Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Anything Engine/Performance/Tuning related => Topic started by: Alex T on August 09, 2007, 10:10:01 AM

Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Alex T on August 09, 2007, 10:10:01 AM
HI Guys and Girls..

Can anyone help.

Bobfish (sorry I cant remember your name!) kindly compression tested my car the other day (thanks matey), and came back with.. Well Not too good results.
According to his tester, the front chamber was prob a little down on compression and the rear chamber was very down on compression.

Now,
To my understandings of what he said, its the side seal(s) that have gone, or going?
Is this correct? And how easy/hard to rectify.
And does my problem as outlined below sound about right for this diagnosis?

Basically, the car, once started is a little (more than usual) lumpy and pops and bangs when cold.
Then after few mins it setles down. and then I take it for a drive, and it seems to go ok.

Then once I park up, and let turbo timer cool engine down, then it switches off. For a couple of mins, I can hear water bubbling away? Engine feels a little hot, but nothing major on the gauge?

So.. have I got more than just the  side seal prob do we think?


Many thanks.

Alex
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Jit on August 09, 2007, 10:17:21 AM
how down on compression did he say it was?
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Alex T on August 09, 2007, 10:23:20 AM
it didnt give numbered results on his tester unfortunately,
It was the one where you watch the number of \'bounces\' on the needle

Front chamber just got three even bounces, whereas the rear chamber got one large bounce and then nothing really.
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Alex T on August 09, 2007, 10:23:56 AM
Tried the old redex trick too. Seems to have helped bit, but not alot.
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Ricco_04 on August 09, 2007, 10:27:06 AM
Quote from: Alex1986Front chamber just got three even bounces, whereas the rear chamber got one large bounce and then nothing really.

Sounds like one of the apex seals has gone to me
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Alex T on August 09, 2007, 10:29:21 AM
I think Carl H mentioned Apex seals before. Which are these?
Is this different to side seals then ?  Apologies for my sillyness!
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Jit on August 09, 2007, 10:32:40 AM
yeah one large bounce and nothing def sounds like an apex seal (or rotor tip as you might know it)
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Alex T on August 09, 2007, 10:40:55 AM
big job ?...
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Jit on August 09, 2007, 10:45:53 AM
wel..engine rebuild
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Alex T on August 09, 2007, 10:47:06 AM
Anyone want to do it?! As i dont think I have the tools or the expertise to do so!!
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Martiny on August 09, 2007, 10:59:54 AM
It is a big job. Its very difficult to quote on a cost. Its very poor economics to strip that engine and then only replace one or 2 apex seals.

What needs to happen is: strip it, clean everything, then measure everything and see what can be re-used to rebuild. Its probably wise to replace all the apex seals, and their springs, at least. Probably better to do all the corner seals and springs, side seals and springs, and then there are oils seals on the Rotor, too.

The bubbling could be a water seal leaking due to side plate corrosion, so we might be looking at a side plate or two, as well.

Then the Rotor housings (in between the side plates) can be worn , or could have chrome chips in the surface that the Apex seal slides on.

etc...etc..

So you could get away with under £1000 MAYBE, or maybe its £1500 plus if the housings are replaced, without Labour.  

I would offer to do it, but I dont have the  time to even get MY car/s to the state I want.

I would suggest you buy the rebuild DVD, and watch that, and then decide if you could do it yourself.
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Alex T on August 09, 2007, 11:05:15 AM
:mad: not good!!

I think I\'ll give RX Motors a ring later!

Shame really!
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: RobbieRX-7 on August 09, 2007, 12:14:54 PM
You could always ask carl (bobfish) He rebuilt the engine in his red fd. I\'ve got a rebuild dvd if your interested
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Alex T on August 09, 2007, 01:05:31 PM
Yeh, Carl did say he\'d be up for it. Will see if he posts!
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: adamprem on August 09, 2007, 09:40:56 PM
hi mate, the same thing happened to me and it was seals that failed, i got a rebuild kit from atkins rotory.com from the u.s., the cost about $1000 which is around £500 and then got a mate of mine to strip, clean, machine and rebuild, ill get the engine back in a week or so but you should defo have a look on www.atkinsrotory.com (http://www.atkinsrotory.com) so you can have an idea on prices.
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Teighto on August 09, 2007, 10:11:05 PM
that link aint working try this one

http://www.atkinsrotary.com/store/customer/home.php
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: RobbieRX-7 on August 10, 2007, 01:42:53 AM
There has been some pretty bad feedback with atkins stuff. I would just use stock new mazda parts in the engine. Nobody else in the world has put so much money and research into the engine than mazda. Ray crowe at malloy mazda is the man for stock mazda parts.
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Grizzly on August 10, 2007, 07:54:01 PM
Quote from: RobbieRX-7There has been some pretty bad feedback with atkins stuff. I would just use stock new mazda parts in the engine. Nobody else in the world has put so much money and research into the engine than mazda. Ray crowe at malloy mazda is the man for stock mazda parts.
In what respect? i know Atkins had problems with there Springs (they will tell you that) but they only sell OE springs now, i have a set of there Cryo treated apex\'s in a single turbo running 400+ hp and not had any issues (touch wood)

i have delt with Atkins alot of the years and tbh if you go on Rx7.com forum you can PM Kathy (http://www.rx7club.com/member.php?u=45079) and you will be in safe hands. I admit though some of the people that reply to e-mails at Atkins are noobs, they must reply to allot of mails and they forget to do stuff.

"Ray crowe at malloy mazda is the man for stock mazda parts." i have heard that too, i have not used him but he has a good rep.
Title: DIY Rebuild..ish....... HELP...
Post by: Grizzly on August 10, 2007, 07:59:18 PM
i have been using these guys for bits recently //www.rhdjapan.com they are realy good, they no FA about the rotary but there Prices and service is really good.