Just received this oil ring spring set from Atkins today. Looking at the locking tabs I noticed 3 of the pairs look like they're bent the wrong way, only the blue inner springs look correct to me [second pic, inner springs]. When laid down in the rotor groove, the orientation of the bends don't let the tabs fall into their divots. Take a look at the picture of the white springs, in order to catch the divot in the rotor and the oil ring groove i'd need to bend the round tab down and the square tab up, I doubt that's proper procedure. Am I wrong?

 

Agreed, the direction of the tabs related to the wave height seems off/hosed. I suppose once the spring is compressed, the tab will catch the rotor hole regardless. Could these be aftermarket srpings rather than Mazda OEM?

Nice pics BTW.

 

Oddly enough, Atkins advertises them as OEM... guess ill shoot em an email and ask them whats up.

http://atkinsrotary.com/store/69-11-...Set-ARE90.html

 

They're supposed to be that way. Re-read the service manual on this. One goes on one side of the rotor, the on the other side. It's so they catch and curl around the rotor proper to the direction of rotation.

 

I talked to Dan himself at Atkins rotary, showed him my pictures and drew out this diagram. He was confused himself at first but when he saw the diagram he understood completely and was really cool and willing to exchange them for me. +1 for Atkins Rotary!!!

 

That's good to hear from Atkins, although it's unlikely that those are OEM Mazda springs. Funny how no-one on the forum recognized your issue.

 

Seriously!!! I posted this same thread in the 1st gen section and of all the views they got you are literally the only person who could see the issue... I agree, its hard to believe they're OEM but at least they're sending me a new, proper set. Maybe that's why they're only $39.99.