Im assuming there is a timing chain in a rotary.. there has to be!

correct me if I'm wrong

I pulled out the ol' xenon and took a peek at my timing, not a big suprise its way off.. I cant twist the dizzy enough to get it even... timing chain is out a notch??

How do I access the timing chain :P

 

You are wrong. No chain or belt. No reason, no cam, no valves.

If you can't twist the dizzy to make it right, the dizzy itself is probably out of wack.

 

Oh really? so its not really a huge deal then??
Its ll the way to the right, i cant go any slower, the white notice is still about 1/2" away from the peg

 

Im pretty sure that there is a different technique to using a timing light on a rotary since TDC is different, and the lack of a valvetrain, etc. Check in the archives on how to set your timing....

 

Did you disconnect and plug the vacuum advance to the carb? There is a chain, but it drives the oil pump. The dizzy is gear driven directly off of the e-shaft.

 

No I did not.. the vacuum advance is hooked up

 

General Troubleshooting steps for rotary engines.

Step One never assume a rotary is anything like a piston engine. They have absolutely nothing in common aside from basic combustion.
Step Two read the archives avidly.
Step Three use the search.
Step Four then post for help.

 

No belt, no chain, just a distributor drive gear attached to the main e-shaft inside the front cover. It's about 3/4 of an inch thick, as big around as a coke can and if there was something wrong with it, you'd have a helluva lot more to worry about than that.

The Heynes and FSM (Factory Shop Manual) have information on adjusting the timing. IIRC for the leading you loosen a bolt and turn the distributor, and for trailing you loosen two screws and adjust the vaccum pot attached to the side of the dizzy.

Jon

 

If your dizzy has ever been taken out, it may be off by a notch. If you're *REALLY* sure you can't get it to time right by turning it, you'll have to take it out and put it back in, but I don't really know what you'd use as a procedure for that. Do some searching in the 1st gen section, there's some info there somewhere on it I just can't remember where.

Jon

 

Ahh! I understand now, very nice pics..

But where should I line up the white notch on the pully with the pin for leading/trailing?

 

There are 2 notches. The one to the right is leading, the other is trailing. If you can't find both notches, maybe you're timing the leading off of the trailing notch.

 

hmm.. im trying to time the notch on the right (closest to housings) to the pin sticking out.. trailing is supposed be off a little?

 

If you can see 2 notchs, the one towards the drivers side is timed from the lower front plug wire, the other notch is timed from the upper front plug. Both notchs should be lined up with the pin on the front cover when done.

 

alright, that cleared it up, thank you!

I think I'll be removing the dizzy

 

where in alberta are you?

 

Woo Hoo for no timing!

And my favorite way to waste time at autozone.
me-"Yeah, can I get a timing belt for a 82 Mazda Rx-7?"
clerk-"Yes, one moment while I look it up... Uh it says we are all out of stock. If you want to wait we might have them in a week."

Option 1: "What? Whats going to happen to the valves?!"
Option 2: "Rotary motors don't have timing belts, good day sir."

 

I'll have to find a really stupid parts store clerk to try that on sometime.

 

I live near edmonton in Alberta

 

shouldn't be hard. Most people have no idea about rotaries. Some of the older gents' might, but now-a-days you could go in and ask for "blinker fluid" and they would check for you....