These three pistons have piston-crown burn patterns linked to carb jetting and fuel choice. The piston in the center is a great example of a perfect carbon pattern; the color looks like hot-chocolate and the flow pattern resembles a leaf pattern. Looking under the piston crown a dark carbon spot should be visible taking up…
Two-stroke engine troubleshooting guide
If you are having trouble starting your twostroker then here are a few tips and tricks for you to get your engine started again. First and foremost – two stroke engines are very easy to start (yes even when they are cold) so if the engine does not start after a few kicks or pulls…
Mastering Two-Stroke Performance: Selecting the Perfect Carburettor for Your Cylinder
Two-stroke engines are still a favourite among enthusiasts due to their simplicity, lightweight nature, and unique power delivery. However, extracting the best performance from a two-stroke engine often requires proper tuning. One of the critical components in this aspect is selecting the right carburettor for your cylinder. Let’s delve deeper into the significance and considerations…
How to make a two-stroke engine more powerful? Myths and reality
During my career, I’ve seen a fair share of scooters, and with them, a myriad of opinions and suggestions. Clients often come to me with ideas they’ve heard, hoping to get the most out of their engines. But distinguishing between myths and reality is essential to ensure performance without compromising the engine’s life. So, let’s…
Reed petals and intake valve – four things you need to know.
1. What is reed valve? What are reed petals? How do reed valve works? From wikipedia: Reed valves are commonly used in high-performance versions of the two-stroke engine, where they control the fuel-air mixture admitted to the cylinder. As the piston rises in the cylinder a vacuum is created in the crankcase beneath the piston. The resulting pressure differential…
10 things to do to make your two-stroke scooter faster.
Below suggestions are about two stroke scooters that came from the factory with disabilities, that can, luckily, be cured for the most part. It is important to understand that to get the best out of your bike, you need to make several changes and updates and you simply cannot gain a lot by simply changing…
Everything you need to know about oil and fuel ratio.
What is the best ratio for my scooter? How much oil I have to add to fuel? Does oil/fuel premix affect performance? Can I ruin my engine if I get the ratio wrong? Does the fuel and oil ratio affect the fuel consumption? What happens if I remove my oil pump? What happens if I…
Carburettor tuning
Understanding Carburetion Motorcycle carburetion is fairly complex, but a basic understanding of the parts and theory involved will go a long way to simplify the processes and make fine-tuning your carburetor much less intimidating. Right off the bat I’m going to say this is only intended to be a very basic explanation.
Tuning engine for the low and mid end bhp.
So you have your engine which is top notch, but you feel that the power curve is very narrow and the feel of the bike is very abrupt. If you are in the ATV motocross (all those Apex PRO MXR and DRR 50cc, 70cc and 90cc engines) then you definitely have room for improvement for…
Carburetor adjustment procedure and jetting
These instructions are intended to be followed by an experienced mechanic whom has a thorough knowledge of off road motorcycles, carburetor assembly, and tuning techniques. If this does not describe you please stop and seek professional help as engine damage and serious injury can result from improperly assembled and tuned carburetors. Do not attempt to…
2-Stroke Detonation – What is it? How to prevent it?
Another great article on detonation and how to prevent it from Millennium Tehchnologies. The most common mode of failure for 2-stroke engines is detonation. We asked 3 time AMA pro mechanic of the year, multiple SX/MX championship winning crew chief, and Millennium Technologies Technical Manager, Tom Morgan to put together brief guide on two stroke…