OK This is really weird I put a wrench on the crank bolt and gave it a few spins, And every third compression stroke is the stiff part. So I turn it, And there are two easy swoooshs out the spark plug holes and every third swoosh the engine gets stiff...??? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683561.gif



Is it possible I installed somthing wrong... Or somthing is bent..??? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683561.gif



Anything would be a help, Thanks guys!!!

It will be a lot cheaper to take it apart now than after you frie it up and find the problem that requires removal and tear down.



Lynn E. Hanover

True that!!!! If I'm going to build this engine I'm going to do it right!!! Looks like I'm going to tear it back down and see if I can find out what that tight spot is.......

So I torn the engine all the way back down.. I found a small spot of hylomar that sqweezed out from the o-ring groove and on to the iron... but I dont think that is the big problem.



The engine spins really easy untill I torque the tension bolts down, Then the engine gets real stiff...



So I took the engine apart and put it back together and it is still stiff.. What am I missing here.????? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683561.gif

I can only think of carbon left in a side seal groove. Side seal spring upside down and slipped under a corner seal. two springs under a corner seal. These would produce a constant amount of drag all the way around. A single spot where drag is high, is much more alarming.



Everything is well oiled on assembly correct? Oil scrapers make most of the drag. Since when new they are razor sharp and designed to cut through the oil film. Corner pieces have the outer ends broken with a diamond file? Other end broken as well?



Stick the crank between centers and indicate the main bearing journals to see if the crank is true within .001".



Check the bearings for shiny spots from improper instalation and proper clearance. Use a dial bore gage or have a local machine shop gage the bores and write down the sizes. Main bearings and rotor bearings. Take the crank with you and have a machinest mike it in 4 place radialy and three places on a line. You are looking for out of round in the bearings and a bent crank that fits badly in one place but not others.



Some times when you press in a bearing where you have not added a slight chamfer to the end of the bore, some plating will get peeled off the shell and end up between the shell and the bore, producing a bulge in the shell and a high spot that will get shiny when you turn the engine by hand. On start up, that spot will over heat and the overlay will move off of the high spot and produce some clearance, usually, or the bearing just decomposes, and welds to the crank. If the bearings don't look bad, I don't replace them.



Check the rotor gears to determine if they have walked out of their holes a bit. In any case, when rebuilding, slip the rotors between some aluminum plates and into the press and give the gears a good shove. You would be surprised how many have walked out and are dragging on the iron but a major failure has not yet occurred.



Lynn E. Hanover



Rotor with gear removed.

MR. hanover,

I would like to thank you vary much for your time and advise... I would have to say that YOU have been the most help I have ever had when it comes to building one of these amazing engines!!



You are a life saver and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help. I take every thing you say to heart .



The crank, Irons, front & rear stat gears and main bearings and one of the rotors came from a blown JDM 13BT that would not even turn over all the way do to a blown apex seal.. I think that might have somthing to do with my problem.



I found a spot in a bearing that makes me worry I'm going to take a picture of it and see if I can get you expert advise...



Thanks again!!!

Well, how nice is that?



Thank you, but my situation allows me to sit here for hours on many news groups talking about rotaries.

The younger guys have to work for a living and have more frantic lives, and less time to gab. But the sum of all is far greater than the one, in any case. The bigger duffas on the left is me. Mike Bashem on the right. Crew chief on the gorgeous red 78 car. Am I a good looking 65 year old, or what?



Lynn E. Hanover

You've got a bearing problem. I'd almost guarantee it.

WOW take a look at this front main bearing!!!



I don't remember it looking this way when i installed it......



[attachment=44590:bearing.JPG]

Right on! I At least found out what is wrong with my engine.. It had a stuck side seal, But the reason it stuck is a weird one... The side seal groove has a chunk of metal in it or it's part of the rotor..???



[attachment=44591:Fucked_up_rotor.JPG]



You can see a small shiny raised metal spot in the side seal groove .....The chunk of metal would not allow the side seal to seat all the way and making the engine stiff..

I have a spare rotor but this one has already been balanced.

What could I do to get rid of this chunk of metal.????



Thanks again guys.