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 Post subject: Air pressure in Ama
PostPosted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:21 pm 
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Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:12 pm
Posts: 195
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
I was storing my TI last weekend and thought it was best that I undo the drain plug to check for any water that needs to be drained. Instead, a small blast of compressed air started to escape as I was unscrewing the drain plug.

Do we need to be concerned with the amount of pressure that can build up in our ama's? Can drastic temp changes result in too much built up pressure that it could result in a blown out the drain plug or ruptures? Would installing a pressure release valve be a good idea?

Just wondering...

cliffs2yak


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 Post subject: Re: Air pressure in Ama
PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 12:18 am 
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Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:57 pm
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Location: Western Australia
I have always wondered about that also, I always store my amas with the drain plugs undone and close them up before heading out on the water. I usually undo them again before loading back on the car and have noticed the air pressure release then.

It would be nice to get an answer, and is it different for AI to Ti as they have different style plugs

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 Post subject: Re: Air pressure in Ama
PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:08 am 
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Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 2:31 pm
Posts: 3068
Location: Kailua 96734
Probably only if you leave it to really cook in the sun.

Covered =fine. On the water =fine. Coming down from Mauna Kea = maybe not so good. ;-)

Still - a little positive pressure is much better than the opposite.

What elevation do you live at?

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 Post subject: Re: Air pressure in Ama
PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:23 am 
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Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:07 pm
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Location: Saint Johns, Florida
We live in Florida our the TI & AI spend the summer in our extremely hot garage with the plugs in without any ill effects. When I finally decided to check them I got the same air release. I wish I never pulled the plugs because they can't leak while under pressure.

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Jerry D.
St. Johns, Florida
2010 TI
2008 AI


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 Post subject: Re: Air pressure in Ama
PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:51 am 
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Joined: Sat Jun 05, 2010 2:19 am
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Location: Victoria, Australia
Does the AI have drain plugs in the amas, for memory when I changed the lug plugs to loop plugs on my 07 amas they were sealed and there are no other plugs in them that I know of ?

Anyway, nup never worried about it, like dosjers said, cannot take on water if they have pressure inside them. If they burst from internal pressure while I am on the water then I think I have a little more to worry about, and it is stored in a shed out of direct sunlight when not in use.
I have also left it sitting on black concrete in summer 43c while I worked on it, didn't have anything go pop or hiss (well not the AI anyway) so am guessing it's no big deal.


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 Post subject: Re: Air pressure in Ama
PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:00 pm 
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Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:00 pm
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Location: Port Macquarie, Australia
Jerry, next time you're out sailing, at the end of the trip just briefly undo/redo the plugs. That should let in the cooler, denser air. Or, even during a colder night?


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 Post subject: Re: Air pressure in Ama
PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:10 pm 
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Location: Port Macquarie, Australia
From this page Air - Temperature, Pressure and Density, it would indicate that letting in air at 60°F, then sealing the amas, and allowing them to heat up to 120°F, would result in a pressure increase of about 10%.

I'd be rather surprised if the amas and plugs couldn't very comfortably cope with that.

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 Post subject: Re: Air pressure in Ama
PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:22 pm 
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Location: Kailua 96734
Wow! Just how hot does it get in there? :oops:

Jerry, I was interested in the "folding" trailer extension you use to cram the TI in the garage/oven. Got any pictures of that? In another thread?

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 Post subject: Re: Air pressure in Ama
PostPosted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:14 pm 
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Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:12 pm
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Location: Hilo, Hawaii
I have my TI stored in a cool concrete shed that's 522 feet above sea level (according to Google Earth). So it's stored pretty close to sea level. But it's the first time I removed my ama's drain plug since I got it. So it could be the change in atmosphere from the factory to my storage shed. Glad I was able to help equalize it a bit. It was enough pressure to catch me by surprise and question if it was too much for such a little drain plug. It's one of those things to check when you first get your TI. At least I know my amas are air tight -they should be okay :)

Aloha,

cliffs2yak


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 Post subject: Re: Air pressure in Ama
PostPosted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 7:14 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:07 pm
Posts: 324
Location: Saint Johns, Florida
captain-max wrote:
Jerry, next time you're out sailing, at the end of the trip just briefly undo/redo the plugs. That should let in the cooler, denser air. Or, even during a colder night?

Max,

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try to remember to do it the next time I'm out sailing.

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St. Johns, Florida
2010 TI
2008 AI


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