Know Your Small Engine And Its Parts Small engines power fairly simple machines such as chainsaws, lawn mowers, and generators, and are moderately simplistic in their design. With smaller dimensions than the engine of an automobile, small engines output much less power. The power output of a small engine can be from less than one horsepower, to nearly 15. In small engine design, both the 4-stroke and the 2-stroke model is used. A stroke count refers to the number of times an engine's piston strokes, or makes a revolution, during a single power-cycle. Equipment meant to be hand-carried are usually 2-stroke, since the weight is reduced in this model. Although lighter in nature, two-stroke engines are unfortunately also known for their contribution to air and noise pollution. With most people owning many of the commonplace equipment powered by small engines, becoming knowledgeable about them and their parts is a sound decision. A good many of these machines are of the lawn and garden variety. These frequently used machines and their small engines require regular maintenance if they are to continue to work properly. Lets begin our look at a few of the parts that will lead to a greater awareness of the parts of a small engine. What Research About Machines Can Teach You
Let's start with the piston, which we mentioned earlier. The piston, a short, moving cylinder with threaded grooves around its top, is a moving component of a reciprocating engine. In simple terms, the piston delivers fuel into the engine by working the crankshaft. That crankshaft is identifiable as a slim, metal rod with large locking bolts residing in the middle. It is the crankshaft that translates linear piston action into actual rotation.
What Research About Machines Can Teach You
We next look at the spark plug - a part small enough to fit into the palm of the hand, yet able to conduct the all important electricity for the engine. A large bold sits in the center of this part, and it is threaded to both ends with one end coated in a white marking. With the turn of the ignition, the plug conducts a spark of electricity to the engine, causing it to start. Now, we come to the flywheel. A rotating part that stores energy, the flywheel is circular in shape, and heavy. The stored energy of the rotation helps maintain a steady crankshaft velocity. We also have the carburetor - a large metal bucket, with a downward spout. By mixing fuel and air together into a highly combustible mixture, the carburetor is responsible for fueling the engine with its energy. The cylinder block is the last stop on our list. This is synonymous with the term, engine block. The cylinder block is home to the engine's pistons. It often also holds some, or sometimes all, of the associated structures around it. Though simpler in design, even small engines have some complexity to them, as many small parts work in tandem to generate energy. Certain small engine parts are not as easy to distinguish from others. Understanding each of the parts will go a long way in helping you to identifying it among the others. Cleaning, repairing, and overall maintenance will benefit from having this understanding.