I got this off of banshee hq i already had a vaule stem and the plug but i spent 8$ on the gauge and pipe and cap
This is a "How-To" on making your own leakdown tester. This is going to explain step by step exactly what you need to do in order to make a homemade leakdown tester.
First. You will need to measure the inner-diameter of your intake. This is the size of PVC pipe that you will need to buy. Get as close to the actual size as you can. Without going over.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Second. You will need to measure your exhaust outlets inner-diameter to find out what size freeze plugs you will need. Same thing. Get as close to the size that you need as possible without going over. NOTE: You will need to get the size that goes up to the size that you need. For example; if you have an ID that equals 1 3/4". You will need to get the size that is 1 5/8" to 1 3/4". The one that is 1 3/4" and bigger. Is going to be too large for you.
Then you will need to go out and get all the supplies. All of these parts should be fairly easy to come by.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Expandable freeze plugs. Purchased at Advanced Auto Parts.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
1 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 pipe. Purchased at Lowes.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Two 1 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 caps.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Tire pressure gauge. NOTE: Needs to be easily readable at 6PSI. Purchased at Advanced Auto Parts.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Metal Tubeless valve stems. NOTE: The ones that have a nut are easier to get tighter. Purchased at Advanced Auto Parts.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Handy Pack of PVC cement, too include primer and cement. Purchased at Lowes.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Now. On to the fun. Measure out about 3 inches of PVC pipe. Mark to make a cut.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Then cut it. Doesn't have to be perfect either.
Now. Measure another 3" section out. And cut that also. Still doesn't need to be perfect. Should have two now.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
- Justin
Set the two pieces of PVC pipe on a flat surface. Pick a side that you want to have the caps on. Use the purple primer out of the Handy pack to prime the ends of the pipe. The brush is inside the can of primer. Might be hard to open the first time. No big deal.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Do the inside of the caps also.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Then apply some cement the same way. Be careful with the cement. You do not need a lot. When you are done with applying the cement on the outside of the pipe and on the inside of the caps. You should put the caps on top of the pipe pieces. Press down as hard as you can to make sure to get the best seal on the cement.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Ok. The tire gauge that I bought needs a little modification. So, we are going to open it up and look at the bottom.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
The little brass flat head screw in there needs to be loosened and removed. When you loosen that screw, you'll notice that the outside came undone too. Unscrew the whole thing. Including the outside cap. Should look like this when completed.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Now that is all taken care of. We can move onto the drilling. You are going to have to find a drill bit that is small enough for the end of the tire gauge. Then you are going to drill the end of one of the caps with this bit.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Should look like this.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Test fit. The end of tire gauge should now have a threaded end on it. You do not want to go so big that you can not thread it in to place in the cap.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Take the tire gauge back out. Prime and cement the hole.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Now take the tire gauge and screw it into permanent place. Make sure no cement gets on the inside of the pressure gauge.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Take your valve stem and take it apart. Should look like this.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Now, take the other pipe with cap and drill it the same way that you did the first one. With a bit that is slightly smaller than the valve stem threads.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Should look like this.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Test fit. Screw the valve stem in the opposite way, so that you know the hole is not too big for the stem.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Take the stem out and prime and cement the hole.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Now, slide the valve stem into place on the inside of the pipe. Screw it into place. Do not get cement on the top or bottom of the vavle stem. Then all you have to do is, screw the washer and nut back on the top of the stem. NOTE: If you can fit the other black bushing on top of the cap around the valve stem, I strongly suggest you do. It will only help. Not totally necessary though.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Looks like this when you look inside the pipe.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
This is what they look like thus far.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Use a little bit of sealant on the holes we drilled.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Looks like this now.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Done with the leakdown tester!!!
Now for the process.
Put the expandable freeze plugs in the exhaust outlets and tighten them down!! This is very important. They should be air tight!
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Take your pipes and put them into the intakes. NOTE: I used some more sealant where the caps stop on the pipe. Not necessary.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Hook up your tire inflator. Inflate to 6PSI only!
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
I use an electric tire inflator made by Bell to keep pumping air in, so that I can find leaks. If your motor does not hold the air. Take a spray bottle of warm soapy water, re-inflate to 6PSI and spray around different parts of your motor to find the leak.
Hope this helps you. Most of this info came from my buddies off this site. Chad, Austin, Dave and Shayne. Thanks a lot for all your guys' help.
If anybody sees anything wrong with this info, let me know ASAP! So I can get it right!
