dead FB; engine won't spin

85'12a-Blake · 05-01-2010, 02:10 AM

well just any other night after work waitin for the manager 2 come out and while i was waitin. something poped in my car and it locked down. i figured out it wasnt the starter. IT mite be a possibilty of the throw out bearing since it was going bad but it still rolls and takes gear. if thats not it then its gotta be internal. Any ideas, its a 12a with 146k on it stock. any suggestions as 2 the problem would be great but will be starting the tear down soon once i get it home. just 2 say ahead of time this is my first rotary so its ok 2 talk 2 me like an idiot b/c i probly wont understand all of the technical lingo

Kentetsu · 05-01-2010, 11:09 AM

Ouch! With the tranny out of gear, can you rotate the motor by hand?

85'12a-Blake · 05-01-2010, 11:32 AM

nope motor still dont move....its locked down good....i havent taken a breaker bar 2 try it since it isnt home yet....but it wouldn't move with the starter.....

IH8DSM · 05-01-2010, 12:36 PM

Did you check the oil? Could of ran low on oil and seized or bearings toast

85'12a-Blake · 05-01-2010, 12:56 PM

oil level and coolant both are good. but dad said the oil smelt burnt.....idk but he's been building cars for over 30 yrs but not rotarys but still i had the oil changed 1200 miles ago.

IH8DSM · 05-01-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85'12a-Blake

oil level and coolant both are good. but dad said the oil smelt burnt.....idk but he's been building cars for over 30 yrs but not rotarys but still i had the oil changed 1200 miles ago.

what kind of oil do you run, did you see in copper in the oil?

85'12a-Blake · 05-01-2010, 03:04 PM

idk about the copper in the pan but there wasnt any in the oil on the dipstick. it was Penzoil conventional 10w-40. IT's still sittin @ work not home

12arotary · 05-01-2010, 04:41 PM

time for a new engine, unless your throw out bearing wore down and broke some teeth out of your pressure plate that wedged themselves into the flywheel. its happened to me

85'12a-Blake · 05-01-2010, 06:39 PM

well thats kinda what my dad said b/c the throw out was gettin pretty loud but didnt have the cash for one and a clutch 2. but we will see soon i just hope if it is the motor that its not too destroyed inside

12arotary · 05-01-2010, 10:11 PM

if the motor is locked up at least one rotor will be totally demolished 100% guaranteed.
a good way to figure out whether or not its the clutch- the motor will spin backwards so through a socket on the front and try

85'12a-Blake · 05-02-2010, 12:04 AM

i'll try that 2moro if i got time but i'll be gettin it home monday so i'll just pull it then and find out but thanks appriciate the info

85'12a-Blake · 05-04-2010, 07:17 AM

well i took a breaker bar 2 it this morning and it broke free but i didnt try a compression stroke. So hopefully that means its the throw out bering and clutch and all that fun stuff.

12arotary · 05-04-2010, 09:37 AM

you should have been able to tell where the noise came from and if it wasn't the engine it should fire right up

85'12a-Blake · 05-04-2010, 07:39 PM

well rlly the only noise i heard when it broke free was me fallin on my A** and the wrench falling.....but it feels like it has compression....so you think its a good idea 2 try and start it b4 i tear it down and see?

Kentetsu · 05-04-2010, 07:45 PM

Pull the trailing plugs one at a time, have somebody turn the motor over while you listen to the air puffs. Listen for an absence of puffs, or for a different rhythm between front/rear.

Good luck...

05-01-2010, 02:10 AM	#1
85'12a-Blake 1stGen 4 a 1st Rx Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Madisonville, TN Posts: 50 Rep Power: 16	dead FB; engine won't spin well just any other night after work waitin for the manager 2 come out and while i was waitin. something poped in my car and it locked down. i figured out it wasnt the starter. IT mite be a possibilty of the throw out bearing since it was going bad but it still rolls and takes gear. if thats not it then its gotta be internal. Any ideas, its a 12a with 146k on it stock. any suggestions as 2 the problem would be great but will be starting the tear down soon once i get it home. just 2 say ahead of time this is my first rotary so its ok 2 talk 2 me like an idiot b/c i probly wont understand all of the technical lingo Last edited by Phoenix7; 05-28-2010 at 02:44 PM. Reason: edited title to reflect content

