we checked it out and theres no compression. theres spark and fuel but no compression. a bud offered to help me tear down the engine and rebuild it. what can be done to correct this?

 

Before you do anything, check the compression guage. Then maybe rings? All the valves are bad? Does HRC make a kit to do a complete engine overhaul? Look for a used engine from a wreck.

 

Definitely need more information. Has the bike been sitting or did it just stop running? If you owned the bike while it was running, was there smoke coming from the exhaust. When you same no compression do you really mean a reading of 0 psi. A reading of 0 psi is usually caused from a catastrophic engine failure and usually would only be apparent in one cylinder, unless you sent the rods through all 4 at the same time. The only time I have ever seen that was a NOS run done by GM on their Ecotec engine.

 

if you plan on rebuilding you must get a leak down test done on the motor to figure out what part of the motor really needs to be rebuilt.. if you got bent or cracked valve and you rebulid the block you will have the same issue. i would suggest a junk yard motor then having someone rebuild it unless it is a machine doing it of coarse... by the way a leak down test will show you where the leak is a how much perrcent is leaking

 

I disagree. If you are going to rebuild the motor, why leakdown test it. During the rebuild, everything should be returned to within factory specifications.

 

i never owned it when it ran. he said it ran strong then he went to iraq for a year and came back and it wouldnt run. there is no pressure coming out of the spark plug holes when trying to start

 

Since it sat for a long time, did you put WD40 in the cylinders and lit it sit overnight beofre trying to start it? Did someone else screw with the bike while the soldier was fighting? Seriously, to have 0 psi, there would have to be holes in the pistons, ALL valves stuck open (impossible), or the rings wiped out. Now it is possible that the rings were wiped out when you tried to start it for the first time after it sat for a year and a half, however, I seriously doubt it. Also, even if the rings were wiped out, there probably would still be enough compression to start the engine.

Enough rambling, get a compression tester and check the engine compression. There is no reason to have a 0 psi situation. Also, how many miles does the engine have on it? I do not see why you would rebuild an engine because it sat for a long time. The worst I could see happening is the valve springs getting weak.