Max keep us posted... me First thaugh...
Jeffrey

 

Where did you get that info from? I never heard anything about those seals not being able to support 400hp.

 

RA seals are designed for NA aircraft conversion 13B engines. No NA engine makes 400hp unless it is a 3 rotor. No aircraft conversion runs above 8k rpm for very long.

 

Directly from RA's website:

"Our seals are running in hundreds of race and street cars throughout the world, including some of the top rotary drag car running as much as 35 psi of boost!"

According to them, they should be able to handle high horsepower applications

 

Quite the opposite dude. They are not recommending them in aircraft motors. Says so on their website.

 

They are not recommending them because they are still 'new' and im guessing they want to be DAMN sure they work well before someone pop's a seal at 10,000feet and comes quickly plumiting to the ground

 

Is the engine appart yet? any news?

 

cryotreating doesn't do diddly squat. No ANSI or ASMTE references. If you look at any phase diagram for any metal there is no change once it has reached that state, any futher cooling does not do anything.

 

Yeah, engines apart..................................


..

Anyway, seal groove measures .80-81mmmm

Apex seal thickness is anywhere from 1.84-1.88

Apex seal hieght is down to .288 , my other new Ra seals measure .296-.298 depending on the seal meaured, at the small spring area, warpage with new seal is .002..
Right where the seal wall transitions to the rounded edge is the razor sharp edge that catches your finger nail pretty good....
Bottom line is they are worn out, and the rotor is now too...

 

Shot of the groove, limit is .0792, it was smaller than that on average for all 6 grooves on assembly...

 

I got more pics coming when I am not so beat... the amount worn off the seal in 10,000 km's is unreal...if you sit a used one and new one in a row, the difference is huge..
Basically, when the motor was cold it got to the point that it was right on the edge of the tolerances, and by the looks of it, when it got hot, things expanded enough to put over the edge of sealing.. Judging by how dramatic it was, I would say the RA seals don't expand anywhere as much as the rotors do, or other seals for that matter...
The housings are like 2 mirrors, with thin fine wear lines in the chrome...
I hope I just got a bum set of seals, I am gonna send em back to RA so they can see them....Max

 

dam... i am currently breaking in an engine with these seals and want to know what happens!

 

We make our own 2mm springs (but nor 3mm). So far have had only one report of spring problem (spring collapsing, low compression) on an engine running 20 PSI boost with NOX injection. We're investigating the cause now but no conclusions yet. Since our primary use is in aircraft, we get no experience with NOX and rely on you rotor heads out there for results on this.

BTW, the aircraft restriction on the apex seals has been lifted and there are many sets flying now.

Tracy Crook, RWS

 

hey Tracy, what if his engine's problem is at fault of the apex seals. then what? will you pay for the next rebuild?

 

so whats at fault here? is it the apex seals for sure?

 

I talked with Max and it sounds like there's no doubt in his mind the seals are to blame. Problem is it seems he's got a couple sets of early version seals. So the question becomes are the new one's better or the same? Max had some strange tolerences even with his un-used RA seals so.... I suppose only time will tell whether the later version of the seals will hold up.

Regardless of all that I think it safe to say Rotary Aviation has conducted themselves well here and have and are trying to get to the bottom of the problem. I ahve not tlaked with them so I will allow Max to explain what RA is doing about the issue.

 

Sorry but are you crazy?

Does Mazda give you that kinda warranty?
does Hurley?
does Atkins?

They clearly state
If you use New Housings they will give you life time
warranty

They are great people
there customer service is par to none

 

no im not crazy, thats why i spent $1200 more to get new rotor housings for these seals because they were reccomended and for their warrenty. they better hold up

 

then where does it say "if they break we will pay for the rebuild" ?

 

you got a point but if its a defect, they should do something...... mine were the set with the punched dotted numbers, is that the new one?

 

Yes

 

He's from california. He's got the california mentality, give him a break.

 

hahah true!

 

I'd love to see a picture of the housing when you get a chance.

 

the ra seals that i have measure exactly the same as
a new 3 piece mazda seal.
my ra seals are numbered with a engraver

matt