For Georges Boucher
Hi Georges,
Thanks for the suggestion about the possible role of the missing piece of
the apex seal and to be honest, if I could have found a "stiff spirit", I would
have partaken {:>). I certainly like your idea about the
piece of apex seal as that would mean the cause of my problem has exited the
engine. However, I am not certain how/if that part could have stayed
appended to the end of the rotary for over two hours of engine time. I
guess the centrifugal force could move it to the end of the rotor and the corner
seal might have trapped it there until it did its dirty deed and then
disappeared/disintegrated. That might account for why one "hot" spot is
smaller relative to the other. The larger spot perhaps being the side
on which the piece of apex seal was stuck causing the most friction and perhaps
the other side simply the "cocking displacement" caused by the stuck seal piece
on the opposite side.
Those triangular pieces of the apex seal do have a propensity for
springing away from their position and is one reason why I put masking tape
over the coolant galleys of the rotor housing when I am placing those parts of
the apex seal. I have had them hop completely out of the
engine. Naturally, I was certain all seal pieces were in place before
placing the center side housing on the rotor housing - but, must admit I could
not find one of the triangular pieces upon disassembly. So thanks again for
the hypothesis.
As I believe Tracy Crook mentioned I seem to find "problems" that do
not seem to occur for others, just lucky I guess {:>). However, I have
reflected that if I had not aborted the take-off due to the engine not being
right and then had the brake failure, I might well have discovered the brake
failure on my first refueling stop on a small airport (Guntersville, Al) which
has one runway stuck off into a lake. The lake Would have probably put out
the brake fire..but..... {:>). So long as anything breaks on the
ground (and provided it isn't me), that is just fine with
me.
Have a "spirit" for me {:>).
Best Regards
Ed
Ed
Nice to hear you are still in good spirits (I don't mean the one in the
bottle). Could it be that your missing seal corner had flipped out on assembly
stuck flat on that corner, causing the stiffness & finally exiting through
the exhaust. (Just me thinking aloud again.)
Georges B.