Subject: help! help! help!
From: Rotary Engine
Date: 9/19/2007, 5:29 PM
To: AARotary Engine



 >>> Tracy computer and reduction drive 2.85 reduction ratio.
 >>> Bob White wire harness.
 >>> Cannot get the crank angle sensor(CAS) to fire the plugs.
 >>> Everything checks out up to the CAS. Have no way of testing the
 CAS.
 >>> Is it possible the starter is not cranking fast enough to
 energize the
 >>> CAS? Does any one know if there is a minimum cranking RPM? Has
 anyone
 >>> had this experience before? The prop is turning @ 1 per second
 or @ 180
 >>> rpm when the starter is engaged. What is the resistance of the
 CAS, I
 >>> assume that it is simply a coil of wire inside the CAS can, is
 that
 >>> correct or not?
 >>> Thanks in advance, Milo
 >>>
 >>> You can buy a pulse probe that might check the CAS for fairly
 cheap.
 >>> Other than that you will need a scope. I could do a little
 schematic
 >>> later on a for a pulse checker.
 >>>
 >>> You need two cmos chips and a led.
 >>>
 >>> Works off 12 volt 4050 ot 4059 and a 4020 divide by 16,000 counter.
 >>> http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/cmos.htm
 >>>
 >>> I'll do a schematic latter.
 >>>
 >>> Doc has some recent expeirence on this stuff. What is the
 latest Doc?
 >>> -- Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.
 >>>
 >>> Milo, You shoud be able to get the plugs to fire while turning
 the prop
 >>> by hand.
 >>> VERY low speed will do it, depending on the system. Check to see
 >>> everything is grounded properly
 >>> Bill Jepson
 >>>
 >>
 >> Tracy's latest update has ignition / spark plug test mode. It fires
 >> the plugs as the engine was running at 3000 rpm.
 >> It works very well. CAUTION: Do not test with anyone around the
 prop.
 >> Any fuel fumes in the chamber will fire the engine enough to hurt
 >> somebody.
 >> Buly
 >>
 >> It would be real easy for Tracy to add a crank angle sensor check.
 >> If the intake manifold pressure suddenly went to below 7.5 psi or 15
 >> inches
 >> of Hg indicating the engine was turning over and the computer
 did not see
 >> a signal from the crank angle sensor it could put out an error
 message.
 >>
 >> Paul Lamar
 >>
 >
 >
 > Paul, I purchased the DP-21 that you suggested. Please give me a
 short
 > lesson on how to use it to test the CAS,
 > Milo
 >
 >
 > Hook the black alligator clip to a ground spot on
 > the engine. Hook the red alligator clip to +12 volts on the engine.
 > Disconnect the CAS at the connector. Ground one of the pins.
 Have some
 > one turn the engine over with the starter with the fuel pump off.
 Press
 > the
 > point of the probe to the other pin. If the LED blinks as the
 engine is
 > turning over the CAS works.
 >
 > The 1994 is probably the same as the RX8 engine sensor except the
 1994
 > had two instead of just one.
 >
 > You can download the shop manuals from:
 > http://www.wankel.net/~krwright/cars/rx7/manuals.html
 >
 > Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

 Can the RX8 CAS interuptor wheel be installed incorrectly such that
 the CAS
 will not function? milo

 Not really. Are you not getting a pulse on the logic probe?
 It is still not working I take it. Try getting a third gen sensor
 out of
 a junk yard. See if Mazdatrix has a used one they will sell. A third gen
 sensor should work with the RX8 wheel. It is a possible the hole
 pattern is
 off and the sensor is not triggering at the shaft angle it should.

 --
 Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

Paul,
It is also possible that the battery voltage is too low. Anything below
about 9.5v will not fire the plugs.

Mark S.

Paul,
An item mentioned on the another list. One of the guys put an RX8 CAS
on an older engine. He built his own bracket out of ferrous metal and
had trouble. Made another in aluminum and it worked well. It is possible
if the sensor is re-bracketed or very close to a magnetic material on the
firewall he might have trouble. He said the fact that the manual said to
look for shavings or chips on the CAS put him on to it.
FWIW
Bill Jepson


The Rotary Engine NewsLetter. Powered by Linux.
ACRE NL web site. http://www.rotaryeng.net
Copyright 1998-2006 All world wide rights reserved.