Compression test
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
This kit worked good for me $46: Diesel Engine Cylinder Compression Tester Professional Kit Direct Indirect Truck | eBay
It has the needed adadpter, in the ebay picture its the one directly above the face of the gauge. The adapter has an extra section of unthreaded tube off the end, making it to long to reach the threads in the heads.
So I put it in my vice and cut most of the unthreaded part off, and then I took my grinder to the edges where I cut, and then a file to give it a smooth edge.
I cut it down far enough that I was able to get atleast 6 full rotations worth of thread when screwing it in to the head.
can take a picture later
It has the needed adadpter, in the ebay picture its the one directly above the face of the gauge. The adapter has an extra section of unthreaded tube off the end, making it to long to reach the threads in the heads.
So I put it in my vice and cut most of the unthreaded part off, and then I took my grinder to the edges where I cut, and then a file to give it a smooth edge.
I cut it down far enough that I was able to get atleast 6 full rotations worth of thread when screwing it in to the head.
can take a picture later
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Just following up, the kit I used above worked, but the Guage on it failed the first use, I ended up ordering a liquid filled 1000 psi gauge and a new valve to repair my tool, I'de go with a better tester unless you want to have to repair the tool with a new guage and probably valve after the first use.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 7
I've got a HFT kit that worked the first time... though I used it with the short NPT adaptor, not the 'correct' one, in about three turns.
I tried to use it again last weekend, and just stripped the threads. Oh well.
I'm just going to go get a M10x1 die, and just re-thread the IDI adapter, because on mine it won't even start. Either way, $25 for the kit and $5 or so for the die is a lot better than $45+.
I tried to use it again last weekend, and just stripped the threads. Oh well.
I'm just going to go get a M10x1 die, and just re-thread the IDI adapter, because on mine it won't even start. Either way, $25 for the kit and $5 or so for the die is a lot better than $45+.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,221
Likes: 17
FWIW a member at OB just reported successful modification of the 'proper' fitting in the cheaper kit:
DIY: Harbor Freight $30 Compression Tester Easily Modded for Success!!
DIY: Harbor Freight $30 Compression Tester Easily Modded for Success!!
More Turbo
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 603
Likes: 3
From: San Antonio
This kit worked good for me $46: Diesel Engine Cylinder Compression Tester Professional Kit Direct Indirect Truck | eBay
. . . .
I cut it down far enough that I was able to get atleast 6 full rotations worth of thread when screwing it in to the head.
can take a picture later
. . . .
I cut it down far enough that I was able to get atleast 6 full rotations worth of thread when screwing it in to the head.
can take a picture later
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Sure, the 1000 psi gauge is $10 on ebay: New Hydraulic Liquid Filled Pressure Gauge 0 1000 PSI | eBay
The replacement check valve that I used came off of an old standard gas engine compression tester, that accepted a gauge that had a standard 1/4 air coupler on the end, so I just hooked that valve onto the air hose that came with the $46 kit, and put the 1/4 coupler onto the 1000 psi gauge.
so finding an the check valve might be the hardest part, unless you have one laying around that would work like I did, both the check valve and gauge were bad on the first cylinder I checked, but the rest of the kit has held up fine.
here are some pics:
The replacement check valve that I used came off of an old standard gas engine compression tester, that accepted a gauge that had a standard 1/4 air coupler on the end, so I just hooked that valve onto the air hose that came with the $46 kit, and put the 1/4 coupler onto the 1000 psi gauge.
so finding an the check valve might be the hardest part, unless you have one laying around that would work like I did, both the check valve and gauge were bad on the first cylinder I checked, but the rest of the kit has held up fine.
here are some pics:
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
I too bought the HB larger test kit with a oil filled gauge. Only problem I had was I could not hook up to cylinder # 7 due to height restraints from Turbo. Went to a hose shop and they made up a fitting with about 6" of brake flex hose and it worked great.
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