hey everybody ive been working on my zx7 for some time now, i blew the head gasket, so i pulled the engine and replaced it, got the valves relapped, reseated, etc cleaned the carbs and just about completely finished rebuilding. I cranked it, not to try to start it or anything, just to see if i had compression, and that everything was working, but it isn't. the starter motor cranks, buti get no compression readings. its like the crankshaft or cams aren't turning. i did not mess with anything below the head, and i thought i had put everything back together correctly, does anyone have any ideas off the bat on what i maybe did wrong? or forgot to do? thanks for any help

 

You put the cams in correctly?

 

i believe i did i did it according to my hanes manual specs, would that cause it to not turn at all? if say i incorrectly installed them?

 

If the cams are not placed correctly, a valve is stuck open, the CCT is not set right can cause a lack of pressure. Do a leak down test and double check

 

i have zero pressure at all its almost like the cylinders are not rotating. what is a leak down test?

 

With the valves closed on a cylinder, pressure it with compressed air, see if the cylinder holds the pressure (reading your gauge). Just the reverse of a compression test basically. I still think that you have the cams in wrong. First thought anyways

 

ok im gonna try to do the cams again tomorrow, how should they sit before i bolt down the cage? should they be flush? or should they stick up a little and require pressure to bolt the cage down?

 

Make sure you have shrader valve in the compresstion gauge.

 

hmm, a good basic thought there mmi86. To double check your tools first

 

i used the same valve as i did when i first compression tested it, and i got results the first timeso im pretty sure i used the right valve.