Keeping my 12a running
 

Just looking for some general advice here. Have an 81 that has been sitting for 10+ years that I'm finally able to put some work into. Replaced the clutch, drained the old fuel and fuel filter, cleaned out the fuel system the best I could (had a ton of tar-like buildup. Cleaned up the fuel pump, blew out the lines, ran new fuel through it, on my 2nd filter), and now just trying to get this sucker to hold an idle. Seems like it's running very lean and only way to keep it going is bombarding the carb with starting fluid. Was hoping to circulate enough fuel that it would clean up the gunk stuck in there but after 2 cans of starting fluid I've gotten nowhere.

As of now I'm going to:

Check I have proper fuel pressure.

Check the carb isnt gunked up and restricting fuel.

Considering removing gas tank and cleaning it out.


I'm just looking for some suggestions as to what my issue may be.

I would check the plugs if you have not already. Use the NGK plugs that are recommended for your model year. There are some rotary guru on here that will respond such as Jeff20B, Peejay, and wankel=awesome; they will have great advice on how to bring one back.

Double check your fuel filter. Have read that some on here actual use a 5 gallon jerry can to hold fuel so that they can get the gas tank cleaned out while working on the engine.

If you have flooded the engine, you will need to dry out plugs anyway. Great post on how to in flood engine on this site. Go to the archives and search under flooding.

Also look on FB for local Mazda rotary clubs; most active ones help each other out.

Good luck getting the BRAP back.

Get rid of all of the bad gas - as others have suggested - clean and drain that tank. Nothing worse than to try to recirculate bag gummed gas through the fuel pump, carbs, and elsewhere.

That was the 2nd thing I did after replacing the clutch. Got a fresh tank in there now minus some of the residual gunk I'm trying to flush out.

What was your technique (take out the pump and siphon or did you remove the tank and fill and flush? What chemicals did you use?

Removed the line from the tank to filter, drained it out, replaced the filter, cleaned out the pump with induction plate cleaner and compressed air, blew air through all of the lines to make sure nothing was blocking it up, filled tank up with fresh gas, and I've been trying to run the new gas through it. No chemicals have been added so far.

Woke up this morning to check fuel pressure and my pump was no longer working so in the process of getting a new pump on. I'll post my results once done rigging this up. I'm sure my issues are somewhere in the fuel delivery dpt.

Check compression. Sometimes seals can get stuck in there groves when they sit unused for so many years.

UPDATE:

New fuel pump did the trick, now just gotta run it until the gunk is blown out of the fuel system.

Bypass your fuel pump relay. Leave the key in the on position for about 30 seconds before each start

Welcome aboard! Glad to hear another 12a car is getting back on the road to carry on the rotary legacy!