Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Baby's first leakdown test


I still can't find the source of this idle surge on the '76 GL1000, so I decided to start from scratch.
I ran a leakdown test on all the cylinders at TDC to check for valve issues. I could have pulled the camshafts and performed the test throughout the piston's movement range to see if there's a particular problem spot on the cylinder walls or piston rings but I'll wait on that for now and just run a compression check next.

Since the plugs were out I decided to check them.
They look a little dark so at least it's not a lean condition.
Most importantly they're all the same color.
This is evidence against an intake runner leak on one carb.


Here are the results of the compression test:
Click for full size picture.

Cylinder   
InputPSI    
LossPSI    
LossPSI (2)   
%Lost
%Lost(2)
1
90
86
85.5
-4.444444444
5
2
90
86
85
-4.444444444        
5.555555556
3
90
86
86
-4.444444444
4.444444444
4
90
88
88
-2.222222222
2.222222222
1
80
75.5
75.5
-5.625
5.625
2
80
75
75
-6.25
6.25
3
80
75.5
76
-5.625
5
4
80
76
76
-5
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
70
66
66
-5.714285714
5.714285714
2
70
64
64
-8.571428571
8.571428571
3
70
66
66
-5.714285714
5.714285714
4
70
66
66
-5.714285714
5.714285714
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
60
56
56
-6.666666667
6.666666667
2
60
55
55
-8.333333333
8.333333333
3
60
56
56
-6.666666667
6.666666667
4
60
56
56
-6.666666667
6.666666667
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
90
86
85.5
-4.444444444
5
1
80
75.5
75.5
-5.625
5.625
1
70
66
66
-5.714285714
5.714285714
1
60
56
56
-6.666666667
6.666666667
2
90
86
85
-4.444444444
5.555555556
2
80
75
75
-6.25
6.25
2
70
64
64
-8.571428571
8.571428571
2
60
55
55
-8.333333333
8.333333333
3
90
86
86
-4.444444444
4.444444444
3
80
75.5
76
-5.625
5
3
70
66
66
-5.714285714
5.714285714
3
60
56
56
-6.666666667
6.666666667
4
90
88
88
-2.222222222
2.222222222
4
80
76
76
-5
5
4
70
66
66
-5.714285714
5.714285714
4
60
56
56
-6.666666667
6.666666667

It's important to note I performed this test on a cold motor. It's generally better to warm up the motor first as your numbers will be more accurate. However, there were still no glaringly obvious problems indicated by these results.

I suppose the next move will be to compression check the cylinders and see if they are good in that aspect.

1 comment:

  1. Hey so I know this is an old post but did you ever get the GL sorted out? I have one that's been giving me the exact same trouble as yours. The same idle surge and I just can't figure it out.

    Contact me at john.little82@gmail.com if you have any insight.

    ReplyDelete