For those of you who have rebuilt a rotary, what is the best thing to use to get the carbon and other crap off of the rotors, housings, etc? I'm doing the budget rebuild, checking all clearances and reusing anything I can, so I need to clean the seals and other parts I don't need to get new.

Btw, keep your flames to yourself, As soon as I swap this motor with the one in the car to drive it, I will be rebuilding and porting the other, so I'm trying to stay as cheap as possible. If it lasts three months and I'm done with the other motor, fine.

 

I rebuilt a couple of 2-cycle engines and the best thing that I've found to get rid of carbon is a wire brush - something soft that won't dig into the metal. Does that help?

 

It's been discussed on this forum a couple of times before, and I've used it on my intake manifold, automatic transmission fluid. Let it sit on carbon overnight and then brush it off with a stiff brush. It's great stuff.

 

Soak it in Kerosene, and then use a wire brush ... Then to clean it up further use carb cleaner and a LOT of rags

Soak them in ATF that dont do ****, I tried it, left one rotor in ATf for a freaking month made ZERO difference

 

ATF worked real well on my intake. Is there a difference in brands?

 

Maybe on an intake, but on a carboned up rotor it wont do a damn thing...

 

like mike p said use carby cleaner, and a firm brisstle brush. should clean it up pretty nice

 

Yup, a little solvent, a stiff bristle brush and some elbow grease works every time.
Nothing wrong with the budget rebuild if you adhere to specs. I've seen some cheapskate rebuilds last a long time and make some decent power. Feel better, now?

 

I've got the parts soaking in solvent, switching sides and letting them sit. What would be better a steel or brass brush?

 

I'd use the brass bristle brush, myself. A little more work, but less chance of scratching anything.

 

I use babitt safe carb cleaner and it work great. Then I clean it with hot soapy water and scape out the side seal channels.

good luck

 

I did a test with atf and mmo. I soaked one carbon baked rotor in each for about a week (supposed to have been 1 day but it got cold as **** here) and the atf didnt touch it , the one soaked in mmo was supprisingly clean enough to just wipe off the gunk (carbon) and it is now shiney again. So mmo is now my new best friend (and it smells like peppermints for al of those that allow there wives in the shop while they are working.).

peace

 

I figured MMO would work pretty good - cleaned out my carbs. Use a brass brush, maybe on a drill.

B