Vertical 4 cycle engine from recycled parts

[sid pileski]

That may explain a few things.......

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Today I am testing my Tee head cylinder, cylinder head, and valves for air leaks under pressure. I made up a cast iron fixture to seal the bottom of the cylinder and screwed my new compression  tester into that. At the other end, I took out the sparkplug and screwed in a fitting which allows my regulator to screw into that end. In a perfect world, as I increased pressure on the regulator, the gauge would record the highest pressure I could exert inside the cylinder, and would show up any leaking valves.  However, in my world, the fittings on the ends of the compression tester which are sealed with rubber o-rings leak like Hell. So---Now the rubber o-rings have been taken out and 638 Loctite applied to all the mating threads. I will leave it like that for a few hours and then try this exercise over again.---Brian

[gipetto]

I'd be putting ptfe white plumbers tape on those fittings instead of glue myself. I've a few tractors on the farm with a fuel system that won't run unless every single leak is sealed perfectly.(they run under vacuum)

[Jasonb]

I don't see the point in using the compression tester as you show it there. All it will show is the same that your compressor shows. Would get the same result with the plug left in and compressor into the cylinder adaptor. In Fact a better test as it would show if there was any leak from the plug as well as the head gasket and valves

[Brian Rupnow]

couldn't get a reading on the pressure gauge. POOP!!!  Had multiple air leaks, but couldn't tell where they were coming from. Finally did the old "submerge it in a bucket of water" test to see where the leaks were coming from. Jeez, I thought a submarine was surfacing in my pail of water. It leaked everywhere except at the exhaust and carb. Then, in the middle of it all, my $30 Chinese compression tester flew apart. The rubber tube which goes into a compression fitting at the end opposite from the gauge flew apart. That was when I had my second shower of the day. Next step was hook things up without the Chinese compression tester and submerged it again----still leaking tons of air. Okay, take it all apart, coat both sides of the head gasket with gasket goop, drill and thread for four more bolts thru the cylinder heads around the cylinder. Then I thought, "Gee, I've never seen that new gauge register any compression", so I took the gauge part out to my main garage and put the compressor nozzle right up against the threaded base--YES--it does register pressure. I think I can probably use the compression tester if I braze up my own manifold to work with it. Now I'm going to wait 24 hours to let the gasket goo set up and then try this all again. (I am using a 0.016" thick waterpump gasket between the cylinder heads.)

[gipetto]

I saw this unusual video on youtube today and thought of this thread. apparently kohler made a twin cam single cylinder ohv engine, called the KOHLER courage 20hp which is by all accounts an unreliable unit. just so you know your original idea is quite possible.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NbC5CE-Sso" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NbC5CE-Sso</a>