Jan Ridders Pressure-controlled Two-stroke engine

John

Remember that it takes energy to vaporise petrol and the cold air will not do it to the required amount. I will bet that the ‘Good Hollander’ has a heated workshop. Most continentals recon that the English are as ‘mad as hatters’ and will work (for the love of the work) in places and temperatures that a continental would only be seen dead in!

Jan I fear that the whole engine has to be cold. I and my mates seldom were able to fly our control-liners on a nice clear crisp winter’s afternoon. Our little CI engines just would not start. In Ted’s shed which had an electric fire they would start after they and us warmed up a bit.

There is a way to settle if the problem is fuel or ignition. It is to remove the plug and place a small (birthday cake) candle very close to the plug hole. You then spin the engine over. After a few revs if she is getting a good mixture she should give a ‘poof’ or two. No poof - no fuel mixture. Jan’s spark indicator should tell you about the spark and might well improve the internal spark’. I have had big fat blue sparks on the old Villers two strokes but they just would run. Generaly it was a Duff plugs

James - as Jan says these engines must be free running as "as driven by the wind". They have very little power and are probably only just self sustaining. Perhaps a little more 'lapping' would not come a miss.

Jan - I have messed about with 2 Strokes for many years. The exhaust system can be very important. It can help to both scavenge spent gas and draw in fresh mixture (the Kaaden effect). Some designs will not run properly unless there is some back pressure which prevents part (sometimes a major part) of the new charge escaping.

Edited By Jens Eirik Skogstad on 15/02/2011 23:24:25