Engine rebuild: rotors intallation question...
 

I'm rebuilding my 2004 RX-8 since it was very low in compression and got all the symptoms I have read in several threads. No blame since it gave me very good 140k miles with no major problems others than the usual related to the lazy starter, coolant reservoir replacement, couple of flood events, and so on.


This is my first rebuild and really is a great experience although and expensive one. Been part of this forum has provide me a lot of knowledge on how DIY for a lot of things and now is not the exception.


In the rebuild, I'm installing new seals kit (side, corners, APEX, springs), new gaskets kit and got new rotor housings (both), mostly due to accumulated mileage although the old ones don't appear to be really bad. Irons, front cover and rotors are the original ones. Bye the way, I have spent several days cleaning parts.


I'm getting ready to begin put everything back during next week and here is my doubt. I can't find guidelines regarding how to orientate the rotors. To clear up, I took care to identify front/rear rotors and which side goes toward front and toward rear. Also from the videos I have take a look and the Mazda Engine Workshop manual, I'm clear the rotors are installed one with one corner pointing to one direction and the other to the opposite (usually down and up), but not sure if it can be any rotor corner. Does it make any difference? The rotors are the original one so there are no marks other than the codes for the rotor and the side seals. Only there is a tab in each rotor on the side opposed to where it has the gear. Does this tab means something?


I searched here, checked various reference videos and the workshop manual, but can't clarify the issue.


Any help/comment will be appreciated.

I think i remember when I watched this video there was reference to the orientation of the rotors. It's not in English though.


Unrelated - I don't know if it's just me, but rotary rebuild videos are hypnotic. I could spend hours watching them. Can't wait to do it myself when the time comes.

did he rub vaseline all over the coolant seals? I wouldn't(and I never) do that.

I know some ppl did, but vaseline will make the seals swell, no good.

I only use vaseline to hold apex/side/corner seals in place.

Thanks!


I have watched the video before and did it again now, but unfortunately it has no reference. The vid is in Spanish which my main language. Somehow, when the guy is installing the rotor he uses some reference since he turns the rotor a little bit and then put it in place,but did not talk about. Anyway, I do not trust much that video because the guy is not really rebuilding.


Will keep looking.


Regarding the use of vaseline, I have seen several videos in which put Vaseline everywhere. Yes, I do prefer to uses it only to hold the corners, side and apex seals. In all other places I do prefer to use oil and for the water jacket use hylomar. There are some specific places that requires gasket sealant. I try to follow mostly mazda engine workshop manual.

I suggest reading the factory engine workshop manual. It can be found online.

Yep, I did it but the manual has nothing regarding this. I found all factory manuals somewhere here in the forum, and have been excellent help. Anyway, yesterday I got feedback from RB, and any corner will work.


My concern was really to provide the proper alignment and balancing to the internal parts of the engine, and as I see there is no applicable timing other than to install one rotor pointing in one direction and the other to the opposite direction, together with the proper alignment of the eccentric shaft. Also have been curious about the purpose of the tab at the rotor face opposed to the gear.


I think I'm ready to go ahead and put everything back together.