Compression Test Procedure?

[flashback87]

I want to do a compression tes on my engine but i am a little unclear about somehting.

the hanes manual says to pull the coil wire and ground it but using aligator clips on both ends. So, do i just use s jump wire with aligator cips,stick one aligator clip in the coli wire boot and cip it to the metal connector in the boot? Then do i connect the other aligator clip on the jum wire to a body ground or ground on the engine? if it is an engine ground can i just use a bollt ont he alternator bracket or power steering bracket?

Help would be greatly apreciated as i am trying to see what i need done to my engine this winter. And i am sure this is a pretty newbie question but i got a learn

thanks

 

[Boydster]

I have no idea why they would want you to ground both ends of the coil wire. Just remove it from the coil and tuck the end where it wont get in rotating engine parts. If you only pull it from the cap, you can still have a spark jumping from the wire. The idea is to prevent the engine from starting.

Warm the engine. Pull the coil wire and all spark plugs. Install the compression gauge in 1 spark plug hole and spin the engine using the starter. Move along to each cylinder.

 

[flashback87]

the hanes manual actually says, "Detach the coil wire from the centor of the distributor cap and groud it on the engine block. Use a jumper wire with alligator clips on each end to ensure a good ground."

so would it be better jus tto detach it from the coil pack or should i do as the hanes manual says and ground it.

what i did yesterday was, i took it off the cap and placed the aligator clip of a jumper wire on the mettal connector inside the boot of the coil wire. I then put the other alligator clip around a bolt that connected to the brackett the alternator is on.

It just sounded weird when i cranked it with the coil grounded like this. is this ok?

thanks

 

[capri debris]

Just pull the coil wire form the dizzy, wrap a cloth shop towel around the boot end, tuck it somewhere away from moving parts and perform the comp test. Don't overthink this... it's not rocket science.

 

[vertvert]

It was saying a jumper wire with alligator clips on both ends. Not jump both ends of the coil wire.

 

[Boydster]

Near as I can figure, they want you to ground the coil wire so it doesn't get ya. But I dont really like putting a coil directly to ground. The coil is designed to put out a spark capable of jumping a .055" gap, if not more. I like the idea the other poster said about wrapping it in a towel...

All of this is just for safety. It has nothing to do with results of the compression test.