i am taking my motor apart for the first time and im wondering how the decompression lever works? i checked my compression last summer and it was only 80lbs. i was told this was low. is it possible the lever is stuck on. i am replacing the piston so if i should remove it nows the time.

 

as long as it moves freely it shouldn't be a problem. taking the compression on the rotax isn't as easy as just putting the guage in a spark plug hole.

 

you cannot take an accurate compression test on the DS with out first removing the head cover and disabling the decompressore. the decompressor only stops decompressing after the motor is started and running at idle speed, centrifugal force forces the lever out and off the exhaust valve for this to happen. any compression test you try to make without first disabling this decompressor will be much lower than actual compression due to this. however a typical comression check WITHOUT disabling the decompressor on a stock motor with stock piston and no problems will be around 120psi.

No don't elliminate the decompressor - you will gain nothing and just make starting harder on the starter motor. just make sure it moves free and doesn't bind or hang up, and make sure the spring isn't broken.

 

I got 125psi in this old 2000 [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img](WITHOUT disabling the decompressor) Guess it's still going strong: DS ROCK

 

150...but it aint stock