This is a "How-To" on making your own leakdown tester. This is going to explain step by step exactly what you need to do in order to make a homemade leakdown tester.
First. You will need to measure the inner-diameter of your intake. This is the size of PVC pipe that you will need to buy. Get as close to the actual size as you can. Without going over.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Second. You will need to measure your exhaust outlets inner-diameter to find out what size freeze plugs you will need. Same thing. Get as close to the size that you need as possible without going over. NOTE: You will need to get the size that goes up to the size that you need. For example; if you have an ID that equals 1 3/4". You will need to get the size that is 1 5/8" to 1 3/4". The one that is 1 3/4" and bigger. Is going to be too large for you.
Then you will need to go out and get all the supplies. All of these parts should be fairly easy to come by.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Expandable freeze plugs. Purchased at Advanced Auto Parts.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
1 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 pipe. Purchased at Lowes.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Two 1 1/2" PVC Schedule 40 caps.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Tire pressure gauge. NOTE: Needs to be easily readable at 6PSI. Purchased at Advanced Auto Parts.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Metal Tubeless valve stems. NOTE: The ones that have a nut are easier to get tighter. Purchased at Advanced Auto Parts.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Handy Pack of PVC cement, too include primer and cement. Purchased at Lowes.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Now. On to the fun. Measure out about 3 inches of PVC pipe. Mark to make a cut.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Then cut it. Doesn't have to be perfect either.
Now. Measure another 3" section out. And cut that also. Still doesn't need to be perfect. Should have two now.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
- Justin
Set the two pieces of PVC pipe on a flat surface. Pick a side that you want to have the caps on. Use the purple primer out of the Handy pack to prime the ends of the pipe. The brush is inside the can of primer. Might be hard to open the first time. No big deal.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Do the inside of the caps also.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Then apply some cement the same way. Be careful with the cement. You do not need a lot. When you are done with applying the cement on the outside of the pipe and on the inside of the caps. You should put the caps on top of the pipe pieces. Press down as hard as you can to make sure to get the best seal on the cement.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Ok. The tire gauge that I bought needs a little modification. So, we are going to open it up and look at the bottom.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
The little brass flat head screw in there needs to be loosened and removed. When you loosen that screw, you'll notice that the outside came undone too. Unscrew the whole thing. Including the outside cap. Should look like this when completed.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Now that is all taken care of. We can move onto the drilling. You are going to have to find a drill bit that is small enough for the end of the tire gauge. Then you are going to drill the end of one of the caps with this bit.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Should look like this.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Test fit. The end of tire gauge should now have a threaded end on it. You do not want to go so big that you can not thread it in to place in the cap.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Take the tire gauge back out. Prime and cement the hole.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Now take the tire gauge and screw it into permanent place. Make sure no cement gets on the inside of the pressure gauge.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Take your valve stem and take it apart. Should look like this.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Now, take the other pipe with cap and drill it the same way that you did the first one. With a bit that is slightly smaller than the valve stem threads.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Should look like this.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Test fit. Screw the valve stem in the opposite way, so that you know the hole is not too big for the stem.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Take the stem out and prime and cement the hole.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Now, slide the valve stem into place on the inside of the pipe. Screw it into place. Do not get cement on the top or bottom of the vavle stem. Then all you have to do is, screw the washer and nut back on the top of the stem. NOTE: If you can fit the other black bushing on top of the cap around the valve stem, I strongly suggest you do. It will only help. Not totally necessary though.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Looks like this when you look inside the pipe.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
This is what they look like thus far.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Use a little bit of sealant on the holes we drilled.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Looks like this now.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Done with the leakdown tester!!!
Now for the process.
Put the expandable freeze plugs in the exhaust outlets and tighten them down!! This is very important. They should be air tight!
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Take your pipes and put them into the intakes. NOTE: I used some more sealant where the caps stop on the pipe. Not necessary.
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
Hook up your tire inflator. Inflate to 6PSI only!
Resized to 68% (was 1024 x 768) - Click image to enlarge
I use an electric tire inflator made by Bell to keep pumping air in, so that I can find leaks. If your motor does not hold the air. Take a spray bottle of warm soapy water, re-inflate to 6PSI and spray around different parts of your motor to find the leak.
Hope this helps you. Most of this info came from my buddies off this site. Chad, Austin, Dave and Shayne. Thanks a lot for all your guys' help.
If anybody sees anything wrong with this info, let me know ASAP! So I can get it right!
