Any one heard of a source for longer side seals for the RX8? Trying to use the RX8
rotors in a peripheral port but the longest Mazda has is too short.

 

...another builder, quite a while ago actually (maybe as long as a year) pointed this out on a teardown (about the clearances).

they never posted (at least that i saw) what they've done to rectify the problem.

the side seals from a series 4-6 motor won't work??
or Rotary aviation?? Atkins?? *shrug*

 

The RX8 has a unique side seal profile which hasnt been used in any engine before.
The longest one Mazda sells is about 12 thou. too short. Looks like I might have to get them
made. Ideas anyone?

 

talk to atkins rotary

 

MarkJ, rumor had it that Mazda was working on this themselves; maybe just by request of the competition community, but then again those were just rumors.
We will see.

 

The new seals are a wedge shape to help push out any carbon that may try to accumulate in the seal grooves. The older seals are just rectangular in cross section. The clearance that is about optimum on a 13B is about 1 1/2 thousandths but the Renesis has seen seals in excess of 10 thousandths or more in gap. To further complicate issues each rotor has a letter stamped on the side and must use the matching letter side seal in those grooves. You can't just take any side seal and make it work for some reason. This part baffles me.

 

Baffles myself as well, thats why I'm here.
Early engines that had excessive clearence would wear everything out very quickly,
as the seal would move back and forth in the groove. Even as far as wearing away the
tops of all the side seal springs, not a good thing.
That the side seal crosses the exhaust port must have alot to do with it. The fact that the
seal is tapered should reduce the rocking motion in the groove as exhaust port
timing opens and closes. What I'm trying to accomplish is the use of the renesis rotors in a conventional rotor housing, and am not comfortable with this clearance.

 

Mark,

If you want your rotors and side seal clearance fixed just email me at work and we can find out exactly what you want.. Have a look at the other post I did today and you will see. Iam the guy Wakeech was talking about..

We Have done what you are trying to do with great success and can save you money in R&D..

Email

info@selectmaz.com.au

www.selectmaz.com.au

Ask for Wayne(thats me) or my boss and engine builder Issy

Iam just the Engineer and Workshop Manager

 

So far getting no-where about these side seals. I have info from Mr. Sanders that
there is nothing available from Mazda Comp. yet, but they are aware of it. Wayne at
Selectmaz has mentioned that they have solved it, but so far have not had a response as
to what they did.