found this site that did a really good job explaining how a rotary engine works, for all of you that are curious.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/rotary-engine.htm

there are about 11 pages with graphs and moving models. it is hopwever, mostly based on the last generation rotarys.

 

Yeah, that site's ok.
But this one has excellent animations as well as explaining how it all works:
http://www.rotaryengineillustrated.com/animations.html

 

Cool sit Vic. Does anyone know why there is a third spark?

 

wow... yah vic won :D thnx vic that site is awesome

 

the third spark is just a wasted spark... it's complicated. the leading spark plugs on BOTH rotars are connected. so they always fire at the same time. the trailing sparks are not. it simplifies the ignition sequence.one set timing for both leading plugs, and seperate timing for both trailing plugs.3 instead of 4. there is a good explanation of this on the link the other guy posted in this thread. take it to rotary's 101, and then go to ignition. I'm too stoned to type it all out, and it is much easier to understand when you see it in motion.

 

Also check out Paul Yaw's articles .

www.yawpower.com

Victor, I'm surprised you are coherent enough to write fluently.

 

all reposts. :P

 

Thanks for the explanation on the third spark, Victor. Wow, What a simple engine this is even on the ignition, but so complex to fine tune. It has taken Mazda 4 reflashes to get it to an acceptable level.