so what's the deal with those special compression testers? I have done the standard remove the valve and look for a bump-bump-bump what am I missing?

 

It measures each of the three sides of the rotor.
Reads it out digitally and is ******* expensive.

 

Don't you mean remove the spark plug? These engines have no valves. The mazda tester will give you a seperate compression number on each rotor face. I'd think that an analogue guage would be good for a quick check (as long as it doesn't hold the peak #), and will let you see if there's a broken seal, but won't be that good for determining the actual compression numbers. I wouldn't advise buying a rotory tester, just take the car to a shop that has one and have them do it.

 

He means the schrader valve on the normal engine compression gauge..You know ..the little pin thingie on the side of the Gauge to reset it ..and Kevin landers has a Write up on his site explaining a quick How-To for Compression.. www.rotaryresurrection.com (pluggin ya again ...Kevin Landers ..the NEW Chuck Norris!..J/K..Kevin!!)