Hey guys, it has been a long time since I have posted. I have a pretty crazy scenario that I would like your advice on.

Had a problem with my clutch not disengaging....therefor I could not select gears when the engine was turned on.

I replaced all the hydraulics for the clutch hoping that I would not have to drop the tranny and look at the clutch. Well it was still not working.

Dropped the exhaust and tranny to find to my surprise that the pressure plate bolts were a bit loose and therefor my challenge was identified.

Then I look behind the flywheel and see that a tension bolt had backed itself out of the block a good inch and a half and was consequently chipping and shredding the back of my pressure plate bolts....loosening them.

Took off the flywheel and pulled the tension bolt out....it was broken and would not thread itself back in to the block.

My question is this: What consequences would there be to running my engine without that tension bolt? I drove it to work this morning and it seemed fine...but I would like to know if there are any consequences that I am overlooking other than a little less compression?

Any experienced responses would be great guys thanks.

 

Ummmmmm coolant getting past the seals... thats kinda scary actually....

Warped rotor housings and plates come to mind

PM RETed about this one or talk to a engine builder like KDR or Pettit (Pettit is in Lake Park florida)

 

More info needed, like which one top or bottum, rite or left side, one next to the ex port, so. The ones on top you can risk, for these are the cold and low perssuer. the bottums are hot and combuston takes place.

 

Over the long term, you will warp the housings. Short term, you will probably start suffering coolant loss...

 

It is just above the trailing spark plugs... Thanks for the replies guys. I will have to take her easy from now on I suppose.

 

That's a pretty bad place to lose the bolt. Be ready for the soon to come down pin oil/coolant leak.

 

I had this happen to me about 3 months ago. The tension bolt in position 18 came loose(pretty sure it was 18) And struck the back of my flywheel. I pulled the bolt out and threaded the back plate to accomodate a new bolt. The new bolt does not serve the same function as the tension bolt but it should prevent a leak. I also coated it with JB weld to make sure it was water tight. I have been driving the car like I stole it since that day. I might suggest that you take it a little easier than I am because I view my motor as EXPENDABLE.

 

This really needs to be replaced properly, and the flywheel needs to be removed.  The tension bolts normally are sealed against the rear housing, and coolant will leak out of it if there is not a good seal.  You don't need a new tension bolt, as I think finding a good used spare one is pretty easy to do.  Remember to replace the seal under the tension bolt head with a new washer/seal!

Has this engine been rebuilt or is it untouched from the factory?  These has been an alarming trend of tension bolts backing off recently, and we're trying to built a safety plate to keep the tension bolt from backing into the flywheel.



-Ted

 

one tension bolt could have all these negative side effects?

 

This happened when I was working on Kevin’s (RarestRX) car. I could not believe my eyes two tension bolts had backed out!! I have never seen this before. But now there seems to be more and more people having this problem. Ted’s right, the bolt should be replaced. But for people like Kevin that there tension bolt snapped in the front housing there is no way to replace it with out tearing down the motor (unless you got one hell of a long drill bit and a long easy out ). We decided that I would build him a new motor from a different core. In the mean time we “patched” it by drilling and tapping the two tension bolt holes and installed bolts to keep it from leaking. I was worried about doing this but so far the car has done one trip to Sevenstock, couple of Togue runs, one dyno day, a drift day, a track event and Kevin’s never ending street driving punishment and it’s running the best it ever has. But in his situation I got him covered when it blows so it might be a good idea for you to do the same and have a back up plan.

My .02

- Dana

 

My tension bolt also snapped in the front housing as well.....and that is why I didn't replace it. I guess that I should make a Saturday of it next weekend and drill and tap a new hole to stop the possible loss of coolant and oil.

Guess I will get started on rebuilding a new block soon....maybe turn to the dark side...turbo is calling me.

-Lee

 

Couldn't you safety wire them?

 

Ted doesnt someone already market these? Mazdatrix, Racing Beat, whoever? I could have sworn I saw someone making these. Maybe it was in the "How to Modify Your Rx7" book (I cant find my book anywhere to check for sure)....?

 

Drilling bolt heads is not what I call fun...


-Ted

 

I haven't seen them being marketed.
Yes, they were described in that book.


-Ted