Hi John,

I use the same hand-held vacuum pump as Chris.  To check the static system, I tape over one of the static ports and use a suction cup attachment that came with the vacuum pump on the other static port.  As you pull vacuum, the altimeter will show higher altitude and the airspeed indicator will show higher airspeed.  (Because the airspeed indicator is measuring the difference between pitot and static pressures; pitot pressure stays the same as static pressure decreases.)  My airspeed indicator gets close to its upper limit way before the altimeter does, significantly limiting the amount of vacuum you can pull.

Close the valve on the vacuum pump, leave it attached to the static port, and watch to see how fast the airspeed indicator goes to zero and the altimeter returns to field elevation.  The faster they move, the bigger the leak in your static system.  Sequentially cap off each static line and run the test again each time until you find the one that's leaking.

I've never used the pump (which can also produce positive pressure as well as vacuum) on the pitot tube, but I would guess that it works the same way. You might have to fabricate an adapter to get an airtight seal on the pitot tube.

Be very careful, however, to avoid damaging your instruments doing this.  I haven't verified it, but a couple of avionics guys told me that a sudden change in pressure, such as would occur if your vacuum pump pulled away from your static port while under vacuum, can break the pitot/static sensors inside your avionics.  Replacing the Chelton GADAHRS, for example, would cost multiples more than a lifetime of pitot/static tests at an avionics shop.

Good luck,
Dennis
Legacy, closing in on 500 hours tach time