PA-30 baffles

[Hans Bok]

I have a 1966 PA-30 (with LoPresti Wow Cowls if that makes any difference) and notice that the baffle material on the rear baffle don't seat very well once the top cowling in place, particularly on the rear where there are 90 degree bends in the baffle. I want to replace the baffling and would appreciate if someone could email some photos of well installed baffle strips. I recall there was a good discussion on the Delphi Forum but those are no longer accessible. My email is hans.bok@comcast.net. Thanks in advance.

[N3322G]

Hi Hans,

Clifton Aero installed the macfarlane teflon baflle material with longer lengths and mitered corners with RTV to hold them together and reinforcing aluminum strips to keep them tight at the base. Engines ran quite a bit cooler - up to 50 degrees.

This best approach I've seen lately is Kristin Winter's and she'll post here eventually.

[MULEFLY]

@ Hans... Kristin recently posted here baffles on the replacement Delphi site....

If you go to:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/comanche ... ing+%3E%3E

Look for the thread that starts with posting 127.1
"Baffle Project Pictures"

Kristin is not totally a fan of the McFarland product... I remain so... I've had good luck with it. Kristins approach at the rear deck is very worthy of consideration as getting that tight in the stock configuration is a real PITA.

All the best!
Jim

[Hans Bok]

Jim and Pat,

Thanks for your replies. I like Kristin's approach to the rear baffle seal and will do the modification next time the cowling is off. I am also looking at the baffles on the front of the engine and may fabricate new baffles. The original baffles have gaps large enough to put a finger through it.

Hans

[N3322G]

Hans,

As you likely saw, Kristin really worked hard on the front end also. The ealry LoPresti cowl like we have has a brush area aroudn the prorp to help keep the air focused.

For the flexible baffle, we often find the LoPresti part outboard of each inlet is bent backward instead of overlapping on the inside of the next baffle. This is a huge hole so every time the cowls come off we check this. 90% of the time, the baffle is in the wrong position. At a recent maintenance event, another Twin's also had this problem and we were able to help the owner. Don't know if this is the finger width hole you are taking about but it might be.

[MULEFLY]

Hans and Pat... a couple of more keystrokes on this subject. Hans Neubert (the original fellow to strive and make his PA30 baffles tighter than a frog's behind)... does not have the LoPresti cowls... but Pat and I do... HN says that the brushes are of little value so I would think that I wouldn't worry too much about whether you have them or not... My install does not have them.

Kristin mounted some of her baffles on the outside of the metal skins. Hans N and I have our's mounted on the inside of the skins and I believe that Pat does too. All four of us have the metal strips to help provide a better (tighter) seal.

Hans... if you private email me... at jim dot covington at inwave dot com ... I can forward you a few more pictures.

All the best!

Jim

[N3322G]

Need to says thanks again to Jim Covington and Charlie Tripp for sharing their photos and Hans Neubert for showing me his twin's baffles - my twin's were based on theirs. Kristin and I shared baffle ogling the last time she was through DFW area. We all learn from each other.