[QUOTE=stephenc1984;3058206]What should be the compression in the other cylinders? I thought 250psi was a good number? The interesting thing about this motor before it was pulled is that the only indication that something was wrong was the hard start in the morning. Once the motor warmed up it ran smooth. It would seem with a cylinder with 115 psi the engine would lope, but it did not. It is difficult to judge how much power the engine had because the engine lacks power from the start. I will do the soapy test on all the valves and post some pictures tomorrow also.[/QUOTE

Great. We all share in what we do. A few years ago I suggested we would all become more comforatable with the injection pumps and it actually happened. A gravity type leakdown test in comparison on at least some cylinders including the number one might become a usable test.

I always wanted to pretty well diagnose an internal engine issue before taking the head off as a couple of times I was left basically looking at things trying to establish what was really wrong. So i quickly kicked that habit.

Two hundred pounds pressure or two hundred and twenty pounds is probably getting near the practical bottom for overall compression pressure. They will still run but not as efficient as all cylinders over or around the three hundred pound mark. Cold starting will also be hampered to some extent. A good tight 616 engine should product in the neighbourhood of 350 pounds compression test pressure. One of my 616 engines is almost new. It fires off so easy it does not require glow plugs in reasonable weather. If it turns over it is running.