Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: maddyaddy on January 29, 2008, 02:18:58 PM

Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: maddyaddy on January 29, 2008, 02:18:58 PM
Could somebody give me step by step instructions on how to complete a compression test.  My friend has a compression tester but he has never performed one on a rotary engine:).  Many thanks
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: mikeyh on January 29, 2008, 03:24:08 PM
is it a rotary tester or piston one?
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: maddyaddy on January 29, 2008, 03:56:15 PM
its a piston one, it fits into the spark plug hole
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: maddyaddy on January 29, 2008, 09:53:46 PM
anyone??................
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: David Nock (RIP) on January 30, 2008, 12:05:08 PM
Done loads of piston cars, but I\'ve never had to do one on a rotary. I do know that you cannot do a test easily with a piston engine tester, plus you might knock the rotor tips off trying.
So if I were you I\'d make enquiries, see if you or your friend can hire or borrow a proper rotary tester.
Lindop, at top of page were offering free tests, but you\'d have to get car to Cheshire.
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: mikeyh on January 30, 2008, 06:44:24 PM
u cant test with a piston one as u dont get a true reading.
is there a problem with the car?
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: maddyaddy on January 31, 2008, 07:33:00 PM
no not atall just want to get a reading to sell it really
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: Timmy on January 31, 2008, 08:18:59 PM
It won\'t mean anything. As a rotary engine has three readings per rotor. Basicaly a piston engine compression tester only give the peak pressure where as for a rotary you need to see the 3 reading indivualy to know the condition of each tips.
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: ro284 on January 31, 2008, 08:28:03 PM
copied from Clives thread,
QuoteHi All

This may help,you can compression test a Rotary with a normal compression tester if you take the non return valve out then watch the 3 readings you get from each Rotor write them down then add 20% to your readings and you will get a close figure to work with,you need to do all this on a warm engine with the correct oil level.

All the best
Clive
also i think you have to remove a fuse to stop the fuel pump,and ignition to plug leads!  i think it\'s egi fuse, but do make sure, hopefully someone will be along shortly that knows more,
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: pdtaylor18 on January 31, 2008, 08:37:23 PM
do a bit more research as there are a lot of threads about what the readings mean as well, can tell if a water seal has gone or a tip.
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: Grizzly on January 31, 2008, 10:08:29 PM
Tbh mate you can do it one of two ways, the side of the road way (checking the three bounces are roughly the same between the front and back rotors) and the proper way (book it into your local Engine builders and have them do it and give you the print out)

Simply using a Piston engine Comp tester is a pain in the rear to do because you have to remover the Shnider (sp) valve and this means it doesn\'t hold pressure (you get bounces rather than a constant pressure and have to be watching the Tester as a Third party turns it over). this is done because there is effectively three Compression chambers per Housing, this makes it a completely different task.

As said above, any time you turn a rotary over and don\'t want it to kick up remove the EGI fuse (it lives next to the battery)
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: David Nock (RIP) on February 01, 2008, 01:02:18 PM
Schraeder valve (sp).
And don\'t you still have to watch the depth of protrusion into the rotor chamber with an ordinary tester, in case it physically fouls the tips?
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: ro284 on February 01, 2008, 04:33:02 PM
QuoteAnd don\'t you still have to watch the depth of protrusion into the rotor chamber with an ordinary tester, in case it physically fouls the tips?

Good tip David, I think i\'ll leave mine to Carl, its not worth risking damaging what you are trying to get a good reading on! :2eek
Title: How to complete a compression test
Post by: Jürg Hensdiek on February 01, 2008, 04:58:49 PM
Quote from: David NockSchraeder valve (sp).
And don\'t you still have to watch the depth of protrusion into the rotor chamber with an ordinary tester, in case it physically fouls the tips?

Hallo,
Simple cure...check the length of the tetser against the length of the spark plug. Don\'t tighten it any further.
 
Thanks
RH