chris_stampe

Im in the middle of rebuilding my engine. I got the RA kit that comes with the rubber oil o rings, but you re-use the stock metal oil control rings. I took out the old rings and replaced the rubber o rings. Im now trying to reinstall them into the rotors. Hayes manual says to just press them in applying uniform pressure with your hands. They wont go in. So I got the bright idea of installing the rotor, then putting a few tensioner bolts in and therefore pressing the rings into the rotor. I did this and tightened the bolts in a star pattern and only to where the housings had no or very little gap. I took it back apart to see how it worked, and two of the outter rings had cracked....****. The inner ones go in fine, but the outter ones are a bitch. Anyone have any ideas on how to get these fitted in without breaking them. I could buy new ones, but I just dont have the money. Thanks,
Chris

RETed

Uh, that was an expensive lesson.
Those metal rings are $30+ new each!

You need to oil them liberally and press them in evenly.
You might want to start from one end and work all the way around.

BE CAREFUL, I've sliced my thumb running it on the edge of the rings.
Make sure you press straight down and lift your fingers off the ring everytime you press in another spot.

Using lots of oil is the key to getting them to pop in, just watch your fingers slipping on all that oil!


-Ted

Sesshoumaru

iTrader: (1)

every damn time i rebuild i slice my thumbs..........

i use a wood board. I put it on it's side (prolly 1/2 in thick). I rotate the wood 360 degrees around the ring. It won't stay in via this but i like to make sure everthing is happy. I then flip it and press it with the wide side and rotate it 360 degrees. This time it should stick.

I like to use wood b/c it won't garf metal.

read your RA instructions they say to install the outer first i beleive.......

RETed

Great idea!


-Ted

chris_stampe

Amen to the thumb slicing.....3 and counting. My god damned engine is now covered in blood. Great. Thanks for the advice I will try installing the outter ones first and using a **** ton of oil. Thanks for the ideas.

Sesshoumaru

iTrader: (1)

for the rings I use vaseline myself. Helps them stay in (outer mostly)

I use a back of a Knife to go around the ring/seal pressing it to one side. I then press it against the other side of the ring. I do this a couple times. This is to "untwist" the rings. This is especially helpfull with the outer seal because they are larger than the ring and leave a S shape if not unbound.

There are alot of little tricks but my fav is the rubber band for the rotors.

just like trannies you never want to force things into place. They tend to fight back by giving up.

scathcart

My girlfriend learned that lesson shortly ago building her engine... I can't say I've ever done it.

The problem with anyone but Mazda and FC3s org oil seals is that they are not metric rings, and thus, don;t fit in quite right.

What I do is use two sheets of 1/4" clear lexan. I fill the rotor grooves with 5W30 oil, then dip the oil control metal o-ring and the viton o-ring in the 5W30 and assmble them. I lay the rotor onto a single piece of lexan, and then put the assmbled oil control rings into their place. I then place the sec ond sheet of lexan on top.
I take this entire assmebly and throw it on the shop press and apply light pressure directly to the center. I then press my hand around the edge, and watch the seals seat properly.

Although not everyone has access to a shop press, you can just kneel down on the lexan and do the same thing. I really like being able to watch through the sheet to make sure it seats.and does not bind.

Kenteth

chris give me or ed a call next time you head to rapid, i gotta see yoru car sometime when you get it rolling too!

ERAUMAZDA

I just cut my self too.

WAYNE88N/A

kick-*** idea, scathcart!!!

White_FC

haha lol, and I thought I was the only one that had a problem with cutting my thumbs doing this...

I feel so much better now..

ERAUMAZDA

lol...buy a timble

scathcart

err, ummm... thimble?

ERAUMAZDA

its been awhile since I played monopoly.

silverrotor

iTrader: (1)

If you are pressing In new Metal Oil Control Rings why not use your old ones to press In the new ones? It's what I'm doing this weekend, as a matter of fact. Than again, not everyone Is as **** as me.

RETed

You actually read the manual?


-Ted

silverrotor

iTrader: (1)

Actually, I have. Am I missing something Ted? I've added the old rings as a final touch or confirmation that they are seated properly.