David Dale

well, i get my side seals and im ready to clearance them. So i start to clearance side seals and i find that some of the rotor grooves are tight on the side seals. I can put the side seals in them but they are kind of hard to get back out with an old side seal or my pick tool. When i put springs in the grooves along with the side seals they do not move very freely (to the point where im worried). Does this necessitate buying a new rotor (or rotors i haven't checked the front rotor yet) or is there a way to open them up by gently sanding or something?

The clearance for the side seal to rotor groove is tighter then 0.028mm ( i used 0.03mm feeler gauge) and im guessing this isn't normal.

what do y'all suggest i do?

thanks

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

run an old side seal through the grooves a bit more with some carburetor cleaner. there's probably some rust from sitting.

Gurew

iTrader: (4)

this is precisely why i like my ultrasonic cleaner

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

that still won't keep metal parts from rusting once it's done...

Gurew

iTrader: (4)

huh?? well idk about you or anyone else but after i 100% clean a rotor, i air dry it with compressed air and spray it down with wd40, no more surface rust or "flash rusting"

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

i didn't realize there was a procedure you had to follow.

Gurew

iTrader: (4)

not sure what your issue is....

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

i answered his question and your comment, not sure what yours is. are you trying to be helpful or just a troll?

Gurew

iTrader: (4)

trying to be helpful...


the seal groove could be filled with carbon from not properly cleaning or could be flash rusting from not properly drying off the rotor and or not spraying it down with wd40 (helps big time for me anyways)


hence why i like my ultrasonic cleaner....when im ready to clearance side seals i toss them in, 20 min later pull them out, wash with water, air dry and clearance the seals....after im done ill wash with soapy water and air dry again

give that a try and see how that works...if its still too tight then get a micrometer out and measure the thickness of the side seals you have

arghx

iTrader: (3)

clean with an old side seal very thoroughly, it's probably fine

David Dale

i'll go over them with some carb cleaner and scrape out the grooves again since its been a little while since i cleaned them last. i'll know whats up by the end of the day

ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

I had the same problem with the first motor I built. I cleaned the grooves, started to put the seals in and then realized that the caked-in carbon was compressed to the point it was shiny like metal. Another cleaning pass and all was well.

SpeedOfLife

iTrader: (16)

I think what I did was take an old side seal and scrape out the crap with its corner.

durr hurr someone already said that...

David Dale

ok well i ran old side seals through the grooves and got a little bit of stuff out. What i found out was that the new side seals i was sanding were just a little bent from when i was sanding so i shaped them back to its original shape and they fit. But the clearance was still pretty tight on one side and it gets stuck when i press it down into the groove with the spring. Is it possible that the groove shrunk just a little bit towards the corner seal for some reason? Could this be remedied?

SpeedOfLife

iTrader: (16)

If the new seals got bent at all I'd say it's likely they're still a little misshapen. You might just want to get some more side seals. It's possible the groove has shrunk, but only really by having excess crud in there or by the rotor being damaged. I'm betting the side seal is the issue. Have you test fitted a used but unharmed seal in the slot?

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

small bends in the seal will make it a bit sticky in the groove, use an old or new side seal to match the correct shape.

NoPistons!

iTrader: (3)

Yep. You have to be super careful when you "trim" them to fit the rotor. Bend em and you'll never get them right again.

If an old seal fits or if the edge of your new seal can glide through the entire groove without sticking then that is the issue.

David Dale

lol ok i guess i have to try to be more careful when i sand them down...if you bend them just a little it messes up everything XD it takes a long time to bend them back to perfect shape. Maybe i'm just being a little too aggressive with them...

NoPistons!

iTrader: (3)

Yeah. Just take your time and dont be forcefull. That reminds me, i found my grinding stone the other day.