From: Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Chris Barber
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011
8:49 PM
To: Rotary
motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Apex seal
update cont
I pulled the rear iron tonight to check the
apex seals. Luckily, the apex seals themselves look good. Also,
the combustion chamber looks as I think it should. However, I did
find some issues.
The one I was expecting was that the apex
springs were flat. Also, one of the apex corner seal plugs was broken as
was a small piece off of one of the side seals. No damage was
apparent inside the chamber so I think they broke as I was taking them
out. Donno, but there is not apparent damage inside at all.
Also, the springs for the corner seals were
flat.
The really strange thing to me is that the
rubber apex corner seal plugs, the little rubber inserts that seems to hold the
assemble together were gone....none of the six were anywhere to be found.
This engine has not been overheated to any abusive degree, but the inserts were
gone.
I am still waiting for the Mazda apex seal
springs to arrive from Mazdatrix. I will now need to order the
rubber inserts as well and the corner springs and wait for them to arrive.
Thoughts?
I on an RX7 forum that some of the early
RA springs are now known to be weak links.
I am attaching some photos. Note, the springs
are laying on their sides.
All the best,
Chris Barber
Houston