1978 Gl1000 almost ready to give up. Help

[Kbkc2002]

I have been working on my 1978 honda goldwing
Final finished putting new gaskets throughout the engine and resurfaced the heads. Reseated the valves put it back together and did a compression test.
Cylinders 1 & 3 years 150
Cylinder 2 120
Cylinder 4 30
Please help I have no idea what I have done wrong

[winguyjo]

ouch, that's gotta hurt after doing all that work. you say you "re-seated" the valves ... can i assume that means you lapped them ? if so, have you checked the valve lash ? if so,

my next move would be to find out where the compression is going on number 4. a leakdown test will tell.

[Kbkc2002]

I did lap them, I am a little green when it comes to leakdown tests. How is thqt done.
Thanks for the help

[Rambozo]

Bring the cylinder up to TDC, pump air into the cylinder through the spark plug hole. There is a tool with a gauge that will tell you the actual leakage, but even without that, you can locate where the air is coming out to identify the problem area. Listen at the intake, to check the intake valve, the exhaust to check the exhaust valve, the crankcase to check the rings, the radiator to check for gasket or block/head failures.

[winguyjo]

if you have any trouble running a leakdown test, youtube is an excellent resource. the tool itself will cost you some $$ but if working on internal combustions is going to be your hobby, it's a well worth the investment. on youtube you can even learn how to put one together from bits and pieces if you have a decent hoard going on .

[Kbkc2002]

Thank you for your help

[landisr]

Auto Zone or O Reillys might have them to 'loan'.

Ron in AZ

[landisr]

Auto Zone or O Reillys might have them to 'loan'.

Ron in AZ

[DenverWinger]

Easy enough to make one if you or a buddy has a welder, I took an old sparkplug, smashed the porcelain guts out of it and welded the metal sparkplug shell to the end of a short piece of pipe. then welded an air hose chuck fitting to the other end.

When you bring a cylinder up to TDC, if it won't hold any pressure at all you probably have the "wrong" TDC (between intake/exhaust strokes). Rotate the crank one full rev and bring up to TDC again, this should be top of the compression/power stroke.

[Rambozo]

You can also often use the hose from your compression tester. Just remove the schrader valve in the end, so air can flow the other way.