How do you test compression??

An R series in a P series.. If memory serves correctly it should be a mid-70s airplane.. Yes,, the C182 is a great airframe and engine combination.. I love 'em.. I've owned 'em.. I prefer taildraggers and got a C185 when the right one came along..
What is that aircraft,, an early Bellanca ?? What engine ?? 4 or 6 cylinder ?? Props on 4s will stop horizontal.. You never know about a 6.. That prop had to be spinning/windmilling when he touched down,, expensive..
 
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Patrick L. said:
An R series in a P series.. If memory serves correctly it should be a mid-70s airplane.. Yes,, the C182 is a great airframe and engine combination.. I love 'em.. I've owned 'em.. I prefer taildraggers and got a C185 when the right one came along..
What is that aircraft,, an early Bellanca ?? What engine ?? 4 or 6 cylinder ?? Props on 4s will stop horizontal.. You never know about a 6.. That prop had to be spinning/windmilling when he touched down,, expensive..
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it's a 57 Bellanca Cruisemaster, has an O-470-F. the only real difference is in the manifolds, they're up real tight to the engine to get a more streamlined cowl.
He was Me. ya, it was windmilling, thought I had the landing made so I put the gear down and flared, that's when this little bush called a Soapweed came up and smacked my left wing.. looks like a little palm tree but it felt like it was made of concrete. I woke up laying on the wing with the seatbelts wrapped around my feet.
New prop was 6K and a blessing in disguise, the bent one was a Hartzell with a 11K AD. Overhauled the eingine - no cracks, prop took all the impact.
It's flying again but now I have a '59 with an IO-470.. MUCH better performance, more than you'd expect from only 30 more hp.
No definitive reason for the engine stoppage - I'm writing it off to an occulsion in the valve area (it was kind of kludgy) I had 27 gallons when it quit. Re-vamped the fuel system with one from a Viking - much better now.

OK, I guess we've put the Ford guys to sleep now..
 
Would the compression reading be the same in all four cylinders when compairing readings with the spark plugs in the engine as compaired with them out testing one cylinder at a time?

Thanks.

Pluck
 
I make one of those adapters too but it doesn't work right with my gauge. I think the fitting on the adapter needs shrader valve specially designed for compression testers and I don't know where to find one. When I attach my gauge and crank the engine the needle goes up and then drops again on the exahust cycle. I think it should hold the highest pressure when I an done cranking. Am I doing something wrong?
 
Geeze!! Compression testing is EASY & SIMPLE!
1-Fully charged battery.
2-Run engine until warm.
3-All plugs out.
4-Throttle wide open.
5-Constant cranking for at least 10 strokes, or until gauge no longer rises.

Re-check any low ones, as sometimes carbon dis-lodged by removing plugs might be stuck on valve face or seat.
Wet test to check ring condition: Squirt a few shots of motor oil in each cyl, spin it over, & retest again. All cyls will be some higher, if some cyls increases greatly,The rings are "TIRED"!
And remember, ALL compression guages don't necessarily read the same, some are cheap and/or OOOOLD, like ME!:eek: (Buster T. just LAUGHED!:p) Bill W.
 
supergnat said:
I make one of those adapters too but it doesn't work right with my gauge. I think the fitting on the adapter needs shrader valve specially designed for compression testers and I don't know where to find one. When I attach my gauge and crank the engine the needle goes up and then drops again on the exahust cycle. I think it should hold the highest pressure when I an done cranking. Am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...

Sounds like something is leaking on the compression gauge
 
supergnat said:
I make one of those adapters too but it doesn't work right with my gauge. I think the fitting on the adapter needs shrader valve specially designed for compression testers and I don't know where to find one. When I attach my gauge and crank the engine the needle goes up and then drops again on the exahust cycle. I think it should hold the highest pressure when I an done cranking. Am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...
SUPERGUY,
Yep, you need a Schrader Valve. I've used a cheap hand held guage with a fat rubber cone for years with only a few replacements of the valve. Don't use a tire valve, get one from the tool truck guy that's made for compression guages. Most auto supply stores have the cheap guages. If you "BROKE" P.M. me, & I HEP you.($$$$) Bill W.
 
Thanks for the information ond the offer of special help Bill W. I have a Schauer gauge which has a quick disconnect female air fitting on it. Both of the attachments that came with gauge have the male conncetor (like the adapter above) but only have the rubber fitting on them which are too small for the Model A plug hole. It might be easier to find a hose attachemnt with a built-in Shrader valve.
It is good to know that I was on the right track.
Supergnat
 
Mine was a 78 N model Cessna 172. The engine was a Lycoming o320 H2AD. It was leased to a club. The instructor with the student was a grizzled old pilot, straight out of central casting, Grizzled old pilots Division. Ed had learned to fly the year before I was born, in Navy Wacos. He literally had forgotten more than I knew, or will ever know.
They approached Albion (Camden County) airport and set up the landing. The plane was on final and they got a tailwind. Three quarters of the runway was behind them when they touched the asphalt. Trees, 100 yards beyond the end of the runway prevented a go around. The plane touched down, left 200' of skid marks and plowed thru a 4' chain link fence and came to a stop on railway tracks. Much Hull damage, Prop strike, nose wheel, both yokes were gone. The plane was a write off. The engine had only 400 hrs, 3200 TT. The plane had the rare vision panels in the roof Another nice plane gone! The instructor, Ed gave up instructing and retired with only this blemish on his record. The student was supposed to take his check ride the next day. We haven't heard from him since.
Terry


socalplanedoc said:
it's a 57 Bellanca Cruisemaster, has an O-470-F. the only real difference is in the manifolds, they're up real tight to the engine to get a more streamlined cowl.
He was Me. ya, it was windmilling, thought I had the landing made so I put the gear down and flared, that's when this little bush called a Soapweed came up and smacked my left wing.. looks like a little palm tree but it felt like it was made of concrete. I woke up laying on the wing with the seatbelts wrapped around my feet.
New prop was 6K and a blessing in disguise, the bent one was a Hartzell with a 11K AD. Overhauled the eingine - no cracks, prop took all the impact.
It's flying again but now I have a '59 with an IO-470.. MUCH better performance, more than you'd expect from only 30 more hp.
No definitive reason for the engine stoppage - I'm writing it off to an occulsion in the valve area (it was kind of kludgy) I had 27 gallons when it quit. Re-vamped the fuel system with one from a Viking - much better now.

OK, I guess we've put the Ford guys to sleep now..
Click to expand...
 
Terry,, thats not a good story.. How long was the runway ?? I hate to second guess any other instructor,, but,, if for any reason you're not planted by the mid-way point its time to go-around and try again.. There was probably some reason they didn't though..
 
Patrick, The runway length is 3094' Google Camden Co, Albion airport. There was an aerial photo of the runway that showed the end of the runway and the railroad at the near end. Why they even went in there was a mystery to us. None of the other club instructors ever used that airport. A goaround just wasn't possible because of the trees on the other side of the railroad tracks. Maybe if things were done quicker..... who knows!
Terry



Patrick L. said:
Terry,, thats not a good story.. How long was the runway ?? I hate to second guess any other instructor,, but,, if for any reason you're not planted by the mid-way point its time to go-around and try again.. There was probably some reason they didn't though..
Click to expand...
 
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