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…
Tag: piston failure
Two-stroke piston troubleshooting
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…
Causes of detonation
Detonation — generally caused by fuel with a low octane rating — is the tendency for the fuel to pre-ignite or auto-ignite in an engine’s combustion chamber. This early (before the spark plug fires) ignition of fuel creates a shock wave throughout the cylinder as the burning and expanding fuel-air mixture collides with the piston…