I just took apart my 13b after replacing it with my spare. I removed it
because it was low on power and blowing oil out the breather tube.  I
found the front rotor overheated. The front face was the worst, the side
seals were partially disintegrated and totally seized in their slots.
The oil seal O-rings were completely gone on that side, only part of an
O-ring remained on the rear face.

The cause was a piece of silicone sealant stuck in the E-shaft oiling
jet, blocking oil cooling to that rotor. I had modified the jets by
removing the ball and spring and installing a smaller Weber jet. This
was a bad idea, I think the spring would have acted as a filter and kept
the debris out.
The offending debris came from too much sealant used for the stock oil
filter bypass plate.
Second lesson learned: Don't use silicone sealer anyplace after the oil
filter. Or at least use it very sparingly.

Chuck Dunlap

Thanks Chuck for the report. I assume it is not back together so
you will fly down to Copper State with Tracy or perhaps fly your
other Lyc powered RV?

Amazing you flew that airplane all those years with this problem.
Shows to go you a rotary is one tough engine to kill :-)

Paul Lamar
 
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