Re: Johnson 3HP JW-17 Compression woes

[Don]

What seals did you replace?
I’m with Frank, I don’t think changing the head gasket would lower the compression unless you really botched something badly…Like Frank says, these small combustion chambers are real fussy about the compression gage, so I would not put too much confidence into the readings you are getting…
Sounds like you just patched up the chafed plug wire, you should go through the entire ignition system and replace both plug wires. Are you sure you have the plug wires on the right plugs? Is this engine new to you? Did you ever have it running? Perhaps it is drooling due to a carb or ignition problem…
No, I would not replace the rings. I’m guessing there is something else keeping this thing from firing up….