Aerospace Welding

[Lee]

Hi ... I do not want to violate any forum rules but, if OK, the following may be of interest. I removed my exhaust system as part of my returning our -170B to service and discovered that the internal baffles on both the left and right mufflers were mostly gone. I called AWI (based on a forum note) and ordered new mufflers and clamp hardware from them ... because of my membership in the Association, they reduced the price by 15%. They were easy to deal with and knowledgeable. One of the items of interest is that AWI said that the aluminum seals are apparently hard to find ... they do not carry them in stock. If they have to be ordered from Cessna, apparently they are expensive. Fortunately, It looks like mine just need to be cleaned up ... thankful for that! R/Lee (N1967C)

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

AWI is well known to us as a good source for service and parts. You have confirmed that again. The seals are a thing of mystery to many of us. Why AWI can't seem to cut an aluminum tube to make them I can't figure out. Perhaps the process to get approval to make them is beyond what they could recoup.

Also many 170s have no seals anymore. They really don't seal anything as take up space and hold the baffling in place. Having no seals doesn't make it right but is as accepted by some as the way it is given the lack of ready affordable parts.

[cessna170bdriver]

...

Also many 170s have no seals anymore. They really don't seal anything as take up space and hold the baffling in place. Having no seals doesn't make it right but is as accepted by some as the way it is given the lack of ready affordable parts.

Those seals do keep air from leaking out from under the shroud, making more availabe to the heater, whether carb or cabin.