Tried a new torque sealant on a 737 flap track and it actually held better than the OEM stuff, which surprised me.

I used it on a job in Phoenix after a senior mechanic swore by it, and after 300 flight cycles with no cracking, I'm starting to think the brand name premium is just for the label.

3 comments

3 Comments

blake3221mo ago

Sounds like you found a real winner. The big brands rely on reputation to keep their prices high. Good on you for testing it out.

piperb931mo ago

That 300 cycle check is a good start, but we run our planes for decades. I've seen off-brand sealants pass the short test only to get brittle and fail after a year in different weather. The OEM stuff has a proven track record across thousands of aircraft in every climate. Blake322 has a point about brand reputation, but sometimes that reputation is earned from a lot of long term data we don't get to see. I stick with the approved stuff because I've cleaned up the mess when the cheaper option lets go.

lisak2629d ago

And @piperb93 that part about cleaning up the mess later really hit home. Reminds me of when I tried to save money on caulk for my bathroom reno. Looked fine for three months then just peeled right off. Had to rip out half the tile. Sometimes cheap just costs you more in the end.