1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Video: 13B Rotary Engine Rebuild

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Old 05-16-11, 10:19 AM
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Engine, Not Motor

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Originally Posted by RX-Slevin
Great Video man. This is going to be really helpful in the near future. Do you know of any decent rotary shops in the London area? I can't find any down here in Sarnia, So this video is definitely gonna bail me out of trouble i think. ha ha
There just aren't any rotary shops in the London area.

Originally Posted by ZZZ...
I am going to take a look at that porting vid next ^_^ I'll be saving this to my HD for future reference if you don't mind. Cheers and thanks for this!
Save it if you'd like. I've been meaning to set up a download of the full quality WMV anyway, just haven't got around to it yet.
Old 05-16-11, 05:50 PM
  #27  
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^ that would be awesome of you, I imagine it would help people if they don't have wireless and want to reference it in their garage while working on rebuilds and stuff but I am sure it works out one way or another.

Truly informative videos and very appreciated! Keeep it up and we'll keep watching ^_^
Old 06-02-11, 04:39 PM
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Aarron your a lifesaver, this video answered all my extra questions.
Old 07-31-11, 04:04 AM
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Arron, just watched this video and previously the disassembly video and these are excellent resources for the future as it seems that a rebuild may be in the coming future for my 12a. It's folks like you that make rotary novices like me much less intimidated with building/rebuilbing their own engine. Thank you and it is very much appreciated sir.
Old 08-14-11, 07:59 PM
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amen
Old 08-28-11, 12:19 AM
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Hello Arron,

I just watched your videos and as a future first timer rebuilding and hopefully porting a rotary your a life saver. I have been looking up so much info and reading everything I can.

I had a question that I was curious about. I have a 85 RX-7 GSL (12A) and I was reading Mazdatrix catalog/website and they said when you rebuild the engine it should always be lapped??

First off, what do they mean by lapped (and is that something you can do personally) and second is it a MUST? I know with piston engines you hone the cyclinders when you rebuild is this lapping??

Thank you for any info, and your videos helped me learn alot. Can't wait to break open that rotary now!!
Old 08-29-11, 04:11 PM
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Engine, Not Motor

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Originally Posted by mrcivic69
I had a question that I was curious about. I have a 85 RX-7 GSL (12A) and I was reading Mazdatrix catalog/website and they said when you rebuild the engine it should always be lapped??
First off, what do they mean by lapped (and is that something you can do personally) and second is it a MUST? I know with piston engines you hone the cyclinders when you rebuild is this lapping??
Lapping is grinding the surface flat on a lapping machine. Typically done wet with stones. If the irons are worn past spec, then can be lapped to bring them back. Old 13B and 12A irons without the coolant seal grooves can be lapped many times. Newer 13B irons with the coolant seal grooves can really only be lapped once or twice before the grooves become too shallow.

It's not something that you could normally do yourself. There are do it yourself lapping techniques that involve rubbing the machined surface of one iron against another with lapping compound between, but it's not something I have ever tried and it seems to me that it relies on at least one iron being flat.

Mazdatrix probably laps all of their iron because they are building engines for a price, and include a decent warranty. They also have a lapping machine and don't need to pay a machine shop $100 per face to do the work. But not every iron needs to be lapped. If it measures within spec, you can re-use it without lapping.
Old 08-29-11, 11:13 PM
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Hi Aaron,

Thank you for taking the time to explain lapping. That was kinda what I was guessing it was and I knew that if that was the case it was something the average joe couldnt do.

Mazdatrix probably does build it to a very high standard and thats why they lap everything. I really hope when I break my engine apart that all the "major" parts are ok and I dont find any huge surprises.

P.S. Is there a good site or book that has alot of the specs and tolerances?? I have the Hayes book and I am buying the Mazdatrix rebuild DVD and porting DVD. Is there any other good places to learn what to look for??

