Engine Mechanical Topics Discussion for motor builds, cams, head work, stripped bolts and other engine related issues. The good and the bad. If it goes round and around or up and down, post it here.

Cranking Compression

Old Feb 9, 2025 | 06:29 AM
  #11  
skydude426's Avatar
skydude426
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 460
Riders Club Member
Default

Originally Posted by Max Headflow
Then the numbers you gave for cr are not correct..
I'm not following. The numbers I gave are for a .040" head gasket which is what I have in the engine.
 
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2025 | 06:55 AM
  #12  
Max Headflow's Avatar
Max Headflow
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,921
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
Default

Originally Posted by skydude426
I'm not following. The numbers I gave are for a .040" head gasket which is what I have in the engine.
Yeah, I got it wrong.. The numbers you gave are for a 0.040 headgasket. So you have 0.050 squish.
 
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2025 | 07:23 PM
  #13  
skydude426's Avatar
skydude426
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 460
Riders Club Member
Default

So I finally was able to get the bike out and start it. It runs well. I let it idle for a while and road it around the block a few times. I didn't want to go farther because the main streets are full of winter salt. Anyway, I pulled it back into my shop, let it cool down enough to not burn myself and did a compression test with it hot and freshly ran. Guess what. Both cylinders pumped up to right at 200psi. Thats very close to the calculated compression from Big Boys and Hammer Performance. Moral of the story, the engine needs to be hot to get an accurate cranking compression reading.
 
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2025 | 07:41 PM
  #14  
Max Headflow's Avatar
Max Headflow
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,921
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
Default

Originally Posted by skydude426
So I finally was able to get the bike out and start it. It runs well. I let it idle for a while and road it around the block a few times. I didn't want to go farther because the main streets are full of winter salt. Anyway, I pulled it back into my shop, let it cool down enough to not burn myself and did a compression test with it hot and freshly ran. Guess what. Both cylinders pumped up to right at 200psi. Thats very close to the calculated compression from Big Boys and Hammer Performance. Moral of the story, the engine needs to be hot to get an accurate cranking compression reading.
So you got the original high numbers without running the motor before hand?
 
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2025 | 07:55 PM
  #15  
Dano523's Avatar
Dano523
HDF Community Team
5 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 800
From: Colorado
Community Team
Default

Originally Posted by skydude426
I have a second gauge. Reads close to the same.

Divide gauge pressure reading by your location atmospheric pressure, to get real compression for your altitude, that includes what cam is helping as well.
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/a...ure-d_462.html

As for actual thing that are going to change compression, its the amount of piston squish to top of cylinder, and the amount of head volume, over what the cam is helping as well.
If squish is now at .030" to top of head, but running .030 head gasket, then squish is really at .060" instead.
Base gasket only comes in to play for thinness, if it going to decrease the amount of piston squish.
As for back to piston squish, you can run less, but keep in mind that wrist pin wear to connecting rod bushing slop and even lower rod to crank shaft slop, can get you into trouble with less than .030 squish as the engine wears in, since piston may still have enough slop on up stroke off compression stroke, to contract head gasket if any over hang, or even bottom of heads with D type heads, or domed pistons.

Simply put, no replacement for displacement, and with such, don't have the have the compression so high that the motor will no longer run on pump fuel, or piston to heads so close, that common wear in the connecting rod top bushing/lower bearings, can cause the piston to start making contact to the heads in the end.
 
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2025 | 08:25 PM
  #16  
Max Headflow's Avatar
Max Headflow
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,921
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
Default

Originally Posted by Dano523
Divide gauge pressure reading by your location atmospheric pressure, to get real compression for your altitude, that includes what cam is helping as well.
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/a...ure-d_462.html

As for actual thing that are going to change compression, its the amount of piston squish to top of cylinder, and the amount of head volume, over what the cam is helping as well.
If squish is now at .030" to top of head, but running .030 head gasket, then squish is really at .060" instead.
Base gasket only comes in to play for thinness, if it going to decrease the amount of piston squish.
As for back to piston squish, you can run less, but keep in mind that wrist pin wear to connecting rod bushing slop and even lower rod to crank shaft slop, can get you into trouble with less than .030 squish as the engine wears in, since piston may still have enough slop on up stroke off compression stroke, to contract head gasket if any over hang, or even bottom of heads with D type heads, or domed pistons.

Simply put, no replacement for displacement, and with such, don't have the have the compression so high that the motor will no longer run on pump fuel, or piston to heads so close, that common wear in the connecting rod top bushing/lower bearings, can cause the piston to start making contact to the heads in the end.
Simply multiplying by the pressure ratio to STD pressure is a good first order approximation but it's really exponential change on higher CRs.

When you say " .030" to top of head", I think you mean to top of cylinder.

"Base gasket only comes in to play for thinness"

Doesn't also affect compression ratio?

I wouldn't worry about wear, I'd worry about flex.



 
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2025 | 08:30 AM
  #17  
skydude426's Avatar
skydude426
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 460
Riders Club Member
Default

Originally Posted by Max Headflow
So you got the original high numbers without running the motor before hand?
Yes. I think the reason is as follows.
1. The bike was cold so the oil is thicker, creating a better seal on the rings.
2. I knew I was going to turn the motor over to get the oil flowing and do a compression test. Before I bolted on the heads, I gave the cylinders a light coating of oil. So the cylinders had more cold oil in them than they do hot oil after running the engine.
 
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2025 | 09:44 AM
  #18  
Max Headflow's Avatar
Max Headflow
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,921
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
Default

Originally Posted by skydude426
Yes. I think the reason is as follows.
1. The bike was cold so the oil is thicker, creating a better seal on the rings.
2. I knew I was going to turn the motor over to get the oil flowing and do a compression test. Before I bolted on the heads, I gave the cylinders a light coating of oil. So the cylinders had more cold oil in them than they do hot oil after running the engine.
I's suspect that what increased the CCP was the additional oil in the cylinders.. You want a perfect seal on the rings and should get only about 2% on a fresh set after rings are seated. Next time run the motor first..
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
OakMountainRider
Engine Mechanical Topics
32
Sep 26, 2022 11:06 AM
DeneFXDWG
Exhaust System Topics
6
Apr 22, 2019 05:10 PM
NC_John
Touring Models
6
Feb 29, 2012 01:38 PM
jhnmflr
Exhaust System Topics
18
Oct 16, 2009 07:23 PM
bluezguy
Shovelhead
3
Jul 27, 2006 12:33 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:23 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE