Compression problems?/use seafoam*?

[kpotter16]

my bike before i bought it had sat for a couple years the compression is off and i am about to do a leak down test to see if its the valves or the rings. ive talked to many poeple and they say before i commit to rebuilding the dam thing i should try using sea foam* to help reseat those rings. is that a good option or what else could i use to help my problem.. will rebuild if have to but would like to be riding this summer. whats my options you think??? thanks guys

[Nessism]

We get questions like this all the time so you might want to check the archives for more information.

If the bike has sat in long term storage you can not get a accurate gauge of compression until the bike is up and running for 200 good hard miles or so.

Also, how did you test compression? Did you check the valve clearance first? Was the engine hot and the throttle held wide open? All these details matter.

[niclpnut]

The seafoam could help to free the rings if they are gunked up from sitting.

It is by no means a cure all for mechanical problems, but It can help if a bike has been sitting for a while.

For $7 its worth a try before a teardown.

But as the above poster stated, there are steps required to determine a problem, and find a solution.

Nic

[kpotter16]

i tested compression after having it running and trying to tune the carbs. after being unable to set them equal i checked the compression with a crappy rubber not screw in tester which put the compresion off on three of the cylinders i couldnt tell you what they were at i cant remember. i am going to be doing a leak down test which im told should be more accurate and tell me what the problem would be be it rings or valves depending on where the air leaks out. but yea 7$ is cheap enough to make it way worth it to try it.

[tkent02]

Just ride the ****er a few thousand hard miles. Either the compression will be good or it won't.

[kpotter16]

one thing is i could of been doing it wrong which is easily a possibility when i was sync*ing the carbs they just wouldnt sync. its that or it has something else wrong which i think has to do with this compression problem.

[tom203]

Just ride the ****er a few thousand hard miles. Either the compression will be good or it won't.

Yeah, if it runs ok now,forget fiddling with carbs till you wake it up.