Tip Failure Symptoms ?

[Sideways_Steve]

As above folks, Ive not managed to find anything usefull searching so far so ...

what are the normal symptoms of rotor tip failure ??

[Timmy]

hard to start, vibration, lack of power, boost gauge fluttering, lumoy idle.

[Sideways_Steve]

ok heres some more questions then.

If it does still start albeit slightly lumpier than normal, does idle, and drives faultlessly above 1200rpm is it still likely it could be a cracked tip ?

When you do the chuff test would you notice anything or would it only show on a proper compression test ?

[matt p]

Chuff test proved my front rotor was down.

Still starts from cold fine and even drives, just a ....er to start from hot.

HTH

Matt

[Sideways_Steve]

OK mine starts the same both cold and hot, chuff test sounded even across both rotors with 3 close together chuffs on each rotor done seperatly over and over

So am i right in saying that if it had a cracked tip it would be fairly noticeable when you do the chuff test ??

If thats the case then what the heck is wrong with my baby!!!!!!!! LOL

Ite like its misfiring on idle but is perfect above 1200 rpm. Im so confused! LOL could it be plugs ?

I thought usually with plugs that are duff you get a misfire under load not at idle ?

[matt p]

Im guessing so dude, but i dont know enough about these yet,

Have you had the plugs out?, are the gapped correctly?, always worth checking the simple stuff before thinking the engine may be goosed bud.

My one just has a moody tip, not sure as it could be a side seal according to laeeq who i picked it up from, diamond bloke by the way lol.

Wont know properly till i pull it to bits:yes

[Sideways_Steve]

Nah you cant gap the plugs on these bud due to the style of them, there weird looking and not adjustable. I know that sounds odd but when you remove one you will see what I mean

Im thinking it could be plugs as they do look a bit worse for wear but I really dont want to spend £40 on plugs to discover it still wont run right LOL!

[HaywardRotary]

Try changing the plugs,they should be done pretty regularly anyway,and can still be used even if you have to rebuild the engine.
If you have a tip that has just lost a very small part on the end then that can behave like you have said,but you usually notice  that the engine does not want to drive hard and under boost very well.
regards
Carl

[Sideways_Steve]

Thanks for the replys, I got my compression tester back this morning so Ill get it checked out tomorrow, as doing the family thing today lol!

Fingers crossed it turns out to be something silly though!

It runs excellently on boost though and certainly doesnt have any problems with being driven hard !

[interloper393]

vac hose leaks would cause similar probs bud

[FDAsh]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0NXwlDcglgA&feature=related

Sound anything like that? Stuck side seal...

[Sideways_Steve]

Nah she doesnt sound like that Ash

[FDAsh]

Glad to hear it.

[Sideways_Steve]

Well today I had a better look at the car, nothing visibly wrong however now that ive had a chance to check for codes etc from the ecu I know its not a sensor.

Also im running non sequential so was able to check out the vac piping easily and cant find any problems there either.

After checking over everything I took it for a spin. From cold it started up fairly easily and done the usual cold fast idle then dropped to about 1500rpm for a bit before finally reducing down to the more "normal" idle speed of about 8-900rpm.

as stated before it idles good above 1000rpm but below than and you can hear that its certainly not running on both rotors fully.

Went for a drive and again drives fairly good above 1000-1200rpm but below that and its certainly misfiring. Also any time you change gear it pops as if its overfuelling too.

When you rev it right up and come on boost it pulls strongly, again popping on gear changes and overfuelling but when you then lift off there are puffs of blue smoke. It only does this after being on boost though.

Once fully hot it still idles really badly and the boost gauge does flutter a bit too. Also when accelerating lightly the gauge flutters a fair bit.

If you turn it off and start it again when hot it starts up no problem.

Now im thinking the worst here but still the fact it starts ok both hot and cold and does drive on boost doesnt tie up with what others have said when they have dropped a tip ?

Also again the chuff test sounds even enough on both rotors to me too.

Im thinking its probably not a good idea to drive it anymore untill I get to the bottom of this incase it causes more damage ?

Any thoughts on it folks ? I really dont want to go pulling the engine to bits unless i really have to. Is there any more checks I can do at all to confirm if its deffo a tip ?

[Carl]

It certainly seems like you have a small chip on the end of a tip.
I would not drive it anymore untill you get it properly compression tested.
Regards
Carl