Mazda has long been associated with rotary engines, but even though the Japanese carmaker has no immediate plans to develop a new sports car powered by such an engine, it still intends on keeping that legacy alive.
In an article posted on the Classic Mazda page, the company revealed that it continues to produce key components of its famed 13B rotary engine at its Hiroshima engine plant. Tetsuya Sato, a machinist with 36 years of experience in the factory, said that the machining tools used are unchanged from the past, although they require constant maintenance to ensure the parts are made to the highest degree of accuracy.
“Many people don’t know, but Mazda continues to manufacture rotary engines. They will be installed in new cars until the RX-8, but even after that. We continue to manufacture 13B repair parts and the engine body assembled with new parts. That is why this factory remains in this way,” said Sato.
Sato is part of a team of ten people that works in the factory, which has the ability to produce an average of 200 to 400 rotary engine parts that are shipped worldwide. The processes involved certainly require plenty of skill and experience to execute, as Yoshikazu Washio, another machinist with 35 years of experience, explains while making a groove on a rotor to set a part called an apex seal.
“The design of the groove width is 2 mm. On the other hand, it must be finished with an accuracy of -5 microns and plus 12 microns (1 micron = 1/1000 mm) by carefully and slowly scraping the rotor with a rotating whetstone,” said Washio.
“This task starts with carefully checking the thickness and condition of the grindstone before starting the process because the grindstone gradually becomes thinner over time. Also, should the surface of the grindstone be scratched, the inner wall of the groove will also be scratched,” Washio continued.
“Of course, if there is even a slight malfunction in the machine, it will ruin the rotor that has gone through many steps so far. So, it’s very important to keep making sure that you are in the best working environment every time,” he ended.
Meanwhile, factory foreman Hiromichi Abe said the 13B rotary engine actually has as many as 10 variations depending on the model and specifications of the vehicle it is installed in. “The finish of the parts used in each is different and they can be ordered from all over the world. Depending on the part, it may take one to two months to complete a part, and multiple parts might be combined into a single unit,” Abe explained.
A PDF posted at the bottom of the article shows a catalogue of rotary engine parts for the third-generation FD RX-7, with the most expensive item being a complete short engine that is priced at 860,981 yen (RM32,362). The FD and second-generation FC are currently part of Mazda’s heritage parts programme, along with the first-generation NA MX-5.
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Bravo mazda. Wankel rotary engine has a far higher power to weight ratio and is approximately 1/3rd its size, hence more superior then piston engine.
Superior? wait till you have engine leak, and seal broken.
BTW, you forgot to mention that rotary engine fuel consumption is also more “superior” than piston engine. Rotary engine drinks petrol like crazy.
Sure, roadtax also very cheap. I am sure.
You pussy go drive your Bezza on the fastest lane lah if you worry about FC and apex seal. We track addict have no problem with it
Real track addicts long ago replace them rotaries with longer lasting piston engines from Silvias or MX5 unless they have really deep pockets to rebuild rotaries every so often.
that was a nice one @Musang Queen hahahah talk bout sarcastic level
Rotary engine cars are banned in 90% of the First World countries for failing emission standards. Bravo mazda for lazer focus on only 10% of the market. Mazda will become history soon.
Produced by old men with white hair running on dirty old machines leaking oil everywhere, its just a matter of time when the end draws near for either man or machine to go sooner than later. Rotaries are extinct dinosaurs in the face of emission controls today.
better than your ovepriced beetle.
And how on earth could you confuse an apex speed demon the likes of which Ettore Bugatti could only dreamt of, with that of a car created by 3rd Reich?
The third Reich also created the jet engine. Bettet avoid aircrafts in the future.
Just before WW2, Tatra, a car manufacturer from Czechoslovakia, wanted to sue VW for patent infringement, whereby the VW Beetle design was alleged to have been copied from the 1933 Tatra V570 prototype. Ferdinand Porsche initially wanted to settle with Tatra, but WW2 broke out and Czechoslovakia was occupied by Nazi Germany. After the war ended, Tatra took up the case again, and in 1965, VW settled with Tatra out of court. Thus, while the VW company was earlier set up by the Third Reich, its infamous Beetle car was actually based on an early 1930’s design created by Tatra in Czechoslovakia.
As for the jet engine, the first patent for the gas turbine idea was filed by John Barber, a British engineer, in 1791. The first practical gas turbine was successfully built by Aegidius Elling, a Norwegian inventor, in 1903. Then in 1921, the first patent for using a gas turbine to power an aircraft was filed by Maxime Guillaume, a French engineer. In 1926, Alan Arnold Griffith, a British engineer, published a paper, entitled ‘An Aerodynamic Theory of Turbine Design’, and based on the ideas from this paper, Frank Whittle, an RAF cadet, submitted his first patent for a gas turbine turbojet in 1930. In 1935, two years after the Nazis took over Germany, Hans von Ohain, a German physicist, registered a patent on his version of a jet engine, entitled “Process and Apparatus for Producing Airstreams for Propelling Airplanes”. So, the 3rd Reich did not actually create the jet engine on their own.
Long story about who invented this and that. Who BUILT this things first in large numbers? Tatra with their few hundred cars built? The english or french who actually built NOTHING?
That must be the problem with the current generation today; too lazy to research & check first, before making hasty remarks.
its owned by the fourth reich.
thank you mazda.
17 micron (-5/+12 ) is not that accurate, especially not on a grinding machine…
not a fan of rotary engine, but this is good news for rotary fan, well done Mazda. I hope they can improve this engine or adopt new liquid engine (new rotary engine).
People can make comments about the inefficiency of the rotary, the fear and shy away from what they can’t or don’t understand. I bought my 90 rx7 to save something that’s rare. The hobby is a passion, and this project is to learn something new to challenge myself. The dedication to save and pass on is something that is rare in our world is a dying thing. Not many set out to a challenge, but those who do are much appreciated. I’m glad these guys are doing their thing and helping some of us who still dream about the legends that we grew up with and were amazed by. Thanks Mazda Pros.