i have always used super glue to hold the apex seal pieces together during assembly of the engine, however; sometimes the superglue will break loose and the corner of the apex seal goes flying ( i once found one about 15 feet away from the engine being assembled. has anyone had any luck using something other than super glue? if so please let me know.

 

Beware of the superglue. I did that on an engine on a couple of ends that came unglued during a engine rebuild. A year later I took that engine apart(collapsed oring seal groove, water)and guess what. Suckers were still glued together(explained some compression figures). I wrote a post similar to yours, here, and was advised to just not glue them together. Lay them in place once the springs have been installed. Did so on the rebuild of the turbo engine a couple months ago and had no problem with it. It is incredulous that they were still glued together, but they were. By the way, I did read in the factory manual that they advise using locktite. Its refered to in the assy section of the fsm. Its on line free somewhere. Here is my original post https://www.rx7club.com/vforums/show...threadid=16176

 

that is unreal. i know super glue can't take more than 150 F. you can glue them so they are longer and that makes sure they break when you torque the engine.

 

I know it strains credability, especially mine, but there they were, at least three, solid as could be. When I (used to ) glue the end piece on , I clean it with alchohol, lay it on a piece of flat glass that has been wiped with some vaseline for a release agent, lay the apex seal down, put super glue on the edge of the small piece and quickly align so the top is even. But you know how to do that because you said thats what you have done in the past. Wish I'd kept one for evidence, sort of a show and tell thing. Any way I took the advice of one of the fellows who answered my post, and now I'm just laying the little triangular piece in its place and , being careful, pressing on with the rebuild. Did you see the part in the 88fsm that recommended using locktite? I always(at one time) thought that the hot oil would break the bond. No more.

 

i have the 1985 and 1993 factory workshop manuals. i clean the apex seal with acetone then put it on a piece of aluminum foil and put super glue on the corner piece and put them together. then i peel the aluminum foil off, the foil doesn't tear when it comes off. what are the specs on the loctite stuff you used? does anyone use that stuff mazda sells that takes spring pressure off the corner piece and then it get burned up when the car is running? what are the seals that come from the factory glued with?

 

This is from the 87fsm, page 1-49....Assemble the apex seal and side piece with anaerobic bonding adhesive(Loctite 312 and Primer NF, or equivalent) so that the sliding surfaces and side surfaces are flush. I did not mean to imply that I use it. I took Dr Swithch's advice and do not glue them anymore. I just install the two springs and then insert the triangular side piece. It just sits there awaiting the Intermediate housing to be lain on top or the rear housing. I've only done one engine like this. It sits on the garage floor awaiting install into my 87N/A, along with the ecu, knock sensor, transmission etc. Darn cold weather.

 

I just use vaseline. That stuff works on every thing.

CJG