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Compressor size for compression testing

 
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doug.medema(at)comcast.ne
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:03 am    Post subject: Compressor size for compression testing Reply with quote
I am planning to buy a small compressor to leave at the airport. I'm looking for something to inflate the tires, but will also allow me to do a compression test. Anyone know the requirements for the compression testers out there? Harbor Freight has a little 3 gallon 100psi oilless unit for $50. I know this won't be the highest quality tool out there, but I'm just looking for something that will get very occasional use.

I checked at the various aircraft vendors, but don't see any compressor requirements for the compression tester. Anybody have any info?

Thanks,
Doug Medema
RV-6A N276DM


Checked by AVG.
3/11/2008 1:41 PM
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n616tb(at)btsapps.com
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:20 am    Post subject: Compressor size for compression testing Reply with quote
Doug,

It doesn’t really take much for a compression test. If you can provide about 80 psi with hopefully no real volume it is sufficient. If you have a big leak and need the volume, then you have a problem anyway. The volume you are filling is the top of your cylinder.
Tim


From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Doug Medema
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 8:58 AM
To: RV-List(at)matronics.com
Subject: Compressor size for compression testing


I am planning to buy a small compressor to leave at the airport. I'm looking for something to inflate the tires, but will also allow me to do a compression test. Anyone know the requirements for the compression testers out there? Harbor Freight has a little 3 gallon 100psi oilless unit for $50. I know this won't be the highest quality tool out there, but I'm just looking for something that will get very occasional use.



I checked at the various aircraft vendors, but don't see any compressor requirements for the compression tester. Anybody have any info?



Thanks,

Doug Medema

RV-6A N276DM




Checked by AVG.
3/11/2008 1:41 PM
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rhdudley1(at)bellsouth.ne
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:33 am    Post subject: Compressor size for compression testing Reply with quote
Hi Doug,

After I finished building and painting my RV-6A using a 7HP, 60 gallon compressor, I sold it and bought an 8 gallon compressor from Harbor Freight. It serves all my current needs including tire filling AND compression test. I have used this compressor for small painting jobs with a touch-up gun. This compressor cost about $100 and has an oilless direct drive compressor. To conduct the compression test, I found that I need to have it maximum pressure (about 100 psi) to start the test. That means that I bleed down the tank pressure to cause the compressor to start and pump up to shut off pressure. I think what this means is the tank capacity is adequate only if I start the test with max tank pressure allowing the compression tester to maintain its 80 psi during each cylinder test. I would wonder if the 3 gallon machine will stay above 80 psi during a compression test.

Most of the time I keep the compressor at home to use in the garage. I have a tank at the airport that I fill from the compressor for tire filling. It is adequate for occasional topping off of my aircraft tires and requires infrequent refilling from the compressor. When I do my annual, I take the compressor to the hangar for the compression test and to power my plug cleaner and re-fill my tire filling tank.

Hope this information is some help.

Regards,

Richard Dudley
RV-6A flying
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brian.kraut(at)engalt.com
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:44 am    Post subject: Compressor size for compression testing Reply with quote
That will probably be O.K as long as the compressor will actually fill the tank to 100 PSI or more. Some of the cheap ones don't get up to their rated power. I have a 5 gallon tank that I can fill up to about 120 PSI and bring to the airport and test four cylinders with. If you have a very leaky cylinder though you might have a problem with a small compressor getting an exact reading, but with cylinders over 70 you will get accurate readings on the small compressors.


Brian Kraut
Engineering Alternatives, Inc.
www.engalt.com [quote] --

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yenduc(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest
PostPosted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:54 am    Post subject: Compressor size for compression testing Reply with quote
Doug :
I had a similar compressor at my hangar that I bought at an auto parts store for $49.95. It worked, but not too well. The problem was that with the small tank I would have to wait for it to pump back up to 95 lbs or so-- some times having to re check a single cylinder several times to make sure it was right. In other words the pump could not keep up with the leak test by itself and maintain 80+ lbs. I had to use the small compressor because the circuits to our hangars would not support a larger power drain. When I moved to a different hangar with more power and got a larger compressor (Harbor Freight $150) I've had no problems with compression tests but wish I had more capacity for things like die grinders.

good luck

dave

On Mar 12, 2008, at 9:17 AM, Tim Bryan wrote:
Quote:
Doug,

It doesn’t really take much for a compression test. If you can provide about 80 psi with hopefully no real volume it is sufficient. If you have a big leak and need the volume, then you have a problem anyway. The volume you are filling is the top of your cylinder.
Tim


From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com) [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com)] On Behalf Of Doug Medema
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 8:58 AM
To: RV-List(at)matronics.com (RV-List(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Compressor size for compression testing


I am planning to buy a small compressor to leave at the airport. I'm looking for something to inflate the tires, but will also allow me to do a compression test. Anyone know the requirements for the compression testers out there? Harbor Freight has a little 3 gallon 100psi oilless unit for $50. I know this won't be the highest quality tool out there, but I'm just looking for something that will get very occasional use.



I checked at the various aircraft vendors, but don't see any compressor requirements for the compression tester. Anybody have any info?



Thanks,

Doug Medema

RV-6A N276DM


Checked by AVG.
3/11/2008 1:41 PM
Quote:
http://www.matronics.com/contribution
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[quote][b]

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Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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