General Rotary Tech Support Use this forum for tech questions not specific to a certain model year

Help weird compression problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-16-16, 01:01 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Magoo2nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Help weird compression problem

Hi
Jason from New Zealand here, I have a very big problem I am hoping you guys might have come across before or might have an idea.
I have recently bought a s5 13b pp the guy I bought it off had fully rebuilt it ALL new seals and bearings. Housings appear mint no chrome peel, cracks ect plates are within spec.
Engine done 100 odd kms, to cut a long story short I got it compression tested it, reading 55 psi even on both rotors, so I rebuilt engine myself with new apex seals and springs.
Compression tested before start up reading 120 psi even both rotors. Then I started it, it started straight away ran for a minute turned it off then wouldn't start. I compression tested again and it's back to having no compression at 55 psi on both rotors???? Any help would be very much appreciated.

Regards Jason Mcguire
Old 01-17-16, 10:25 AM
  #2  
Engine, Not Motor

iTrader: (1)
 
Aaron Cake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 29,789
Likes: 0
Received 108 Likes on 91 Posts
How are you testing compression?

After 100KM, the engine is still breaking in.
Old 01-17-16, 01:52 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Magoo2nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Aaron Cake
How are you testing compression?

After 100KM, the engine is still breaking in.
Both leading plugs out ect, I kind of thought the same even with compression so low was a bit skeptical, so I done a further 500 km still no gain. After rebuild and before start up compression was 120psi
Old 01-18-16, 11:31 AM
  #4  
Original Gangster/Rotary!


iTrader: (213)
 
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Posts: 30,525
Received 538 Likes on 325 Posts
What's the history of the engine? What all internal work was done? Irons lapped? What was the measured e-shaft runout/endplay?
Old 01-18-16, 12:25 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Magoo2nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by GoodfellaFD3S
What's the history of the engine? What all internal work was done? Irons lapped? What was the measured e-shaft runout/endplay?
Engine was a factory 13b 6 port, with rx4 3mm na rotors that's it just the perferial ports were done. Plates haven't been touched the wear was with in spec and end play is done to spec
Old 01-18-16, 12:39 PM
  #6  
Full Member

iTrader: (1)
 
SRTx781's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 87
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Idk if it makes a difference but uhm. Are you taking out the plugs one at a time and testing ports one at a time? Or did you remove the all plugs at once?
Old 01-18-16, 01:33 PM
  #7  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Magoo2nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by SRTx781
Idk if it makes a difference but uhm. Are you taking out the plugs one at a time and testing ports one at a time? Or did you remove the all plugs at once?
Take the bottom plugs out and test, always have, it tested 120 psi before I started it up
Old 01-23-16, 10:14 AM
  #8  
Engine, Not Motor

iTrader: (1)
 
Aaron Cake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 29,789
Likes: 0
Received 108 Likes on 91 Posts
Of course it tested 120 PSI before you started. Because it was still sapping wet with assembly lube, which artificially increased compression. Compression will then drop after it is started, and gradually increase again during breakin.
Old 01-23-16, 09:58 PM
  #9  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Magoo2nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Aaron Cake
Of course it tested 120 PSI before you started. Because it was still sapping wet with assembly lube, which artificially increased compression. Compression will then drop after it is started, and gradually increase again during breakin.
Maybe it will increase a little not 65 psi more?? I blew out all Vaseline before tested. Isn't 55 psi extremely low, hav you seen a rebuilt motor reading 55?
Old 01-23-16, 09:59 PM
  #10  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Magoo2nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Magoo2nz
Maybe it will increase a little not 65 psi more?? I blew out all Vaseline before tested. Isn't 55 psi extremely low, hav you seen a rebuilt motor reading 55?
I done 500 odd kms an compression didn't change at all
Old 01-24-16, 09:50 AM
  #11  
Engine, Not Motor

iTrader: (1)
 
Aaron Cake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 29,789
Likes: 0
Received 108 Likes on 91 Posts
Depends on the seals and housings.

Or if your measurement technique is faulty.

An engine with 55 PSI of compression would not run very well.

Does the engine run well? AFRs where they should be? Smooth? Decent vacuum (for a p-port)? Start up well? If yes, then the compression is fine.
Old 01-24-16, 11:59 AM
  #12  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Magoo2nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Aaron Cake
Depends on the seals and housings.

Or if your measurement technique is faulty.

An engine with 55 PSI of compression would not run very well.

Does the engine run well? AFRs where they should be? Smooth? Decent vacuum (for a p-port)? Start up well? If yes, then the compression is fine.
Housings apear mint seals are brand new factory Mazda. It's very very hard to get started when it does start sometimes It will idle mint an sometimes it will idle like crap but will rev out well, I thought this might hav been a carb problem, not because of compression? Sorry what are AFRS? Thanks for your help
Old 01-30-16, 10:09 AM
  #13  
Engine, Not Motor

iTrader: (1)
 
Aaron Cake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 29,789
Likes: 0
Received 108 Likes on 91 Posts
Air Fuel Ratio.

