A little warning about QTP cuttouts...
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TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,246
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From: Troy, AL
A little warning about QTP cuttouts... Check all of the screws and bolts. Mine loosened up the other night.
I had been noticing a little leakage for quite some time. It would seal when I tapped the switch closed but then it would back off just a little after awhile and then leak again. I developed a habit of tapping the switch every so often to reseal it. Well, the other night I opened it in the parking lot of a restaurant (needed something cool to listen to while I waited on my girl and I didn't have any good CDs handy) and it wouldn't close back. Well, I leave the restaurant and within a 1/4 mile or so the thing closed on it's on! Well, mostly closed. It still leaked but I wasn't worried about cops anymore. When I got home I just had to know what was going on so I pulled it. The three screws that hold the motor case together were loose (they can't actually fall out because of the plate above them) causing the case to spread out which caused the gears on the inside to loose contact. The blade freewheeled as a result. So, I tore the thing apart (I didn't go into the motor/gearbox) and put it back together good and tight. I would have used some loctite if I'd had some at the time. If it does it again I'll get some. While I had it apart I applied a thin bead of RTV silicone to the surface that the blade makes contact with and let it sit over night open for it to cure. I thought this would help it seal even better and it's what QTP had suggested awhile back for me to do.
Anyway, it's worked absolutely perfect ever since (no leakage whatsoever.)
I had been noticing a little leakage for quite some time. It would seal when I tapped the switch closed but then it would back off just a little after awhile and then leak again. I developed a habit of tapping the switch every so often to reseal it. Well, the other night I opened it in the parking lot of a restaurant (needed something cool to listen to while I waited on my girl and I didn't have any good CDs handy) and it wouldn't close back. Well, I leave the restaurant and within a 1/4 mile or so the thing closed on it's on! Well, mostly closed. It still leaked but I wasn't worried about cops anymore. When I got home I just had to know what was going on so I pulled it. The three screws that hold the motor case together were loose (they can't actually fall out because of the plate above them) causing the case to spread out which caused the gears on the inside to loose contact. The blade freewheeled as a result. So, I tore the thing apart (I didn't go into the motor/gearbox) and put it back together good and tight. I would have used some loctite if I'd had some at the time. If it does it again I'll get some. While I had it apart I applied a thin bead of RTV silicone to the surface that the blade makes contact with and let it sit over night open for it to cure. I thought this would help it seal even better and it's what QTP had suggested awhile back for me to do.
Anyway, it's worked absolutely perfect ever since (no leakage whatsoever.)
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,246
Likes: 3
From: Troy, AL
Yes, I bought this 3.5" cuttout new from QTP over a year ago. Make no mistake, I didn't post this to down QTP in anyway. I'm crazy about this thing! It's probably the best money I've ever spent on a car. 
I would recommend that people loctite everything before installation and I would also recommend that QTP (Barry, you listening?) start using loctite on them so that we don't have to.
I would recommend that people loctite everything before installation and I would also recommend that QTP (Barry, you listening?) start using loctite on them so that we don't have to.
i had one that was so loose it wouldn't even work the first time i tried to use it. i sent it back and got another one. it is nice and tight now. however i noticed my other one( i have the dual system) is starting to come loose on the motor end and will back off when i close it and have to bump the switch to close it.
Thanks for the heads up Colonel. We are always trying to make a better unit. It is hard to make a unit to handle such the abuse they go through. Riding my motor manufacturer to tighter tolerances. As of right now we have a 98.5% sucess rate and trying to make it 99.99%.
The 4" qtec are going to be ready very shortly.
Any questions feel free to call us. Anyone here can help.
The 4" qtec are going to be ready very shortly.
Any questions feel free to call us. Anyone here can help.
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Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,246
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From: Troy, AL
Hey, thanks for checking in with us Barry. I kinda figured you would. Gotta love QTP customer service! 
What do you think of making my idea of loctite a factory installed feature? It's just a drop here and a drop there so it really shouldn't add anything to the manufacturing costs. The red kind might be a bit excessive strengthwise but maybe some of the weaker stuff? It might get you up to 99.99%!
Gotta love QTP customer service! What do you think of making my idea of loctite a factory installed feature? It's just a drop here and a drop there so it really shouldn't add anything to the manufacturing costs. The red kind might be a bit excessive strengthwise but maybe some of the weaker stuff? It might get you up to 99.99%!
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Normal Loctite won't hold up to the temperatures of an exhaust system; there may be a special kind that will but I've never heard of it. A different solution would be to use drilled bolts and safety wire.
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,246
Likes: 3
From: Troy, AL
Cal, I don't think these fasteners would see those kinds of temps. They don't actually make contact with the exhaust gas. They're on the outside of the plate and thus are not heated directly plus they're cooled by the outside air. It would be no different than putting loctite on the wingnuts of a standard cuttout. I'm not saying you're wrong. Just tossing that out there as food for thought. 
We do add loctite to every bolt on the unit. Like Cal says it really doesnt hold up on the extreme applications. I wont go with anything heavy duty for the fact I wont come apart afterwards. I like the option to dismantle it if necessary.