Rotary Aviation apex seal report
02-21-05, 07:07 PM
#1
Rotary Aviation apex seal report
I just tore my engine apart which had about 20k miles on it running Rotary aviation apex seals and springs. I was slowly losing compression until it got bad and I took the engine apart. Found some of the apex seal springs flattened, same with some corner seal springs. Also 2 brken corner seals. I did run a little lean in boost sometimes, and expierenced detnation. Which could cause this, so I understood.
When I took a close look at the rotor housings I found chatter grooves running all the way around the rotor housing. They are light but are on the whole housing. They get deeper on the part between the exhaust port and the spark plug holes. I dont know if the apex seals caused this or what. I will post pictures of it tonight.
When I took a close look at the rotor housings I found chatter grooves running all the way around the rotor housing. They are light but are on the whole housing. They get deeper on the part between the exhaust port and the spark plug holes. I dont know if the apex seals caused this or what. I will post pictures of it tonight.
02-21-05, 09:23 PM
#2
Who did the rebuild? Did you use the RA springs as well? Tracy admitted that the springs were reliable up to stock boost levels. How much boost were you running? The springs may be the cause of the chatter marks because of them not putting the right amounts of pressure against the apex seals causing them to float. I'm no expert but that sounds logical to me. Also if you broke 2 corner seals that was either some major detenation or your side seal clearence was too tight.
Last edited by t-von; 02-21-05 at 09:30 PM.
02-21-05, 10:57 PM
#4
I never overheated the engine. Temp was always around 90C according to the wolf3d. Lubrication was fine, I premix about 1 ounce per gallon of gas. When I took the engine apart everything had a film of premix on it so lubrication isnt the problem either.
02-22-05, 07:07 AM
#6
Rotary Enthusiast
yes, read the first sentence, he used both seals and springs.
how much boost were you running? i'm using both seals and springs too, now i'm kinda wishing i just used mazda stuff...... oh well, it'll take quite a while for me to hit 20k anyway. i'm running 15-16 psi though.
harrison
how much boost were you running? i'm using both seals and springs too, now i'm kinda wishing i just used mazda stuff...... oh well, it'll take quite a while for me to hit 20k anyway. i'm running 15-16 psi though.
harrison
02-22-05, 03:08 PM
#7
Here are some pics. I was running 8 psi, but leaning out. I just ordered some new corner springs and mazda apex seal springs.
Do you guys think I can sand this smooth, because I was told by someone it would work. The grooves arent very deep, just not smooth.
Do you guys think I can sand this smooth, because I was told by someone it would work. The grooves arent very deep, just not smooth.
Trending Topics
02-22-05, 05:03 PM
#8
Originally Posted by vspecpgt
i'm using both seals and springs too, now i'm kinda wishing i just used mazda stuff...... oh well, it'll take quite a while for me to hit 20k anyway. i'm running 15-16 psi though.
harrison
harrison
Last edited by ROTARYFDTT; 02-22-05 at 05:17 PM.
02-22-05, 05:18 PM
#9
so ...no time for this
Originally Posted by t-von
Who did the rebuild? Did you use the RA springs as well? Tracy admitted that the springs were reliable up to stock boost levels. How much boost were you running? The springs may be the cause of the chatter marks because of them not putting the right amounts of pressure against the apex seals causing them to float. I'm no expert but that sounds logical to me. Also if you broke 2 corner seals that was either some major detenation or your side seal clearence was too tight.
Agree...
I'm using the RA seals and mazda sprigs. I'm actually at 18 psi T70 no problems... Kaboosky made 520 whp @19 psi with that set-up ... though, neither kaboosky or myself have get 10K so time will tell...
02-22-05, 08:26 PM
#10
BTW I sanded the housing with 320grit sand paper for about 15min each and they turned out like new. I ordered some new mazda apex seal springs and RA is giving me a new set of seals if I send them this set so they can look at them.
02-24-05, 02:41 PM
#11
No Pistons
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Guatemala City
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Net Seven
BTW I sanded the housing with 320grit sand paper for about 15min each and they turned out like new. I ordered some new mazda apex seal springs and RA is giving me a new set of seals if I send them this set so they can look at them.
02-25-05, 01:49 PM
#14
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: uk
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I once had made some apex seals from machine tool steel.These scored the housings like the RA seals have.Because of too much friction,the apex seal would 'weld' itself to the housing surface and tear off a tiny piece of tip,which scored the housing.This left lots of scoring and very little compression,because the seals were incompatible with the housing surface.
02-25-05, 05:13 PM
#15
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Originally Posted by timrxmotors
I once had made some apex seals from machine tool steel.These scored the housings like the RA seals have.Because of too much friction,the apex seal would 'weld' itself to the housing surface and tear off a tiny piece of tip,which scored the housing.This left lots of scoring and very little compression,because the seals were incompatible with the housing surface.
Expensive lesson to learn.