2001 DS - low compression

[The Penguin]

I'm tearing down my 2001 DS for a frame-up restoration. I'll start a separate thread for that soon.

BUT - before I took it all apart - I checked engine compression. It's at 145ish. purchased a manual today and it states it should be 156-185.

I'm more familiar with 2-stroke engines. What should I be looking for? I'm thinking it'll need a set of piston rings (minimum). Anything else to check?

I've completely torn the cart down to the naked frame - maybe I should have held up a bit. Ooops.

thanks!

[CP241]

Take it apart. Check tolerances on everything. Then order what you need to make it right. I’d replace all the seals, valve stem seals, and gaskets while it’s apart. Intake valves can wear, exhaust is usually fine. Check for any play in the counterbalance weight connecting rods. On the fe290 you can replace the rods or the bushings inside the rod, you’ll just need a shop press to do it. But it’s not hard.

There’s a sticky thread on fe290 at the top of this section. I’ve put a lot of the specs and part numbers in there.

[lockman1]

At 145ish... I wouldn’t go that far into it!
125ish? Then yes!
It might be something simple... will it be 156? No...
It might be just a bad reading without the throttle being wide open!

[CP241]

Originally Posted by lockman1

At 145ish... I wouldn’t go that far into it!
125ish? Then yes!
It might be something simple... will it be 156? No...
It might be just a bad reading without the throttle being wide open!

Touché

Or valve adjustment. But with the cart completely disassembled now it’s hard to verify. And I concur it’s much easier to pull the engine with the body already off.

Also while the body is off, is a great time to pull the gas tank and clean it out really well. The vent grommet has a tendency to disintegrate and leave crap all over the bottom of the tank. There’s no way to get the tank out with the body on.