Q-Jet Igniter Installation Tip

The pyrogen tips on the Q-jet First Fire Micro Igniters are delicate. Go easy with them!

With each engine you get one 4" long igniter. They are longer than what you might be used to - The ignition of a composite motor starts at the top of the propellant and burns down, the delay element and propellant are lit at the same time. A typical black powder engine burns from the bottom up.

To hold the First Fire Micro igniter in the nozzle, you are supplied with a small rubber tube to friction fit and hold the igniter in the nozzle. The little rubber tube is soft and difficult to press in the nozzle, especially in the A and B motors. The C & D motors have a slightly larger nozzle.

Notice the crimp in the tube. This is done with a fingernail. The pressed in side fits around the igniter wires.

You can use a toothpick to hold a wire igniter in a Micro Maxx engine. The trick with the Micro Max igniter is not to cram the toothpick in. The weight of the rocket on the toothpick holds the MMX igniter high enough in the nozzle. You don't want to block the nozzle, the igniter should easily blow out when the engine is ignited. 

I may have found an easier way to insert the rubber tube.

Use a toothpick to stiffen up the soft rubber tube that holds the igniter in the Q-Jet nozzle. 

The toothpick sides are sanded and made a little narrower.

Slide the toothpick into the rubber tube. With the tube stiffened up, it can be easily pressed in the nozzle and against the wire leads of the igniter.

Again - Don't use a lot of force! Use just enough pressure to hold in the tube against the igniter.

Slide out the toothpick, the rubber tube should remain in place.