Both cylinders tested right at 85 pounds. Not sure how accurate my buddy's cheap HArbor Freight comp tester is, but at least they were right on the same reading.

Front cyl held pressure like that for a good five minutes.

I'm thinking this is something that can wait. The bike really does run nice.

Unless I'm smoking rope here?

Thanks for the input, everyone.

 

85psi is too low...my bike had 125psi at 100k miles on standard bore and pistons.

 

Man, I'm thinking if it had 85 psi it would be running like chit. If not, at least hard to start.

 

Yeah, I think 85 is way too low. But with both jugs the same and the bike running (and starting) fine, I'm thinking its the ***** gauge.

 

If it is a **** gauge why would you trust it?

 

That oil actually appears to be coming from the right side of the motor and seeping around. I would take a good look at the exhaust pushrod tube o-ring at the cylinder head. I've seen how they can leak and how it gets around the head...won't hurt to check... And yea definitely need a different gauge.....

 

Ok, update.

:: facepalm ::

I was thinking about things, and I realized I did the test wrong. Forgot to open the throttle, and also the motor was only barely warm.

So, I did it over. Went out for a quick ten mile run to get her good and hot, and re-ran the test.

New result is 125 pounds on both jugs. Left it sitting on the front jug for about ten minutes, and it held rock steady.

Good question.

After the retest with more reasonable results, maybe this was just a case of incompetent operator blaming the tool.

I'll look for that. Thanks.

After all this, I'm cautiously satisfied that the motor itself is sound, even if it does weep oil all over itself.

 

 

But only on 1 cylinder.......

 

Its either the front exhaust pushrod tube or more likely its the small inner gasket in the rocker cover stack. My one went and dumped oil in exactly the same manner and place.