My understanging is that the casing material used on these batches turned out to be out of specs, something that did not show up in intial testing. Estes fires sample motors during manufacturing, but I do not know if any test is performed after the motors cure. Some things they don't talk about.
Honestly, they'll likely barely look at photos if at all. I'm pretty sure they'll be inundated and having done similar work (mail return processing at near minimum wage), you don't bother with fine detail review.
It didn't seem to.
You might be right. Pictures could just be used to verify the quantity, since they didn't even ask for that.
BINGO
A year ago, they had a recall of A10-3T motors. I don't recall if I had any of the dreaded H21 motors.
Thanks Chas, this is what I was wondering about!
For my stash, it is about 50%.
It used to be close to zero. E12's were the problem. In the last few months my local club started seeing more D12 CATO'S than E12's. I don't know the number, but maybe 10-20%? None were mine. (I prefer my CATO's to be E12's.
) We didn't track that by lot numbers though. I assume the lots affected have a much higher failure rate.
That makes sense if they're replacing engines because they CATOed — they can use it to track how many CATOs are coming through a particular vendor, and maybe help figure out the cause.
A very simple reason for knowing where the motors are purchased. If they know the purchase location, Estes can make sure that the hobby shop is notified to stop selling the bad date-code D12 motors and send them back. Small hobby shops in small towns (if they still exist) rarely read that info if it came from a distributor, they aren't on the forums or Facebook, and don't see the Estes website.Handling reasons. I would want to know if I was a ManuFact. Different retail chains will have different distribution issues then others.
BP motors are sensitive to handling and storage. I've even marked shipping boxes that had passed thru very cold conditions in their shipping to me that I had no control over.
I have not yet tested any of those yet. Those where ordered when Estes went up for sale and a scare on E/F motors was around. Otherwise I would not order BP motors in the cold winter months.
Next is how they get to you. I have an order from HL that is currently going thru the USPS hold and forward maze.
"We received your package at this Distro center, have no idea where we will send it next or when"
Edit: that package will be marked also
It is possible to spin the motors in the packages until the date code on one is facing up. I held one engine pinched in the plastic and backing and gently flipped the package back and forth in my hand and the other motor turned slightly with each flip. I stopped when the code was facing up
Cool. So we should do that in the retail store before purchasing motors.
That is a real concern and interesting procedure, but you can't know the shipping and distribution history of a motor purchased at a retail store, or via a second tier vendor. I'd be more concerned about motors shipped in hot weather.Handling reasons. I would want to know if I was a ManuFact. Different retail chains will have different distribution issues then others.
BP motors are sensitive to handling and storage. I've even marked shipping boxes that had passed thru very cold conditions in their shipping to me that I had no control over.
I have not yet tested any of those yet. Those where ordered when Estes went up for sale and a scare on E/F motors was around. Otherwise I would not order BP motors in the cold winter months.
Next is how they get to you. I have an order from HL that is currently going thru the USPS hold and forward maze.
"We received your package at this Distro center, have no idea where we will send it next or when"
Edit: that package will be marked also
I see it too for the D12's, but what about the E's and the 1/2A's that they have had problems with? IMHO, all of these should be located in one area.
