Building and Using a Cylinder Leakdown Tester

[shogun]

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/482611

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

Bloody good thread/info.....If more people had one it would help with a lot of questions posted. Mine, for a diesel, is an adaptation of an old injector with a soft copper seal but the principle is the same,I do yearly checks to keep an eye on wear.

[ryan roopnarine]

that would have been the low-cost solution a couple of years ago, but at this point, harbor freight has that idea beat.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94190

unless you have all of the necessary parts sitting around in your shed, the price of your gauge will be pretty darn close to the harbor freight item. good article for those (non-usians) who don't have harbor freight/princess auto around, though.

[Dave M]

that would have been the low-cost solution a couple of years ago, but at this point, harbor freight has that idea beat.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94190

unless you have all of the necessary parts sitting around in your shed, the price of your gauge will be pretty darn close to the harbor freight item. good article for those (non-usians) who don't have harbor freight/princess auto around, though.

crap thats cheap. leakdown tester and spring compressors for <$50

[ryan roopnarine]

harbor freight will sell you a shipping container of metallic chinese cr@p for about USD $4.50 a container, $3.50 if they are having a sidewalk sale. even though most of their tools feel shoddily built, i've never had to replace anything that i've bought there under warranty. good deal, if you don't mind a little lead coating on your $2 spring loaded punch.

[shogun]

Patrick bought it and his comment is:

I used the HF unit--works but at 30 psi working pressure
According to some internet posts, 80'ish psi working pressure will be better to push through somewhat leaky places.

Patrick C 88 750 159K