----- Original Message -----

From: Pem Walton

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 6:41 PM

Subject: [FlyRotary] Help with evaluating rotor housings

All,
My first post here, I've been hooked by the wankle bug.
I have just torn down and cleaned a non turbo 13b I pulled from a 87 junk yard car. Anyhow the engine appears to me to be in pretty good shape. (The Odo. showed 37K Miles). The side housings show little wear ~.002" and the rotors, shaft and all bearing surfaces look really good. My question is about the rotor housings, They are in good shape with no grooves or scratches in the chrome except at the edges where there is noticeable wear with small areas of some missing chrome. However this wear doesn't extend in more than an eighth of an inch from the edge of the housing. The rest of the housing surfaces are in great shape. This is the only wear I see that is of concern, but I have no experience with this engine.
I'm planning on putting this in a RV-7.
I would appreciate any help with this issue.
Even if I have to buy new housings, it sure was alot fun tearing it down! I think I got a good deal for $125

Thanks for your help

Pem Walton

Welcome to the world of rotor heads Pem.  Judging rotor housing wear is an acquired art rather than science.  Really can't make a judgement based on a verbal description and even pictures  are often not adequate.  On the other hand, my first rotary had wear as bad or worse than what you describe and I flew them for 856 hours and the engine was running good as new when I swapped it out for a fresh zero timed engine

 

.  Almost all used engines have a groove near the edge of rotor housings.  Often caused by the point of the apex seal corner piece.  This usually causes no problem other than long break-in period while the new apex seals adjust themselves to the wear patern.

 

Happy Building,

 

Tracy