I recently built a motor and used some pretty tight side seal/corner seal clearances and I think one of them may have gotten stuck. For the first 20 miles it ran like any rebuild should but then after that I runs as if a corner seal is busted or a side seal is stuck. It has a fluttery exhaust note that sounds more like a Harley than a 13B. I'm using Atkins solid corner seals and I don't think one of them broke so I'm pinning it on the side seal.

Have any of you had luck with them magically freeing up? I was thinking that if the rotation of the engine scooted it closer, what are the chances spinning it the other direction for X amount of time would scoot it back the other way?

Thanks for any help.

 

how tight of clearance are we talking here?

 

Did you properly clearance the Atkins corner seals?

I have heard of apex failure due to clearance issues with the Atkins corner seals. Having never used them, I don't have direct experience, but it sounds like an out-of-plane problem between the corner seal's slot and the rotor's apex slot. Which, is kind of odd given that the apex slots are machined located off of the corner seal holes, but that's the story.

As with ANY new part, everything needs to be measured. I am not slamming Atkins. (Just to clarify)

 

Guess he won't divulge the secret side seal clearance! lol

either way, chances are on a fresh rebuild, if something has stuck its JAMMED. So no, its not very likely to start workign again properly on its own. Now, a higher mileage engine with some carbon build up etc stands a better chance being that some crud may get dislodged after running............but in a fresh assembly jammed or wedged is more appropriate then stuck

 

I had a stuck side seal for the first time in my life on a recent rebuild (for a car of mine). It was not from too tight of clearance, just it was "sticky" when I installed it. I just beat on it for 1 minute going up to 7k rpms, and it just un-stuck itself. Perfect even now 400miles later, so it fixed it for good.

 

If your side seal clearance is tighter than .002" with the solid seals you are probably scoring the side plates from the lack of clearance. The stock rubber insert type corner seals are made to spring somewhat and give a little extra clearance.

Ask me how I know. https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=750374

Barry

 

I've also got a, probably, stuck side seal. Compression is low on one face on the rear rotor. The engine shakes a bit at idle, and it missfires <4000rpm.
The engine is rebuilt ~5000km's ago.
Any suggestions how to get it unstuck?
Compression is 50-50-25 psi with the engine cold.

 

Rev it to 8500 a few times. Its worked for me! lol..