Issues Of Having A Rotary Stood For 2yrs ???

gsb876 · January 30, 2009, 02:12:41 AM

Can anyone tell me the implications of having a rotary stood for just over 2yrs without being driven anywhere too far

?

Is there any damage to the engine / Apex seals / rotor tips

?

thanks :wiggle

Ricco_04 · January 30, 2009, 09:11:49 AM

Probably be concerned with electrical related, like earthing points. Also brakes might be stubborn (or did you mean a couple of short journeys where done?)

Has it been stood 2 years covered or out in the open?

(2.12am WTF!)

grinder · January 30, 2009, 09:54:24 AM

2 yrs and never run - i would be worried by

1 - sludge build up in engine - oil
2 - same as above but water
3 - stuck seals
4 - bad electrics
5 - seriously binding brakes

apart from that - nothing at all

JohnnyP · January 30, 2009, 10:07:07 AM

Flat spotted tyres?

Brett · January 30, 2009, 10:23:54 AM

Regarding the engine, you may well have stuck seals etc.

I would remove the plugs and squirt in engine oil, leave it to sit for awhile (so that it can penetrate) and then attempt to ease the engine over on the front pulley, if you can get a half turn out of it then stop and add more oil. If it won\'t move freely then don\'t force it.

If it has been stood for that long you will also need to replace the fuel, oil, serivce the callipers, change the tyres etc etc

clive · January 30, 2009, 10:38:04 AM

Seen many Rotarys that have been fired up after standing for years including the RX-4 which was stored for 26 years,

Not saying the engine can\'t have a problem, just that all I\'ve come across have been fine,

You would know as soon as the car gets fired up and warmed through it will be apparent if the car is O/K,

Finaly give it a run to make sure the water seals are good with no overheating,

If all sounds good and seems fine, give it an oil change and maybe a water coolant change and away you go.

David Nock (RIP) · January 30, 2009, 11:37:22 AM

Quote from: clive;579729Seen many Rotarys that have been fired up after standing for years including the RX-4 which was stored for 26 years,

Not saying the engine can\'t have a problem, just that all I\'ve come across have been fine,

You would know as soon as the car gets fired up and warmed through it will be apparent if the car is O/K,

Finaly give it a run to make sure the water seals are good with no overheating,

If all sounds good and seems fine, give it an oil change and maybe a water coolant change and away you go.

Think that\'s right. Our FB was stood for 8 years. Admittedly new stored (nothing spectacular - just under a sheet in a lean to off the workshop),also the dealer fired it up and prepped it. Still.....after another 16 years and 50,000 miles, the engine\'s fine. Had trouble with tyre cracks, back discs pitted and poss flywheel pitting, (deduce this because clutch worn down at 16,000 and never worn out a clutch in previous 35 years).
Other than that, there\'s good advice above about prepping before restarting - I got the dealer to fit new battery, change all fluids inc brake fluid and completely PDI as per new car instuctions.

gsb876 · January 30, 2009, 03:26:46 PM

many thanks for the replies guys,

just something i am considering but was worried that if it was stood for too long might have a few issues

gsb876 · January 30, 2009, 03:27:08 PM

Quote from: Ricco_04;579702Probably be concerned with electrical related, like earthing points. Also brakes might be stubborn (or did you mean a couple of short journeys where done?)

Has it been stood 2 years covered or out in the open?

(2.12am WTF!)

Nightshift :Tongue1

Prof · January 30, 2009, 04:16:18 PM

That beetle in Logan\'s run fired right up after a 1000 years ! :Giggle

Gurj - you found an abandoned car then ?:spank

FEED Addict · January 30, 2009, 04:20:12 PM

But they say beetle\'s can survive a nuclear holocaust, doubt a RX7 could!!:Laugh

Quote from: Prof;579867That beetle in Logan\'s run fired right up after a 1000 years ! :Giggle

Gurj - you found an abandoned car then ?:spank

gsb876 · January 30, 2009, 05:26:04 PM

Quote from: Prof;579867That beetle in Logan\'s run fired right up after a 1000 years ! :Giggle

Gurj - you found an abandoned car then ?:spank

No no, just something i am considering as a project car but dont want too much of the engine issues if its been stood for too long, the rest i dont mind :wiggle

pdtaylor18 · January 30, 2009, 07:27:47 PM

Thinking how a Rotary works it stands a far better chance of firng when compared to a piston counterpart. Mine must have been 18 months and even after taking everything off the engine it fired 1st time. I did however treat the internals with a good coating of sprayed oil in and wherever I could get it. personnally I would hand turn it first and do exactly the same, leave it a while then fire it up. I would flush the engine as well as on mine i did notice a lot of white scale stuff when cleaning things like the UIM ands thermstat housing etc but some of that started from new or especially if your water is crap. Thats why I use distilled water. The important thing is as Clive stated, change the oil and water as soon as its been run a while to get rid of all those deposits that would be lurking in there.

gsb876 · January 30, 2009, 08:14:00 PM

thanks for the advice :yes

Basically the car is reported as being started up every few weeks but cant be sure, but to my mind has been stood best part of 2yrs, if i decide to have a gander will check the oil and stuff to make sure its ok.

trotter · February 02, 2009, 09:29:16 AM

Quote from: gary dickens;579868But they say beetle\'s can survive a nuclear holocaust, doubt a RX7 could!!:Laugh

Bet it could out-run it though... :wiggle