Something to keep an eye on

[C. Ludwig]

1 and 2G RX7...

At Mid-Ohio this weekend I had to stop on track during the Saturday race. It's long story! Anyway, I told the workers I didn't need a flat tow I'd drive it in. When I get it and hit the starter it just free-wheels. Get back to the pits and discover the ring gear on the flywheel has seperated from the flywheel. It appears these are assembled with an interference fit only. My buddy, who is somewhat of a rotor head, says he had a 225mm flywheel do the same thing one time. The problem turned out to be nothing more than a PITA but it could of been hugely serious if the ring gear had gotten caught on the pressure plate and decided to take a ride through the bellhousing. Check your flywheels this winter.

Chris

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Chris Ludwig
08 ITS RX7 CenDiv

[ddewhurst]

Thanks Chris, is this a stock, junk yard or aftermarket ? or are they all the same ?



Have Fun

David

[C. Ludwig]

All of them are basically the same. The flywheel has to be stock so we're all dealing with the same parts. I've got a stack of half a dozen flywheels and they all appear to be put together the same way and thus suseptable to coming apart.

Chris

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Chris Ludwig
08 ITS RX7 CenDiv

[ScottNutter]

I had this happen on a track/street driven 1st Gen 12A. It did not happen when I was driving but when I tried to start it, just like you, the ring gear was disconnected from the flywheel.

BTW Chris, I was there this weekend, first time at the track ( Read in the Turd Zone, trying to break the Turdvelope, but I had some great races ). I was group 3, I watched most of the group 1 stuff. What is your number. I am Blue/Orange # 85

[ScottNutter]

When this happend to me, web wisdom said that to bring the divorced pair back together, the ring gear was to be placed in the oven while the flywheel went to the freezer. When they were at there appropriate ends of the temperature range, they should be meshed together and forever be bonded. I replaced mine with another I had lying around .

[Hotshoe]

Best thing to do is tack weld the ring gear to the flywheel by TIG welding it. I did it to mine five years ago and have had no problems since.

[C. Ludwig]

I was in the #08 orange 2nd gen with the white graphic on the side. We stunk it up real bad Saturday. See the Kumho tire thread under the tech section for the reason. Sunday was much better. Qualified 7th and came home 8th after falling back to 10th at the start. Very happy with a top ten at Mid-Ohio!!!

Might do the next event up there. Gonna try to swing it. If you go we'll have to look each other up.

Chris

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Chris Ludwig
08 ITS RX7 CenDiv

[This message has been edited by C. Ludwig (edited September 10, 2002).]