Experiences with rotary aviation (RA) seals
 

As the title states, I'm looking for feedback from those using the RA seals. How many, and what type of miles are your engines currently seeing? Is your car primarily tracked or daily driven? What fuel upgrades, how much boost, what temps (WI?), compression, starting problems exist and so on. If any outside mods are attributed to the longevity of the seals, and/or have created problems, please note them as well. Ideally, experiences from those running large ports in the 15-17psi ranges would be great.

Through some earlier research, I found that there was a batch of defective seals, but supposedly they've also taken the appropriate steps in order to fix the earlier problems. I haven’t managed to get on the phone with anyone there yet, but comments from those running that batch of seals, and later would be nice. Most of the qualitative information from the previous RA thread existed from earlier in the year, but the link is provided below:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...aviation+seals

Any constructive thoughts/input from those not running the seals (or alternatives and the reasoning behind them) are welcome as well, as it’s all up for discussion.

I kind of wish that I had RA seals in my motor right now. I have these new oem 2 piece 2mm seals in it, and after hearing all the horror stories I don't feel like turning up the boost :(

They can't be any worse that the hurleys so there's something positive for ya...

Yup, the hurleys are made out of Play-doh. Thing is, I can see some shop out in the UK putting out a product like that, but Mazda? Quite a load of bullshit.

horror stories? where have i been, did i miss something?
are people having problems with the new 2 piece mazda seals?

matt

The current 2mm 2 piece seals are giving out on our boosted engines...especially considering the fact that most people are looking to run more than 10psi. Mazda no longer makes the 3 piece seals for our cars, and to my knowledge you'd have to find a source outside of the US for them. I'm taking this option, yet also looking at the RA seals which seem to be promising...considering the limited amount of options (my other more expensive option being custom work using a 3mm seal).

get some from atkins......or buy a whole new motor for the same price.

Yea Hurleys are rip off merchants working from a shed, they charge more for parts than the Mazda dealers who in th UK are not cheap also and their seals are shit .
Then they call themselves motor engineers.

Anyway i've built two engines with the RA seals, one has done about 1000miles but is near stock, both run well though and started instantly when first run, no probs. yet but don't know how they'll hold at anything higher than mild tuning.

My t78 engine has the oem 2-piece seals:(

Well, I just spoke to an engine builder down in Alabama (Bryan at BNR) who is having no problems with the new mazda 2 piece seals. Maybe we'll be ok. Be sure to post up your experiences as you run more boost.

Rich

well i have RA seals in my supercharged 6 port
about 100 miles on it now with no problems with start up etc.
boosting to 10psi
matt

Seems like people are having success with the RA seals, but I'm still on the fence about them. Anyone with experiences above 10k miles would be great.

rex u.k.

Can you give some more detail on your t78 setup? Basically any info from the questions I asked in the original post would be great.

Using others as the test mule eh? lol j/k :D I sent you a PM btw.

I've built a few engines using the RA seals with more than 10K miles on them with various different mods.
They're holding 18 psi and 200+ nitrous shots for me... I am using them exclusively now when budget limits the use of ceramics.

check new issue of rxtuner magazine, i have an article on these seals on page 47 i think

sorry, i was posting on r71's name

I recently blew my motor (again). After 10 months of daily driving and over 10k miles of hard launces and 9k shifts I tore the motor down( blew because of ignition). My rotors sustained large amounts of damage. The rotor face had HUGE dents in it. The corner seals were pinched. The RA Seals survived. The ONLY thing I found wrong with the seals were flat spots caused by MY PORTING of the exhaust port. I did NOT bevel the closing face completely and they left a small flat spot on the apex seals.

I will be using these seals from now on(unless someone can find me some ceramics for cheap)

I had an experiance with Ra Seals, when i rebuilt one of my first motors i replaced the CAS in the wrong place (cupple of teath out) it started quite well but when i went to reverse (Put load on it) it sounded like someone had put a bag of nails throught the inlet. (Pinked very loud and hard).

That engine is still running now with a Hybrid Turbo and some other goodies (Proberly about 320hp), that must have around 15k on it now.

I am a 100% for RA seals, Plus Bruce is a cool guy and has put some nice kits together.

Chris

Jspec,

What ignition system we're you running by the way ?

RGDS

Brian,

I was using the AEM before it crapped out on me. Then I went to stock ignition(which I wasn't tuned for....knock, knock, knock)

Ouch.
Impressed the seals stood up to it though. I'm still undecided between those and the stock 2mm 2 piece seals for 1.7 bar on t51r ???
I was checking your car out yesterday actually on the cardomain site looks really good.

rgds

I should add that on my last motor, that grenaded, one mazda 2 mm seal chipped at the corner, the rest survived, even though the rotors were dented...
I think the mazda 2mm's are alot tougher the people give them credit for, they are the best sealing seal I have to date..Max