compression tester

[yank]

I need to do a compression test. Is the $20 harbor frieght tester OK.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39224

[thixon]

I've never used that particular one, but it looks a lot like mine. Mine happens to be a super el cheapo from a local auto parts store, presumably made in the same country as the model you're looking at. Mine works fine. I say go for it.

[greenmeanie]

With the cheap ones it is good to remember that the actual value is less important than the relation betwen the readings. i.e. you don't want to see anything more thatn a 10% variation across the board. I also find that it works best if you take three readings on each cylinder and average them as it helps to minimize 'experimental error'.

Other than that read up on how to do a proper compression test as detailed by several folk on here.

[Drain Rovers2]

I have one almost exactly the same and it works great!
DR