How much damage can a spun bearing do in a rotary engine? Will it damage the block and throw everything off balance, or will it just need to be rebuilt and replace the bearing?

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

I just opened a motor than spun a front bearing. The E-shaft, the rear rotor, and both front and rear housings will need to be replaced. It is pretty ugly.

 

Typically if you spin a bearing the engine will lock up. Fortunately, this is actually VERY rare - of all the umpty-ump engines I've been through, I've only seen one that had a bearing problem.

Really depends on a lot of things - how fast the motor was spinning at the time, how bad it spun, etc. Could be simple, could be a lot of stuff.

Dale

 

Thanks guys for the info. I was pretty sure it could get very ugly. The car I am interested in buying is perfect inside and out; 1993 FD3S with 103k on the odometer and the engine, turbos, and tranny were just rebuilt (30 miles on it), but supposedly on the test drive a bearing spun and the car is now out of comission. The guy who owns it spent $6k on the repairs and the shop he took it to said the bearing wasn't covered under their warranty. Does this sound like BS? I know there is a lot of potential for trouble, but finding an FD3S in perfect shape is extremely hard and could be worth the hastle. The current engine is street ported and has non-sequential turbos and 3mm APEX seals. The car has a new radiator, has an chip, cat back, downpipe, and intake, all APEX'i. It has C-WEST side skirt, ADR 17"x8" rims, and a SCOOT hood. It is a black touring model with the R1 strut bar and spoiler. Like I said, the car is immaculate and after all of the poor condition FD3's I have seen, it was a beautiful sight, as far as looks go... He is asking $9k by the way...

 

If you have 3-4k to spend on a new engine that car sounds like a STEAL!

 

Assud,

Yeah, I like the deal and have the funds for the engine, just not sure where to do the rebuild. As I have been reading a lot of varied opinions about rebuilds on this board.

 

like dale said it depends.

minimum it needs the e shaft, and whatever the bearing spun in, plus whateve caused the problem (low oil pressure? incorrect assy?)

maximum the rotor flopped around in there when the bearing went and ruined everything, ive seen that its not pretty