how to identify rotors?
 

Is there a way to tell which is the front and which is the rear rotor one it's been removed from the engine? Does it make any difference if you use a rotor from the rear in the front housing? I'm getting to the stage in the rebuild that the parts become directional (oilseal springs etc) Does anone know how to tell, does it matter?

Go to Mazdatrix.com and look at the engine parts, internal and I think you will see that they say *all 13B rotors are the same front and rear*. Do not take my word for it. Go to the site, please.

Label all parts
 

Yes it is important that you use the the rotors in the same location that you took them out of even though the parts are interchangable. All the rebuild manuals that I have ever seen clearly specify to clean each part individualy and to use a sketch or a fishing tackle box to label each part and where it came off the rotor. The rotors have little numbers on each side for just this purpose. There isn't much in the way of special instructions for rebuilding a rotary but their is some definite do's and don'ts. I recomend a chilton manual if you don't have one already.

Run your fingers along the face of the rotor to the tips (where the apex seal will sit). You'll feel a little ridge on one side of the tip, this is the trailing edge in the direction of rotation. So now you know which way it spun, match up with front and rear locations. Only works for used rotors of course but if ya got new ones, then it shouldn't be a problem anyways.

Henrik
87TII

This is a very good way to figure out which rotor goes where. If you still can't figure it out, you can change the rotor bearings, and then it doesn't matter where they go. The bearings are about $18 each.

Henrik, thanks alot, thats exactly what I needed to know :)