R5 Valves / Compression / Hard start

Set the valves by the book and report back?

If it hasnt been run in a long time a compression check doesnt mean too much unless it reads zero. Low compression on an old engine often improves after a good hard run. When you pull the plugs, turn the engine and see if any of the valves come up in a snap or if they all come up smoothly. Anything unusual could be from rust on the valve stems or guides and can probably be worked out with any kind of rust buster and a lot of turning. Set the valves and give it a go. Check for good blue spark and in spite of rumors, starting fluid (in moderation) doesnt murder engines. Good luck. Grant.

I'll set clearance on rockers to spec, clean guides best I can and wet down the cylinders with a little gas as suggested. Mag was just rebuilt and I checked plug spark - looks strong across all cylinders.

I'll post results - thanks for tips.

Ross

Hi Ross, squirt some engine oil in the cylinder trying to hit the side (rather than the top of the piston) so the rings pick it up. That will help with compression. Some video of the start attempt would be good : ) 👍

Double check the firing order, the big gas cats use a different firing order from the small machines, On my gas 40 I got the firing order out of a restoration book and it was wrong, I discovered this by monitoring the valves as someone else cranked the engine over. No more back firing. Problem solved.

STEVE A you made me look at my LaVoi book and it says 1,2,4,3, for the R5. Is that incorrect or did you get bad info from some other book? With my limited knowledge I tend to rely on LaVoi for a lot of my info. Just curious. Grant.

R5 manual I have has 1,2,4 and 3 as firing order. I'll add some oil and a little gas to the cylinders like described - good suggestions. I'll post some video of result once I get valves adjusted/cleaned. Hopefull video of it running at some level or at least trying to start.

Thanks - Ross

Rather than adding gas to the cylinders, just use the oil. If you want to aspirate a bit of gas, someone recently described soaking a clean cloth in gas and holding it over the air intake while cranking. I don't think it would help to put gas straight into the cylinder but maybe it does - I've never done it so don't know for sure. Does your intake manifold have little cups on the side? If so, tip a tsp of gas into those then close them and crank.
Or just use the choke for a couple of pulls, then choke off.
Another technique I've used if you have a helper is to just tow it around to start it - kind of "forces" it to run : )

Grant

I am not sure where I got it, might just have read info for the small gas cats and assumed, and we all know what that stands for, anyway it would run just not well, once I payed close attention corrected the firing order all was well.