Brilliant idea Barry. I consider this an important improvement in the
rotary sealing. Solves two problems. Hand fitting the side seals
during overhaul and improving the side seal sealing. This results in
a small improvement in BSFC and power. In some cases when the hand
fitting is poorly done a larger improvement :-) Felix  Wankel would
like it.

You should sell these.

You need a web site Barry.

Paul Lamar


Hey Barry B.

Thx for the drawing. I'm not fully clear at whats happening..are you
using one of the other corner seal holes as a pivot point  for the
jig? You need a website and YouTube vids. You clearly  know some good
rotary tricks. Please try again to send pics  (or better yet, video!)
of jig in action.

Thx again!

Dan Gorsline.


Barry is using an old rotor to hold the corner seal while he slots it
with a dremal tool. This allows a little lee way  in the length of
the side seal and does a better job of sealing  the corner seal end.

Here is a quick 3D for Barry.

Paul Lamar

Nice drawing Paul, But I cut the corner of the rotor off and attach
it to two pieces of angle. The drawing should show the die grinder
flipped and the diamond disk moving in a 7.344" arc. I first
installed the mod in April of 08 and have over 30k miles on it.

Since this sectioning destroyed the rotor I then made it into a
special tool (per Lynn Hanover's idea) for scribing side seal paths
on the side plates. This too is a critical area for long side seal
life.

Barry Bordes

It is rather surprising that Frank found a Pratt & Whitney Canada
patent that already does this.

We will see a Pratt&Whitney Canada Wankel any day now. They can use
the gear box off the PT6 only slightly modified.

Paul Lamar

Barry, Paul and all,

A top view would sure help me to fully visualize Just how you
constructed your jig just how much of the rotor tip to cut
off..........

Thanks, Kelly troyer


The rotor corner is held on by three screws. Use an apex seal to key
the corner seal while grinding. If you look closely at the paper in
the box behind the tool there are "notes to self". The grinder is
raised and lowered depending on which direction is being ground.

Barry Bordes



Much better picture Barry. Thanks.

The notes where not clear. Do you have a scanner?

Paul Lamar

Simple but effective. Do you cut a uniform slot top to bottom or
leave a radius in there? Seems like a good idea. Did I miss the part
about you making your own extended side seals? To take advantage of
this I would think you need a side seal that is longer than you can
normally get from Mazda.

Bill Jepson

Silicon Nitride side seals, if and when they become available, will
cut the wear on the cast iron side plates.


Paul Lamar


Blow by is an issue in especially supercharged engines. I read a
bulletin regarding this in respect to diesel engines and
turbocharging. Higher cylinder pressures tend to allow more gasses to
find a way past any seals. Anything that reduces clearances on seals
helps.

Dale Davies

Yes Dale and of the 12 possibilities per rotor for side seals to
leak.... six are leaking.

Bill, Yes I leave the radius in there and shim the grinder up or down
to allow for leading or trailing sides.

Barry Bordes

I thought new replacement seals came longer and you needed to grind them
to fit in a proper overhaul.

Paul Lamar

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