''on their way up to pressure. My take.... started up to p , got off rail and a couple hundred ft lost a little p due to fart, crosswind hit, little warble, came back up to full p, and wham, bam, thank you mam..bye, bye, gonesville, daddio ! I have had chunks of titanium, trying to exit nozzle, get lodged and cause weird wiggles,bangs, and farts.
Last sept flew the Tiger
Terror on a M-2200 and right before burn out, flame stopped all together for a split second, then Flash bang. the fireball that came out looked llike a comet.Most people watching it ,did not have a clue, cause it happened so fast. But when I downloaded the data,and removed the nozzle it was obvious what had happened. There was an abnormal amount of slag on the nozzle, and the data showed quick dip, then quick spike in speed, right at burnout, confirming what I saw. This happens a lot , but not as severe , in skid flights, Ie small chunks of titanium, clogging then passing thru,..... what gives the roar and funky sound.Might not be explaining it quite technically right. but you get the picture. Jim h.

What color was your rocket in the M2200 drag race?

Mine was the neon orange and metallic blue, called Mach-ing Bird. Have to leave now be back later

I have a picture on my work computer of the race as my background.

Originally posted by blackjack2564
Markm how heavy is your rocket? My THor 7.5naked....10.5 on the pad and went 2800 ft.

Click to expand...

9.5 lbs dry...a bit heavy for the J-230. On a dead calm day, it would just barely have enough speed off the rail. As you know, it was rather windy and waay too risky.

And I have a super top secret project call " Gone Bananas" that will debut there on a M-2200 or a M1730..

Click to expand...

That should be great to witness.


It'll great to see ya back. Should be another fun event. I'm finishing a new build for Winter Nats. Severely leaning toward flying it on the K1000 Skid. I haven't flown that one yet.

Got one in my box..don't know what to do with it. Any ideas? Wanna shoot em off together? Call it a drag if ya want, either way it would be an attention get'r. I'll even let you pick the rocket I put it in! [from MY fleet lol]

Originally posted by blackjack2564
Got one in my box..don't know what to do with it. Any ideas? Wanna shoot em off together? Call it a drag if ya want, either way it would be an attention get'r. I'll even let you pick the rocket I put it in! [from MY fleet lol]

Click to expand...

Jim ... you're on.. as long as Wildman has the motor at the time. That will certainly stir the crowd.

Mark