From: "Finn Lassen finn.lassen@verizon.net" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
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Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2025 20:43:57 -0500
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Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Best chemical for stuck apex seals
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
References: <list-4454638@logan.com>
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Thanks for all the replies. Because I had MMO I tried that. All but one 
seal (rotor 2) are now moving. Letting that one soak overnight. 
Hopefully will be able to run the engine tomorrow. Will be mixing MMO 
instead of 2-stroke oil with the first tank of gas until carbon is 
cleaned out. Slowly working through a thorough condition inspection 
because the plane has been sitting for so long.

I've signed up for a LSRIA Course in January -- but will have to get a 
new AWC that allows owner-repairman to do the annual condition 
inspection. Kind of silly -- would rather get local A&P to sign it off 
and then sell the plane and concentrate on repairing my RV-4, but have 
had no interest in the RV-3B when I mentioned it being for sale.

I guess a rotary-powered airplane is for a very select group of pilots.

Finn

On 12/13/2025 8:12 AM, M Silvius isserfiq@gmail.com wrote:
> Finn:
> Try some Marvel-Mystery oil. Its should be safer on the rubber corner 
> seals than carb cleaner.
> Never used it in a rotary but it did the trick for us when when had 
> sticky valves and ring in the Lycomings and Continentals.
> The secret ingredient is Wintergreen Oil (Methyl Salicylate) that's 
> both a solvent and a lubricant.
> Additionally, Valvoline Restore and Protect has worked well to free up 
> sticky oil wiper ring issues on late model Volvo engines that have a 
> known problem with overly tight oil ring groves.
> /"a synthetic motor oil designed to actively clean engines, remove up 
> to 100% of deposits with continuous use, and prevent future buildup" /
> Mike in Maine
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 12, 2025 at 5:44 PM Finn Lassen finn.lassen@verizon.net 
> <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:
>
>     I'm finally getting around to getting my RV-3B with its 13B flying
>     again. Hasn't flown for 4 years or more.
>
>     I can turn the engine by hand but several of the apex seals are
>     stuck --
>     won't move (back out) when pushing with a wood rod through leading
>     sparkplug holes.
>
>     What's the best to spray in there to loosen them up/? WD-40?
>
>     I'm reluctant to use carb or brake cleaner -- might they degrade the
>     rubber corner seals or maybe o-rings?
>
>     Finn
>
>
>
>     --
>     Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/
>     Archive and UnSub:
>     http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/List.html
>

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    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">Thanks for all the replies. Because I
      had MMO I tried that. All but one seal (rotor 2) are now moving.
      Letting that one soak overnight. Hopefully will be able to run the
      engine tomorrow. Will be mixing MMO instead of 2-stroke oil with
      the first tank of gas until carbon is cleaned out. Slowly working
      through a thorough condition inspection because the plane has been
      sitting for so long.</div>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
    </div>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">I've signed up for a LSRIA Course in
      January -- but will have to get a new AWC that allows
      owner-repairman to do the annual condition inspection. Kind of
      silly -- would rather get local A&amp;P to sign it off and then
      sell the plane and concentrate on repairing my RV-4, but have had 
      no interest in the RV-3B when I mentioned it being for sale.</div>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
    </div>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">I guess a rotary-powered airplane is
      for a very select group of pilots.</div>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
    </div>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">Finn</div>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
    </div>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/13/2025 8:12 AM, M Silvius
      <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:isserfiq@gmail.com">isserfiq@gmail.com</a> wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:list-4454638@logan.com">
      <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
      <div dir="ltr">
        <div class="gmail_default"
style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">Finn: </div>
        <div class="gmail_default"
style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">Try
          some Marvel-Mystery oil. Its should be safer on the rubber
          corner seals than carb cleaner.</div>
        <div class="gmail_default"
style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">Never
          used it in a rotary but it did the trick for us when when had
          sticky valves and ring in the Lycomings and Continentals.</div>
        <div class="gmail_default"
style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">The
          secret ingredient is Wintergreen Oil (Methyl Salicylate)
          that's both a solvent and a lubricant.</div>
        <div class="gmail_default"
style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">Additionally,
          Valvoline Restore and Protect has worked well to free up
          sticky oil wiper ring issues on late model Volvo engines that
          have a known problem with overly tight oil ring groves.</div>
        <div class="gmail_default"
style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000"><i>"a
            synthetic motor oil designed to actively clean engines,
            remove up to 100% of deposits with continuous use, and
            prevent future buildup"
          </i><br>
        </div>
        <div class="gmail_default"
style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">Mike
          in Maine</div>
        <div class="gmail_default"
style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000"><br>
        </div>
        <div class="gmail_default"
style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000"><br>
        </div>
        <div class="gmail_default"
style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000"><br>
        </div>
      </div>
      <br>
      <div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container">
        <div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Dec 12, 2025 at
          5:44 PM Finn Lassen <a href="mailto:finn.lassen@verizon.net"
            moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">finn.lassen@verizon.net</a>
          &lt;<a href="mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net"
            moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">flyrotary@lancaironline.net</a>&gt;
          wrote:<br>
        </div>
        <blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">I'm
          finally getting around to getting my RV-3B with its 13B flying
          <br>
          again. Hasn't flown for 4 years or more.<br>
          <br>
          I can turn the engine by hand but several of the apex seals
          are stuck -- <br>
          won't move (back out) when pushing with a wood rod through
          leading <br>
          sparkplug holes.<br>
          <br>
          What's the best to spray in there to loosen them up/? WD-40?<br>
          <br>
          I'm reluctant to use carb or brake cleaner -- might they
          degrade the <br>
          rubber corner seals or maybe o-rings?<br>
          <br>
          Finn<br>
          <br>
          <br>
          <br>
          --<br>
          Homepage:  <a href="http://www.flyrotary.com/"
            rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
            class="moz-txt-link-freetext">http://www.flyrotary.com/</a><br>
          Archive and UnSub:   <a
href="http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/List.html"
            rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
            class="moz-txt-link-freetext">http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/List.html</a><br>
        </blockquote>
      </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p><br>
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