I was thinking last night, and I was wondering, what turns the belts on a rotary engine?

 

 

I asked my 7 year old the same question. she pointed under the hood and said, " silly daddy, of course it's the hampster in the cage."

 

You're kidding right?

Anyways, magical rotary fairies turn the belt for us.

 

In case this was serious, the belts are turned by the E-shaft or Eccentric shaft (which is the equivalent to the crank shaft in a piston motor)

 

Hmm.. I haven't really looked at one because I haven't found a TII yet. That's why I asked, out of curiosity.

 

In the gallery there are probably some engine bay pix. Go check it out youll come back with a smile.

 

Ya what he said

 

Yeah, it was serious since I knew nothing about rotary engines and I'm buying my first RX-7 (87 TII w/ 69K) this week. I've since learned the nomenclature and workings of it from various websites online. Thanks for not flaming a rotary noobie BTW.

 

Most people are understandably confused by the insides of a rotary, but nearly everything on the outside is exactly the same as you'll find on a piston engine.

 

This should help.
http://travel.howstuffworks.com//rotary-engine.htm

 

I'm am still wigged out how the damn wankel runs but as long as it does I'm happy.