I am new to rotories and I just picked up a 88 vert. I have heard alot of stuff about the stock thermal pellets (failing,ect.) And I have a smoking problem when I start the car and then it clears up pretty quick and some people say it could be my thermal pellet..The smoke is black I have checked the compression and it is good. Where is the thermal pellet? how easy is it to change? ( I am very mechanicly inlined) I heard there is some mod that can be done to the stock one. Does this even sound like Im heading in the right direction? Thanks everyone this is a great web site..

 

Smoke on start-up sounds like leaky fuel injectors. It's a common problem, you would typically send them to RC Engineering to have them cleaned and calibrated (I was lucky enough to find a local turbo/diesel shop to do it).



Thermo pellet is in the front of the eccentric shaft, behind your main pulley. I haven't actually changed it, so I don't have details. Supposedly pretty simple though.

 

Dont just unbolt the front pulley, there is a procedure to keep from dropping the thrust bearing out of place.

Search the FAQ in the engine building section.

 

Black smoke is indicative of unburned fuel. I don't think your oiling system has anything to do with it.



Chances are the motor is worn and as the heat expands the parts inside, it seals better and provides better compression.



Try a compression test with the motor cold, and then with the motor hot. Compare the readings.



The oil thermovalve inside the eccentric shaft is to drop the oil pressure in the motor to heat up faster. It reduces oil pressure until warm and then it will provide full pressure. Guess how this valve fails? Open, not closed. Which means potentially it can fail and leave you constantly without full oil pressure. The thermopellet is a replacement shim that allows full pressure all the time. Although the car will heat up slower slightly, at least you don't have to worry about low oil pressure.

 

I did a compression test with the engine cold and warmed up the pressures where the same, about 105psi with three nice even sweeps in all three chambers front and back rotor. It only smokes right when it first starts up and stops very quickly before the engine warms up. I had heard that the thermovalve could be a potentially weak spot and heard if it does fail closed it would not be good. I would like to eliminate that before that happens. Is there some way to change it in the car without screwing up the shimms behind the pulley. Thanks Dan

 

hows your oil pressure?



The best advice was to rebuild your injectors. It sounds like too much fuel.

 

my oil pressure runs about 50pst at 2500 rpm and when Im sitting at a stop light it drops down to about 30psi

 

That's not bad for oil pressure.



To replace the valve, all you have to do is make sure the clutch is depressed (released).



When you push the clutch down, the hydraulic force on the forks pushes the endplay of the crank forward and then pushes the clutch fingers to release the clutch. The initial push forward to take away the endplay will lock the front torrington bearing in place while you do the procedure.



The procedures are outlined elsewhere on here. I'll type it out if you can't find it.

 

jumpin in here, kinda off tpic but not really.



i have two aftermarket thermal pellets. one from atkins. one from RA. there both solid.



ones longer than the other. whats the difference. does it matter if ones for a TII or a FD?