05-01-2010, 11:09 AM	#2
Kentetsu RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 530 Rep Power: 18	Ouch! With the tranny out of gear, can you rotate the motor by hand? __________________ "Learn from the past, or it will become your future...." '85 GS 12a + LSD/Sterling carb/Respeed coilovers/Respeed front swaybar/Respeed adj. rear spring perches/Illuminas/Bilsteins on rear AutoX vids @ http://www.youtube.com/user/Kentetsu1

05-01-2010, 12:36 PM	#4
IH8DSM RCC Contributor Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 610 Rep Power: 18	Did you check the oil? Could of ran low on oil and seized or bearings toast __________________ 85 rx7 gsl-se - AA tags/ never ending project will never run

05-01-2010, 03:04 PM	#7
85'12a-Blake 1stGen 4 a 1st Rx Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Madisonville, TN Posts: 50 Rep Power: 16	idk about the copper in the pan but there wasnt any in the oil on the dipstick. it was Penzoil conventional 10w-40. IT's still sittin @ work not home Last edited by 85'12a-Blake; 05-01-2010 at 03:07 PM.

05-01-2010, 04:41 PM	#8
12arotary tumor-syphilis-itis-osis Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 191 Rep Power: 17	time for a new engine, unless your throw out bearing wore down and broke some teeth out of your pressure plate that wedged themselves into the flywheel. its happened to me __________________ 82 300d 82 Gsl 84 b2200 Diesel 88 gxl

05-01-2010, 11:32 AM	#3
85'12a-Blake 1stGen 4 a 1st Rx Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Madisonville, TN Posts: 50 Rep Power: 16	nope motor still dont move....its locked down good....i havent taken a breaker bar 2 try it since it isnt home yet....but it wouldn't move with the starter.....

05-01-2010, 12:56 PM	#5
85'12a-Blake 1stGen 4 a 1st Rx Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Madisonville, TN Posts: 50 Rep Power: 16	oil level and coolant both are good. but dad said the oil smelt burnt.....idk but he's been building cars for over 30 yrs but not rotarys but still i had the oil changed 1200 miles ago.

05-01-2010, 06:39 PM	#9
85'12a-Blake 1stGen 4 a 1st Rx Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Madisonville, TN Posts: 50 Rep Power: 16	well thats kinda what my dad said b/c the throw out was gettin pretty loud but didnt have the cash for one and a clutch 2. but we will see soon i just hope if it is the motor that its not too destroyed inside

05-01-2010, 10:11 PM	#10
12arotary tumor-syphilis-itis-osis Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 191 Rep Power: 17	if the motor is locked up at least one rotor will be totally demolished 100% guaranteed. a good way to figure out whether or not its the clutch- the motor will spin backwards so through a socket on the front and try __________________ 82 300d 82 Gsl 84 b2200 Diesel 88 gxl

05-02-2010, 12:04 AM	#11
85'12a-Blake 1stGen 4 a 1st Rx Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Madisonville, TN Posts: 50 Rep Power: 16	i'll try that 2moro if i got time but i'll be gettin it home monday so i'll just pull it then and find out but thanks appriciate the info

05-04-2010, 07:17 AM	#12
85'12a-Blake 1stGen 4 a 1st Rx Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Madisonville, TN Posts: 50 Rep Power: 16	well i took a breaker bar 2 it this morning and it broke free but i didnt try a compression stroke. So hopefully that means its the throw out bering and clutch and all that fun stuff.

05-04-2010, 09:37 AM	#13
12arotary tumor-syphilis-itis-osis Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 191 Rep Power: 17	you should have been able to tell where the noise came from and if it wasn't the engine it should fire right up __________________ 82 300d 82 Gsl 84 b2200 Diesel 88 gxl

05-04-2010, 07:39 PM	#14
85'12a-Blake 1stGen 4 a 1st Rx Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Madisonville, TN Posts: 50 Rep Power: 16	well rlly the only noise i heard when it broke free was me fallin on my A** and the wrench falling.....but it feels like it has compression....so you think its a good idea 2 try and start it b4 i tear it down and see?

05-04-2010, 07:45 PM	#15
Kentetsu RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 530 Rep Power: 18	Pull the trailing plugs one at a time, have somebody turn the motor over while you listen to the air puffs. Listen for an absence of puffs, or for a different rhythm between front/rear. Good luck...