So the question is, can I just dip the housings and plates into some b-12 chemtool carb/fi cleaner? I don't think it will affect the aluminum but as far as the shiny part (chrome?!?!?) goes will it destroy it or cause any damage I wouldn't want?

 

I hope you can do this. I didn't dip mine but did wipe them with carb cleaner to remove the built-up carbon in the chamber. They cleaned up nicely.

 

Cool, it worked very nicely with my rotors but I was not sure about the housings. Btw, I bought my own dip tank with the little pump/hose thing for like 40 bucks. It is big enough to drop both housings in and soak them.

 

I just bought 2 cans of carb cleaner and dumped them into an old kittly litter bucket. It was just enough to dip the rotors and associated springs/seals (as in the Rotary Aviation video). It's amazing how clean the rotors came out:
http://85rx7.home.mchsi.com/85rx7_20041226.html

 

Wont the carb cleaner trash the bearings in the rotors?

 

Apparently not...this is the way that the Rotary Aviation video recommends cleaning them.
And, there's no apparent damage after following this process.

 

no the cleaner won't hurt the bearings and I've been cleaning them that way for years. just don't leave the rotors in for more than about 4 hours.

 

Wow, i guess the overnight thing that Rotary Aviation suggests (and I did) is overkill, huh?

 

I left mine in for about a day and a half because the carbon wasn't wanting to come off the damn things.

 

well the older carb cleaner would eventualy start eating the bearings but that stuff only took 15 minutes to remove all the carbon. the cleaner you get now isn't anywhere near as potent. (the old zep hyrda-seal)

 

Did you scrape off as much of the carbon as you could first? The Rotary Aviation video recommends scraping the combustion faces with the edge of a razor blad to get as much as possible off before soaking in carb cleaner. Worked great for me.

 

scraping the carbon off is a good idea just be careful about damaging the rotors any gouges should be carefully smoothed with fine wet or dry paper if you manage to damage the rotor. remember sharp edges create hotspots during cumbustion.

 

Hmmm, I put a few scratches in mine when scraping, so I'm glad you said that. I'll smooth them out.

 

WHy not just replace the bearings?

 

easier said than done....aren't they pressed in?

 

I heard about possibly tapping and bolting in the bearings?!?!? What is up with that? Is it possible/productive?

 

Yes, but I think any decent machine shop can do it. I've never had it done, but I'm about to find out!

 

well there is rather large suface area that it interferance fitso it will have to be pressed in but wear on the bearing in a N/A engine is minimal.