Do you have no way of monitoring AFRs?
Old 01-30-16, 10:34 AM
  #14  
Moderator

iTrader: (3)
 
j9fd3s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Posts: 30,796
Received 2,574 Likes on 1,830 Posts
the P port can be tricky to tune because a wideband o2 sensor will give you false readings sometimes. they also have a smaller window of mixtures where it is happy.

if its got a carb on it, presumably an IDA, then you should try all the idle jets you have or can borrow. the IDA is meant for a piston engine, so while it flows enough air up top for a P port, the idle hole is not in the optimal place for a rotary. the rotary generally requires the throttle stop, which is mistakenly called the idle speed screw turned in further than it is supposed to be. this opens the throttle plates enough so that the engine actually idles on the 1st transition hole and not on the idle hole.

this matters because it makes the idle mixture more controlled by the idle jet than it should be. so the idle jet choice is more important than it would be if the carb was on a piston engine. so you should try a few idle jets and see what works best. from memory i think the two P port engines i've got running around are about a 65 idle jet.

you should be able to tell fairly quickly if the engine is happy or not, if you get the mixture right, it'll basically run like a stock car, if you're off it'll be a bucking snorting monster.

the idle jet on an IDA supplies fuel based on throttle position, so it works up to around 25% throttle, after that the main circuit, which is based on airflow, should be working. transition is managed with the air corrector.
Old 01-30-16, 11:03 AM
  #15  
Old [Sch|F]ool

 
peejay's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Posts: 12,505
Received 414 Likes on 295 Posts
Does it start and run? If so then ignore compression readings for time being.

If you are not using the Mazda compression tester then your readings can be wildly inaccurate. I can get a 20-25psi difference between two gauges, or the same gauge on two different hoses, just with a 30-40cm difference in hose length!

I had a 12A that ran fine despite testing at "50psi" on a compression gauge. My current 13B tests at something like 80psi front and 60psi rear, it has been a long time since I checked it.

I've heard of people having low compression that builds up after breakin, but that has never been my experience. Best compression has always been immediately after being rebuilt, with a gradual decline thereafter, barring major component injury. On the other hand, i also smooth out the rotor housings and I am critical for measuring apex seal end-gap. If you just throw in new seals without clearancing them for length, compression is going to suffer when new.
Old 01-30-16, 12:21 PM
  #16  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Magoo2nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by j9fd3s
the P port can be tricky to tune because a wideband o2 sensor will give you false readings sometimes. they also have a smaller window of mixtures where it is happy.

if its got a carb on it, presumably an IDA, then you should try all the idle jets you have or can borrow. the IDA is meant for a piston engine, so while it flows enough air up top for a P port, the idle hole is not in the optimal place for a rotary. the rotary generally requires the throttle stop, which is mistakenly called the idle speed screw turned in further than it is supposed to be. this opens the throttle plates enough so that the engine actually idles on the 1st transition hole and not on the idle hole.

this matters because it makes the idle mixture more controlled by the idle jet than it should be. so the idle jet choice is more important than it would be if the carb was on a piston engine. so you should try a few idle jets and see what works best. from memory i think the two P port engines i've got running around are about a 65 idle jet.

you should be able to tell fairly quickly if the engine is happy or not, if you get the mixture right, it'll basically run like a stock car, if you're off it'll be a bucking snorting monster.

the idle jet on an IDA supplies fuel based on throttle position, so it works up to around 25% throttle, after that the main circuit, which is based on airflow, should be working. transition is managed with the air corrector.
Hey thanks a lot pal that's some very helpful and useful info. Cheers
Old 01-30-16, 12:30 PM
  #17  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Magoo2nz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
[QUOTE=peejay;12021331]Does it start and run? If so then ignore compression readings for time being.

If you are not using the Mazda compression tester then your readings can be wildly inaccurate. I can get a 20-25psi difference between two gauges, or the same gauge on two different hoses, just with a 30-40cm difference in hose length!

I had a 12A that ran fine despite testing at "50psi" on a compression gauge. My current 13B tests at something like 80psi front and 60psi rear, it has been a long time since I checked it.

I've heard of people having low compression that builds up after breakin, but that has never been my experience. Best compression has always been immediately after being rebuilt, with a gradual decline thereafter, barring major component injury. On the other hand, i also smooth out the rotor housings and I am critical for measuring apex seal end-gap. If you just throw in new seals without clearancing them for length, compression is going to suffer when new.[/QUOTE

It's very very hard to get started and when it does start sometimes It will idle mint an sometimes it will idle like crap but will rev out an drive well.

I don't clearance end gap on apex seals but i will be from now on with future builds.
I have always tested with a normal piston compression tester, I know what yr saying tho really do need a Mazda one. You only have to turn motor over by hand hand an you can notice straight away the compression is terrible.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Kimio
New Member RX-7 Technical
22
12-26-15 10:11 PM
#roxxxie
New Member RX-7 Technical
4
12-21-15 11:25 PM
rx-7 obsessed
Test Area 51
0
12-18-15 09:47 AM



Quick Reply: Help weird compression problem



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:53 AM.