Compression Question

[scrapvalue]

I picked up a nice 1975 RE5 and am trying to get it started.
IT turns over great but doesn't want to fire up.
Has great spark, but the compession seems to be low.
The bike has 19,000 miles on it. Was told it was strarted a couple of years ago.
Anyway, I don't have a compression tester that will work on this bike. I removed the spark plug and did the old finger in the hole test and it doesn't really seem to have much compression.
I am new to the whole rotary engine thing and don't know much about it,(obviously).
Is it possible for something to be stuck from sitting that would cause this?
I know on a regular piston style motor there can be stuck rings or valves.

Thanks for any advice.

Attachments:

[steveuk]

apex seals remove exhausts and manifold then turn the engine till one of the apex seals is visable at the exhaust port and press its sping loaded so should press in and then return when released

steve

[Jess]

Before doing anything... get a compression test. You can use a normal compression tester to get a down and dirty reading.

All the rotary Specific testers do is give a reading for each face of the rotor.

You can get a good idea of engine condition with a standard compression tester. It will not be exact, but it will tell you what direction to move in.

Stuck or sticking seals are a very unlikely cause of low compression in the Re5.

Post your results and we should be able to give you an idea of how to proceed.

Best,

[scrapvalue]

Just checked the compression and it is only around 30 psi.
This was done with a screw in type tester.

[steveuk]

i think it should be 116-123psi, i have an re5 with 65psi and that will not run.

[redbug2]

Have you squirted any oil down the plug hole and rotated the rotor a bit? I always oil up my combustion chambers on 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines that are hard to start. It builds up the compressions and usually gets them to fire. I put some in my RE-5. Not a bunch, maybe 2-3 squirts from an oil can. I don't see why a little bit of oil won't help with the rotary engine... Maybe put a few squirts of 5-30 or 10-30 and rotate the rotor with the plug out, put a rag over the plug hole to make sure nothing blows out on the bike. Then put the plug back in and give it a try. If it starts it surely will smoke a bit, but that will burn off.