[AT] Compression values and range

[Mike Sloane]

No, Dean, if you are getting 90 psi, that is not all that bad and would 
not be the cause of your problem. I have owned tractors where I would 
have been thrilled to get as high as 90 psi on a compression test. :-)

Your problem is elsewhere. I was a little surprised to read that you 
were having a problem getting to the condenser in the distributor. I 
have seen tractors where the PO had a problem getting to the condenser 
and just mounted it outside the distributor. If you look at the wiring 
diagram, you will see that the location is not important, but they 
really aren't meant to be subjected to that kind of environment. If 
there is no condenser inside your distributor, you may have to look 
around for an external one. (Kohler engines used on IH Cub Cadets have 
an external condenser, mainly because there is no distributor to put the 
condenser in! Other one cylinder engines put the condenser under the 
flywheel.)

Mike

Dean Vinson wrote:
> Mike Sloane wrote:
> 
> 
>>Based on everything I have read about this tractor's problems, I would 
>>have to say that it either has very low compression or weak spark under 
>>compression. I had a Ford N that was very hard starting, and it turned 
>>out that the rings were broken on two of the pistons. It would run, once 
>>I got it started, but a compression check showed two cylinders with about
>>30 pounds compression. Burned valves can also cause poor compression.
> 
> 
> Mike, I do have significantly lower compression in two cylinders than in the
> other two.  #1 and 2 are at 115 and 118 psi respectively, but #3 and #4 are
> at 90 and 105.  90 seems mighty low compared to 118 but it's nothing like
> the 30 in your example.
> 
> What do those numbers tell me?  Is 90 bad?  Or is the fact that it's
> different from the other ones bad?  I assume the lower numbers mean worn
> rings but probably not broken ones, and the tractor ought to run fine for
> what little work I'm going to ask of it.
> 
> Dean Vinson


-- 
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
<mikesloane at verizon.net>
Website: <www.geocities.com/mikesloane>
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of this is the beginning of wisdom.
-Theodore Rubin, psychiatrist and writer (1923- )


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