Fresh rebuild - 3 stuck apex seals
 

Hi all, after battling and giving up trying to start my engine, I pulled the exhaust manifold and have 3 stuck apex seals on the front rotor, meaning 30psi compression. The Rear housing has an even 125psi.

Background:

Was an excellent running stock series 4 13bt.
Pulled apart to port - extend primaries and bridge secondaries
T04e 60 trim turbonetics
4 x 1000cc injectors
Megasquirt ecu

The engine has not even fired on this build yet, only checked compression once it wouldn't fire and all other factors checked OK (timing, fuel, spark etc)

Tear it down again? What could have caused this?!

did you delete the OMP squirts for bolts?

Yes I did.... Bad idea?

FYI, I ditched the S4 housings for a near mint pair of S6 housings this time round, if that bears any relevance

No its not a bad idea on the omp just make sure you premix.
Now use some Atf and put that into any hole you can on the front rotor chambers and let sit. Then rotate the engine from time to time and with luck they will unstick.

Yep, I'm running premix at 100:1....
I have considered the ATF option, but was under the impression that was for seals that had carboned-up? Could this still work even though this engine hasn't even fired yet?
After assembly, the engine did sit untouched for a good month or so (indoors), but with plenty of Vaseline in all the slots etc

just check that both blind bolts for the OMP are the correct length...
but i expect maybe it just needs to fire up and break the glue on the seals and sometimes that may take a tow

Thanks for the help. I'll check the bolt lengths.
Where the car is currently situated, a tow is going to be a bit of a mission, do you think ATF is worth a shot to try dissolve the superglue? What concerns me is that all 3 apex seals are jammed, what are chances of the glue doing this since the rear rotor is fine and making good compression?

well. ive seen someone ruin a housing and rotor using those OMP blanoff bolts without a washer

and i suppose another assembly issue could be a very loose ( or turned ) rotor or stat bearing that could either stop the seals following the housing correctly

or worse,, bash the rotor into the housing and close off the tips


personally,, might need some work through the exhaust port with a wooden dowel just to get the glue to crack

Update FYI...
Pulled off the exhaust manifold and gently tapped the apex seals with a hard plastic rod (acetal). Two of the seals didn't move whatsoever and the third one moved inwards and wedged even further.

So I pulled the engine out, removed flywheel, water pump, front cover, thru-bolts, tipped it on its back and lifted front plate. I left the rear housing etc intact.

Long story short, the housing, rotor and seals are gummed up with what looks like and can only be hylomar.... although a thick black colour

So I'll clean thoroughly, reassemble with same water jacket seals and learn my lesson about using too much hylomar!