Topic: Building a compression and leak down tester

[RAFster122s]

So, how involved is it to build your own compression and leak -down tester?

Where do you source good quality inexpensive gauges for such a tester if you are gonna build your own?

How do you get around the problems of low readings one typically sees from automotive compression testers?

Do you use hard lines with a short good quality flex line for the last of the run?

[Flyin900]

Cheap enough off Amazon to not bother with sourcing parts IMO. Sure Chinese like many other items these days, yet I found the one I purchased a few years back to be quite good and decent quality overall. (leak down tester here)
I think with prime shipping for free it was around $50-60 Canadian in a blow moulded case. I have a separate compression tester, so I use the leak down tester now in combination with the compression test.
In larger bore engines the compression tester I feel is quite accurate and the Schrader valve on mine is close to the gauge. On the small bore CB350F engines, or CL175 twins, it can possibly be off. Yet the leak down tester is a second opinion option there too.

[Alan F.]

I watched some YouTube videos once on fixing the Harbor Freight compression tester. The repair that worked involved tapping threads into the gauge inlet and threading in a Schrader valve core that would allow small pressure differences in, I forget what color code it was. The video was in English and the guy spoke with an accent of some kind, can't remember. He speaks about the tap size and correct valve to use.

This kind of info may be useful in building your own.

[Airborne 82nd]

Just google youtube lots of hits. If you already have a comp. tester it is cheaper to build your own.

[70CB750]

When I was building vacuum sync tool I got my parts from Surplus Center. 

https://www.surpluscenter.com