doing a compression test

I have a 1997 suzuki 40 hp outboard motor. I had a guy do a compression test on it just for kicks and this is what happend. The motor was completly cold and had not been started in 2 days. It was not in water or in a bucket or tub of water. We took out both spark plugs and then he screwd in his guage. He went up and turned the key for a few seconds and got a 21 on his guage. He then unscrewd his guage and put in the second spark plug hole and turned the key and we got a 22 on his guage. My boat runs awsome. It dont die, it hauls azz, its easy to start, ect. So my question is this. Did he do the compression test right or wrong? Because shouldn't i got a 100 and something on a compression test? Please let me know. thanks in advance to anyone that can give me some insight.

Re: doing a compression test

His gauge must be messed up. The normal compression should be up in the low 100's. Most important you want the two to be close in psi

Re: doing a compression test

well the numbers were 21 and 22 so i don't know

Re: doing a compression test

It is very important when measuring compression that the throttle is wide open. Was this the case?

Re: doing a compression test

i,m afraid your engine is toast with this compression

seriously... the engine has to be warmed up and like mentioned the throttle must be fully opened.

and more seriously.... when your engine runs like a champ for what a compression test ?

screwing on a good engine by something that competent like your guy is asking for problems. you also do not a favor to your impeller when you crank an engine which was since 2 days out of water and so the impeller completely dry.

Re: doing a compression test

Throttle position has no effect on measured compression during a compression test on a 2 stroke outboard. It has been proven many times by people trying to prove the opposite. It does matter on 4 strokes.

Refer to the Engine FAQs for a good procedure. Your procedure or his gauge are seriously in error. If compression were really 21 and 22psi your engine would neither start nor run.

Re: doing a compression test

ah ok- i had a 4stroke in mind with this suzuki. correct - none or very little effect on a 2stroke and a must have on a 4stroke. but it does not hurt to open the throttle even on a 2st.

Re: doing a compression test

ok guys im a retard, i called him an asked him and he said no the compression was was 121 and 122 he was just saying the numbers out loud and thats why i thought he said it was 21 he ment it was 121. He told me that was ok for my motor. and the throttel was not open and the motor was cold like i said in my first post. So do you guys think im ok with a compression like 121 or what? Like i said befor my motor runs awsome so far and its starts if u bump the key and it never dies. thanks again everyone. Please forgive me for being so dumb.

Re: doing a compression test

Those are very good numbers for your engine, hunter. No need to apologize. You told us what you heard. Glad you got to the bottom of it.