13B rebuild
 

i just found this forum this morning! great place! this is my first post here, but i already have a technical question. i've owned three -7's (currently without one :( ), and i'm tearing down a 13B out of an '86. i can't get the flywheel nut off! it's driving me crazy! i've bent two pieces of steel angle, and broken two torque wrenches trying to get this this off.

is there any sort of lube that'll seriously loosen it up, or do i need to take the engine to a shop to have 'em impact it?

btw, in addition to my rx-7 experience (or because of), i am planning on powering my airplane with a rotary!! :bluesuit:

thanks!!

do you have a compressor and air tools? if you have already tried an impact wrench then do what i did... use an air chisel. tap the nut at an angle and it will loosen it.

i do have a compressor and lots of air tools, but no air impact wrench. could probably borrow one though. never thought of the air chisel idea. i may have to do that, 'cuz this thing is ON THERE!

the impact wrench will work, just turn it all the way up and and give it hell! I went through the same thing with my 87, broke two breaker bars and finally used an impact

i don't know why i typed torque wrench...i broke two breaker bars. one napa and one craftsman. both of them were 18" bars. i'll have to borrow an impact, but i'm sure that'll get it done.

btw, sweet avatar!

thanks mang Welcome to the forum! your right, this is a great place. Good luck with your rebuild and post lots of pics!!

if worse comes to worse. there is a tool that locks the flywheel in place. check either:
mazdatrix.com
racingbeat.com

If nothing else, try a propane torch and put a little heat on the nut. I have no problem getting the fly nut with my impact, the e-shaft bolt is another issue. If your fly nut is on that solid, woe be you when you get to the front. That will need heat.

oddly enough, the e-shaft bolt came loose easily (relatively speaking, of course). it should be torqued higher than the fly nut, but not sure in this case...

now i'm having problems locating a 54mm socket. i borrowed one before, and it's not available right now. i went to five different stores to spend the $25-50 for a one time use socket, and can't find any. sears usually has a 2 1/8 (same thing), but are out of stock right now. maybe over the weekend. i will try heat when i find a socket to use.

anybody want to send me one to borrow (3/4 inch drive)? i'll pay shipping both ways...

When Sears gets the socket in, buy the 3/4-1/2" adapter.

just wanted to post a couple of pics to show you guys what a pain in the ass this fly nut has been so far...

http://www.rivetbangers.com//cgi-php...serialNumber=1

http://www.rivetbangers.com//cgi-php...serialNumber=1

i'm gonna try again this weekend... :wallbash:

this nut just WON'T come off!!!!!!!!!!! i think it's time to :Kill1: it.

impact didn't work. somebody torqued this thing down WAY to tight. i'm gonna have to get a cutting torch and slice it off...

what size is that nut?

and have you sprayed it with PB Blaster? i love that stuff and swear by it.

If you were any closer I would let you borrow mine. If my car is done at aspec any time soon I will pm you. I have the 54mm mac socket and my 1/2 impact. if all else false you can rent a 3/4 impact and try again well if that doesn't work god help you my son.

good luck with your rotary powered aviation project you and my father should get together hes been talking about putting a rotary in a RV6 since he got his first ride in my FD. I will be flying with him down to schwamburg in his cherokee 180.

well, i FINALLY got the damn thing off tonight!!!! :smiley309

i went at it sort of unconventionally...with my dremel tool. i just decided to cut it off. using the cutoff wheel, and a chisel, i busted it off. this engine is beyond repair anyway, so now it's just a matter of principle in getting the thing torn down to see if there's anything salvagable inside.

thanks for all your recommendations!!!

rocking rotary, have fun tomorrow!! looks like a nice day! btw, tell your dad i'm building an RV-7. not sure on the engine choice right now, but i'll keep you all in the loop if i decide to go with the 13B. :icon_tup: