Big Ass Leakdown Tester is HERE

[gaineso]

Came today. What a beautiful piece of equipment. Pattie is not cooperating. She won't take her Wedgewood Blue Jasper out of the display cabinet so I can put my new toy in.

Guess I'll just have to use it. Unfortunately, it'll be next week before I get a chance. Trying to shake a case of the flu right now and had a flu shot in Dec. so I shouldn't have gotten it. Maybe milder.

Anyway, if you haven't got one, even if you don't use it it'll make a great display and conversation starter.

Thanks a bunch Balzy.

BTW, somebody had a dial indicator for determining TDC. Think it was Jay, but CRS strikes hard when you pass 60 (years, not MPH)

[GP-1]

Exactly what kind of person needs an "ass leakdown" tester??

That's just wrong....

[Balzy]

Let us know how your #'s come out after you test your motor.

[gaineso]

how a new toy will cure the flu.

Checked my motor today. This is a 1986 Mariner 115 that has been run hard a bunch. Never had any internal work. 4 water pumps, 2 stators, 1 trigger, 1 set switchboxes and 1 carb rebuild because of a leaking float 4 months ago. That's the sum total of work on it.

Numbers 1 thru 5 all had 3% leakage or 97 on the gauge. Number 6 on this damn thing, you've got to drop the bottom cowl and that's a bunch of work.

Balzy, any chance you could come up with some kind of adaptor? Needs to be no longer than a spark plug, and has to have a swivel 90 degree so that it can be accessed from the top. Have to change that bottom plug with an open end wrench.

Anyway, the numbers I got off the top 5 seem very good and seem to indicate one of two things. Either this motors got another 15 years on it, or it'll blow tomorrow.

Just seeing those numbers on this motor makes it worth $90 for the peace of mind that it ouhta run for a while longer.

Thanks Balzy. And if any of you don't have one of his testers, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Either the standard or the B.A.L.T. That big gauge sure is easy to read.

[Balzy]

I did my fishing boat and had the same problem with one plug. Yust take the adapter of the hose and screw it in. Then plug the hose back on after the adapter is screwed in the plug hole. It should give you enough room then. To take the adapter off just just in on the small ring while pulling the hose out. To put it back on just push the hose on. You will feel it go in with some restriction until it seats.

Give that a try. I have the same type of fitting in a 90 degree that swivel that would probably work for you also. I could make up another adapter set up for you and you could swap the ends or I could make up another whole hose setup for you and you could just plug them in and out. The 90 degree one would be kind of a pain in the ass to screw into all the cylinders. Let me know if the other way works first otherwise I could make up the whole complete hose setup for you for $15.00. I get $10.00 for the adapters otherwise.

[gaineso]

Balzy,

There's no way on ths sucker to get that thing screwed in there without crimping the hose. It's tight. I'll get some pics tomorrow and post. That new hose sounds good, 'cause I would only need it for that one cylinder and probably wouldn't need it on friends motors

[Balzy]

I will be making more adapter parts next week so I could get one out to you soon. I am sure the 90 degree fittings I have will work great for you.

[gaineso]

This is my problem. Kinda hard to see in the pictures but that bottom plug is exactly 3 inches below the top of th cowl. It's 2 7/8 from the head to the cowl. It's tight. Never really been a concern before 'cause I never did anything except change that plug every now and then.

[gaineso]

Another view. Also ran compression on the top 5 today. #3 was 138. # 4 was 132. Rest were 135. I think I've got a pretty good motor, just really want to check out that bottom hole. Let me know what you think about adaptors and price etc. You can see the plug wire going to that bottom plug.

BTW, anybody that hasn't done business with Balzy, he's a really good guy to deal with and his testers are beautiful.

[Balzy]

Here is a pic of a fitting like I have in mind. The one in the pic is a used one and it is for 1/2" OD tubing. Your tester has 3/8" tubing so when I get the correct fitting it will be slightly shorter. The total length of the adapter is now 2 1/4" long and I only screwed it in hand tight for the pic. I also made a special plug adapter today out of a small lawnmower plug which is about 1/8" shorter base than the standard marine plug base. I am pretty sure I can get this thing down to about 2" long so you should have plenty room. The fitting swivels at the hex so you can leave the hose connected and just screw this thing in. I can make up the fitting and adater for $10.00 or I can do another complete hose for you so you don't have to swap adapters for $15.00 and I will pick up the shipping on whatever you want. Just send the bucks PayPal again and I will have it on it's way on Monday.