Thank you for your time!!!
Old 09-03-11, 10:30 AM
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The factory service manual has all the tolerances, as well as the Haynes manual.
Old 11-08-11, 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by jdmminot
Awesome video Aaron, I just watched it start to finish. I must say, I find myself wanting to drive as fast as I can to pick up some Royal Purple Max Tuff Engine Assembly Lube..... and I can only imagine the looks at wal mart when I'm checking out with a cart full of vaseline and shop rags! Thanks for taking the time to record the assembly, and sharing the video.
Cool, now you're on two FBI watch lists...
Old 01-23-12, 09:40 PM
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i've watched your disassembling, cleaning, and rebuilding videos over and over. i'm playing on investing in a parts cleaner so when i tare apart my 13b i'll pretty much know what to do. i'm still new to the rotary world but i've been doin my research and what not. i admire your hard work for those very helping videos.
reason i'm rebuilding my 13b is because i've noticed a knockish noise and have been told its side seals and apex seals. the owner i bought it from said the motor doesnt have more than 200 miles on it after he rebuilt it plus it is half bridge ported from him too. so i planned on a over haul myself so i know what i have after the tear down. would this be a wise choice?
i have a video of it running on youtube i could post but i dont want to thread jack..
Old 02-12-12, 02:16 AM
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Nice!

Great vid!
Old 03-16-12, 03:58 PM
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These videos are awesome!
Old 04-12-12, 02:32 PM
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VA

Hey Aaron, great videos! Quick question about the Apex seals. For a street rebuild, how do the Atkins seals hold up? Also, for a 13b with 200 K + should I expect to get new rotors? The ones in the video were worn beyond spec, is that normal?
Old 04-16-12, 10:41 AM
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Atkins seals have been used for many years in street rebuilds and have a long standing record of reliability. I use them myself.

At 200K+, you'll probably find worn rotors.
Old 04-22-12, 09:03 AM
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I watched this video on my phone a few weeks ago. Really good in my opinion. . . but I will still pay for someone to do my rotary rebuild.
Old 06-11-12, 12:57 AM
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sweet post I prefer videos and pictures over text... sure I can read about your conversion all day but nothing compares to seeing it.
Old 08-07-12, 04:55 AM
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I realize this is pretty old, but I have a question. How do you get the front nut (forgot what it's called, the 90 ft/tq one) off without the thing you made? Once the front cover goes on it doesn't seem like the whole screw driver thing works anymore... Would you pretty much just need to use an impact hammer?
Old 08-07-12, 03:30 PM
  #44  
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Getting it off is easy. Just use an impact gun after heating it to release the Loctite. If you don't have an impact, then you need to loosen it before you remove the flywheel so you can use a flywheel locking bar to hold the engine from rotating.

Before I made that little tool, I've used a chain to hold the front hub from turning:

Old 08-11-12, 10:51 PM
  #45  
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theres a couple on piratebay with a little searchin.. home made group of people..

great job on vids..

cheers
kiwi
Old 08-29-12, 09:37 PM
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I'm inspired Aaron, thanks for taking the time to put these videos together. I'm on my way to building my first 12A. Thanks!
Old 08-29-12, 10:00 PM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by Aaron Cake
Getting it off is easy. Just use an impact gun after heating it to release the Loctite. If you don't have an impact, then you need to loosen it before you remove the flywheel so you can use a flywheel locking bar to hold the engine from rotating.

Before I made that little tool, I've used a chain to hold the front hub from turning:

Holy cow... Is that a janitors closet?

hehe still bigger than the room I rent where I built mine.


EDIT: Nothing like sleeping with your engine parts prior to building.
Old 05-17-13, 03:47 PM
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Hi I saw that atkins rotary sells a 13b rebuild video is it any good if not what else is out there in regards to 13b rebuilding dvds or books.
Thanks
Old 05-17-13, 03:49 PM
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Is it safe to mount a 13b on a engine stand by the front iron.
Thanks
Old 05-19-13, 10:50 AM
  #50  
Engine, Not Motor

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Originally Posted by ricardo.benin
Hi I saw that atkins rotary sells a 13b rebuild video is it any good if not what else is out there in regards to 13b rebuilding dvds or books.
Thanks
It's a decent video, but it does skip a lot of steps (most notably clearancing the side seals). Basically all the videos are going to have advantages and disadvantages. Mine for example doesn't cover all the cleaning and inspection.

However, with the FSM/Haynes handy, my video should be all you need. If you go back earlier in the series (around the 6 - 10 mark) then you'll see disassembly and cleaning of engine parts as well.

Originally Posted by ricardo.benin
Is it safe to mount a 13b on a engine stand by the front iron.
Thanks
Well, considering that all the engine stand adapters use the front iron (including my own), then I'd say yes.
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