Bit of an update on the project.
When I first started the engine after it's 12 year rest it started pretty easily this has in part led me to believe that maybe an engine strip down was not needed. (Clearly in denial here)
Since that first start up it has taken a lot of more cranking to get her to fire up - this has led me to suspect that the compressions are not that brilliant. A cold check on 25th Sept 2020 revealed that the compressions were a pretty even 90 psi on all cylinders rising to 110 psi when check some days later.
Yesterday I just could not get the engine to start so this morning I squirted some 2T oil in all four cylinders with a view to re-checking both cold and hot compressions. The first thing I noticed was that when I cranked the engine about an hour later without the plugs in place almost no oil was pushed out so it had obviously drained through the piston rings I am thinking. Another cold check then revealed 205 psi on cylinder 4 I didn't bother check any others I knew the truth already.
When I replaced the plugs the engine fired up fairly easily so I let her run until up to temperature then did a hot check on cylinder 4 - it was only 120 psi. Clearly I am loosing compression with the rings / pistons being the main culprit.
Obviously I will need to carry out an engine strip as the compressions are well below par. Just as a point in case the engine does run quite nicely in the circumstances especially considering that I have not adjusted any idle air screws.
I now intend to crack on with the strip down of the frame ASAP hopefully I will get the engine out before my operation that still has no date due in part to the effects of Covid on ICU bed availability.
Just for the craic I have recorded some engine running earlier today to keep me enthusiastic I will post a link shortly.
https://youtu.be/SWwb3LgNpIY
