13B Rotary Engine Vane Repair
 

Okay so my 85 GSL-SE broke down and we analyzed and diagnosed everything that could be the problem, but they were all fine. So we got a hold of someone that used to own one and the same problem occurred. He said that it is the vanes in the engine that need replaced. So I was wondering how expensive it would be to replace this system? Also, how difficult it would be to complete this task?

Oh, that's an easy fix man. Just open up the top and reorient the vanes to point north in your engine. You probably hit a bump and knocked it out of alignment, or over time, it has come out of position due to the natural movement of the earths magnetic pole. Remember to take into account your geographical location and account for the variation between true north and magnetic north for your location if you use a compass to align the vane.

It should look something like this once you get down to it:
http://images1.hdpi.com/product_enla...ervane-501.jpg

I think the term you are referring to is "Apex Seals"

Smart ass...

Yeah, you probably mean the Apex seals....

Hope they didn't tear up your housings...

But while you at it try and look into a gasket set, ect.

Atkins rotary, RE-Speed, Racing Beat are all decent companies to look up for parts. there are more websites you can look at and even some will completely rebuild your engine for you.

hahahahaha that post was funny as shit hooray for vanes, but yes apex seals, means rebuild :) won't hurt you to read on a bit on the FAQ page so you can learn a bit more about the rotaries man.

Yeah I didn't think vanes was right, because I couldn't find anything on it anywhere. And I was going off of what someone else said, so not always the most reliable thing in the world. Thanks for the correction though. Apex seals, now how difficult and expensive is it to replace these?

It will be either difficult and reasonably cheap (if you do it) or expensive and easy (if you pay somebody to do it) There are many resources available on rebuilding rotary engines (which is what you will need to do if the seals are gone) but it can be difficult from what I understand for anybody who doesn't have experience with rebuilding engines.

how cheap is reasonably cheap and how difficult?

I've never done it before, but figure around $2000 to have it done, but very few shops will touch an rx7. You will have to find a rotary specialty place.

Don't assume they are bad unless you know they are bad!!!!!!

Read FAQ and ask questions when you have learned some more!

Scott

yes i think a cheap gasket kit runs about 1000$ i never bought one before so i won't know, but surely some of these guys can tell you, and there's several threads on the DIY basis.
now i do agree with Scott, maybe they're just stuck and you can use some seafoam/MMO to help them get loose again, you could start by telling us what your car is doing and some of us could guide you on your reading/homework :D

I can get a cheap GASKET kit for $102. But the Hard seal kit will run about $1000.

Did it start to smoke before it went out or just kaput? Expand on "broke down". I agree it needs to be verified because it's basically a full rebuild to fix if rotor seals blown.

I believe the relevant question is. "What happened"?


Where you driving it and it just shut off? Where you driving it and it overheated, then shut off? Did you drive the car somewhere, shut it off then came back and it wouldn't start?

What did you analyze? Did you perform a compression test.

Only with all of the correct information can we determine if you need a rebuild or not.

Exactly. I will never take someone else's work that a rotary is blown. Learn about them, and then check it out for yourself. So many of these cars end up being junked because they were flooded, and the mechanic told the owner they needed a new motor which they could not afford.

Search for the term "ghetto compression test" to get you started. This is how we check to see if the apex seals are in good shape or not, without tearing down the motor to do so.

And definitely give us some more information on this situation. How did it happen, when did it happen, what exactly happened, what was done to the car shortly before it happened, etc.

Throw us a frigging bone here, as Austin would say... :)



.

Agreed, from what I've seen in the junkyards, a lot of these rotaries ended up being fine and I wonder why people junk them.

Probably right on about them getting flooded or the seals stuck and the mechanic tells them to rebuild or get a new motor.

What ever the case it, unless we know what happened, then we can't really tell you exactly what's wrong.

We could tell you to rebuild it, but maybe its just as simple as Seafoaming it?

^_^ FAQ's are your friend!

Cheap and hard or expensive and easy...

Hell, that's life, not just rotaries!