150HP cowling foam

[johnbottsr]

Is the foam in the cowling good for anything other than noise suppression (my guess)?

Reason I ask is I thought I read on here that someone's carbs got gummed up with loose chunks of it and mine is getting pretty ratty looking.
I want to just scrape it all off before it causes problems.

Should I replace it or just run it naked?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 150HP cowling foam

Mines been out for 15 years.
You can replace it,if your ambitious??

 

[johnbottsr]

Re: 150HP cowling foam

Mines been out for 15 years.
You can replace it,if your ambitious??

Nope, lazy.
Out it is.
Just wanted to make sure it didn't have some magical function I didn't figure on.

 

[johnbottsr]

Re: 150HP cowling foam

Man, they must have used they money the saved with that cheap foam to buy glue.

There must be about a hundred and fifty globs of it in there.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 150HP cowling foam

Just make sure NONE of the foam made it into the carbs.
Had a customer who had the same trouble, he removed the foam but some got into the bottom carb and it cost him a rebuild.

 

[gm280]

Re: 150HP cowling foam

My neighbor has a 15 HP Johnson OB that has that stuff in the cowl. And it will crumble just touching it. I'll tell him about the stuff getting into the carb as well. It is there as sound deadening I guess. But you can buy some sound deadening mat that will accomplish the same results that won't deteriorate like that...if you have to...

 

[belairbrian]

Re: 150HP cowling foam

Yep, it is sound deadning. My top piece is completely gone. And I found a few chunks in the bottom cowl when I bought it.

My only concern with some sound deadning materials are their thremal properties. I have a roll of automotive sound deadner that has the aluminum on one side. But wonder if it would also trap heat that could radiate through the old foam.

Another risk of loose foam is a piece falling loose and getting drug up under the flywheel.

 

[gregmsr]

Re: 150HP cowling foam

Mine came loose all at once a couple years ago. Took the cover off and HOLY CRAP! It was falling off everywhere.
Took a while to clean it up and evidently none got into the carbs.
I have not replaced it with anything and can't really tell the difference.

 

[johnbottsr]

Re: 150HP cowling foam

Well that cheeses it then.
I hate stuff that is of no use but can cause a breakdown (potentially catastrophic).

My advice to future readers of this thread is to remove the foam.