[Balzy]

These things are reallllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyy expensive. Sorry thats why so much to make ya up one.

[gaineso]

Balzy, you should have the $15.

Thanks. That adaptor looks good.

Supposed to rain the end of the week so it will be a good time to check it out.

[Balzy]

I'll finish it up and ship it on Monday. Thanks Pal.

[Stickman]

HOLY SHISTA!!!!! Hey Gaineso, did you do yours by yourself or did you have someone there to help? I went to do mine today with air pressure on 100 psi and man it's hard to hold that breaker bar and look at the gauges. I guess that's why they call me Stickman:D I did sneak a peek once briefly and seen 84 on the leakdown side, but didn't hold it there very long. Don't worry I didn't get hurt or anything, but I will have a buddy tomorrow when I try again:rolleyes:

[gaineso]

Stickman, I did it by myself. What I did was hold the tester in my right hand and the breaker bar in my left. Slowly bring the pressure up and see which way it was trying to push. Then let the pressure back down a little and bring the wrench around a little more and try again. When I had it at true TDC there just wasn't any pressure against the wrench at all. Took a while, but was worth it. If you can get one of Jay's TDC indicators, that should make it a lot easier. I plan for that to be my next tool purchase. I've got to set up to do most everything on this engine, 'cause I don't know of anybody here in the St. Augustine area I'd trust to wipe the water spots off. The only Merc mechanic I know of shows up drunk a lot.

[Balzy]

What I do is put about 10 or 15 PSI on the regulated air gauge. Turn the motor over until you feel some resistance and the pressure building in the cylinder. Both gauges will rise as you turn the motor over. You will feel when you get close to TDC, it will start to feel lighter. When you find the top (actually just a hair before) start turning up the pressure. You will find it gets easier to feel TDC as you increase the air pressure. Just don't go past it too far or it will wanna get away from you. BTW, use a long breaker bar for this !!!!!!!!!!! When you get to 100 PSI you have your reading. But like the instructions say, I like to start to let the piston go down and read the cylinder from top to bottom to get a very defined test. This is where the workout begins. You will wanna make sure your motor is turned all the way (steering) it wants to turn. and I also have to chock the trailer winch wheel or it tries to turn the bow of the boat around too. :eek: :eek: :eek: Oh yea, it also helps if you take a spring loaded clamp and clamp or hang the tester to one of your water dump hoses or something on your powerhead so you don't have to hold the tester too yet.

Gaines, your hose is built up and will ship tomorrow. UPS wanted $7.00 belive it or not so I may check with the Post Office in the morning.

[gaineso]

Let me know how much you need for the shipping. I truly don't want you to lose money on it. Not fair to you, me or other S&Fers that may want your great products.

Thanks.

[Balzy]

I got ya covered. I will take care of the shipping. I said I would and that's that. I will either mail it or UPS it tommorow. Hopefully you will see it before the end of the week. It turned out great. You are gonna love it. It's gonna work perfect on your mota. Take a pic of it in the plug hole when you get it and e-mail it to me. I can use it on my website.

[gaineso]

You da man Balzy!!!

[Stickman]

I will start the pressure low like you suggest, that seems a lot easier. I will not have a chance to try it today. 50's and 60's the last 2 days, got off work this morning 28 degrees. Dropped 15 degrees in 1 hour and 15 minutes last night. Gotta love the midwest:(
Gaineso, I know the feeling, when I called around this area to ask about getting a leakdown test nobody even knew what I was talking about.
Thanks guys!

[Balzy]

Went out first class mail this morning. Let me know how it works for you. Send me a pic of it screwed in the plug hole please.

[gaineso]

The adaptor came today. As expected, it's pretty. Hope to try it out tomorrow, but supposed to be raining all day. Need the rain bad though. Supposed to get about 4" in January and we're 3" behind.

I'll post some pics as soon as I can, including the way Balzy wraps the fittings. If commercial co's did it his way, we'd all be better off.

If I don't get to use it this weekend, it'll be a couple weeks, and I really want to get that bottom cyl checked.

Thanks