Author Topic: No compression after setting 5-6 years  (Read 1060 times)

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Offline snake89

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No compression after setting 5-6 years
« on: February 28, 2022, 07:27:24 PM »
Hoping its rust on the valves or stuck rings. Time will tell  :P

Offline Don R

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Re: No compression after setting 5-6 years
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2022, 08:36:27 PM »
 Do the valves operate when you turn it over?
No matter how many times you paint over a shadow, it's still there.
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Offline Steve_K

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Re: No compression after setting 5-6 years
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2022, 08:05:01 AM »
My 73 750 had only 60 to 70 psi when I got it.  I oiled the cylinders kicked it over with the plugs out several times, set the values and the timing and tried to start it.  It did start with some kick starter effort, and it brought the neighbors out because there was no baffle in the pipe.
Found the baffle and rode round the block.  For me, that unstuck the rings after about 30 minutes of running and it read 120 psi on all four.
With a few more hours, I got 140 across all 4 cylinders.   I was lucky with that engine. 
Steve

PS I would oil the cam through the inspection caps and oil cam and value stems before starting.
Steve_K

76 CB 550, 73CB750, 86 GSX-R750, 16 Slingshot
Old rides:305 Honda, CL350, 74 CB550
 05 SV1000S, 88 CBR600,92 VFR, 88 Hawk GT, 96 Ducati 900SS, 98 Kaw ZX6R, SV650

Offline PeWe

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Re: No compression after setting 5-6 years
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2022, 09:43:48 AM »
It had compression when parked?
All sparkplugs are there?

Some ex valves are bent or minus lash so valves can not close?
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Offline Don R

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Re: No compression after setting 5-6 years
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2022, 10:40:11 PM »
My 73 750 had only 60 to 70 psi when I got it.  I oiled the cylinders kicked it over with the plugs out several times, set the values and the timing and tried to start it.  It did start with some kick starter effort, and it brought the neighbors out because there was no baffle in the pipe.
Found the baffle and rode round the block.  For me, that unstuck the rings after about 30 minutes of running and it read 120 psi on all four.
With a few more hours, I got 140 across all 4 cylinders.   I was lucky with that engine. 
Steve,

 I have one running that I'm hoping frees up too. Still has an '87 plate on it.
No matter how many times you paint over a shadow, it's still there.
 CEO at the no kill motorcycle shop.
 You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: No compression after setting 5-6 years
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2022, 06:19:45 PM »
Something that commonly happens to these engines (and the Honda Twins and Singles) when they sit for a long time is: light rust on the valve faces. When they are then started up they may burn oil from the uneven compression, so lots of folks think it is "stuck rings". But, "stuck rings" also equate to an engine that will not run over, so that is the distinction.

In these cases I check the valve clearance first. If the clearance is found to be larger than normal (it often is), LEAVE IT THERE. This is needed because that symptom is telling you that the valve is not seating all the way, so it likely has rust or crust on the valve face and/or seat. The "good news" is: Honda's SOHC4 design will wipe the rust away from the valve faces in less than 100 miles. THEN go in and check/set the valve clearance.

At my bike shop, in the Spring, we used to get bikes like these that would not start, caused by this issue. In those days I lived in an area where it was 100% humidity much of the winter, which caused the problem if the owner did not add oil to the gas for the final tank of fuel before winter storage. Usually, the bike just got parked, MAYBE with a cover over it, and then in Spring the battery got jumped to try and start it. Then it came to us with low compression in typically 2 of the cylinders, a sure sign of valve-face rust. I enjoyed "fixing" these bikes because it meant I got to ride that bike for a few days to 'fix' it, running it with oil in the gas until the normal power level returned and they would idle again, after which I'd tune them up and make good $$ from the week-long effort.
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

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Offline Steve_K

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Re: No compression after setting 5-6 years
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2022, 04:32:20 PM »
I think Hondaman has the right idea.  When I said stuck rings, I was thinking gummed rings.  I knew that the rings were not rusted to the cylinder.  Hondaman , as usual, makes sense.
Steve
Steve_K

76 CB 550, 73CB750, 86 GSX-R750, 16 Slingshot
Old rides:305 Honda, CL350, 74 CB550
 05 SV1000S, 88 CBR600,92 VFR, 88 Hawk GT, 96 Ducati 900SS, 98 Kaw ZX6R, SV650