Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #20694
From: George Lendich <lendich@optusnet.com.au>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] WARNING V Grooves
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 10:37:18 +1000
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Ed,
How many times must it be said, by some many, until the few accept it ?
It's only Logical, that the clearance limit stated, is there for a reason.
 
Mind you I didn't fully appreciate it myself, until your particular problem and those locally, highlighted the issues.
 
However I'm prepared to learn from yours and other mistakes Or oversights may be a better term.
George ( down under)
I don't how I missed it before, but I was reading over the helpful instruction set that Tracy sends out with the Overhaul Kit.  There is only ONE thing that they suggest checking on your rotary engine.
 
Quote:  " Check the apex seal groove carefully.  The stock seals tend to wear a "V" shape at the opening (mouth) of the groove (rotor).  If the grooves have been "V'ed" more than 0.010" clearance, (a groove opening width of more than 0.125") your rotor MUST be replaced or machined to accept 3mm apex seals.  The overall seal to rotor clearance should be 0.002 to 0.006".                 I added the red and bold to the "must" in the statement (Ed)
 
So I think its quite clear that Bruce T (whom I assume provided the input on the instructions) feels that "V" apex grooves could lead to BAD things.  Now my V was outside Mazda spec but within the limits of above - however, if all the factors stack up against you at the same time, perhaps bad things could happen before you reach the above limit.
 
FWIW
 
Ed
 
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com
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