2 cycle engines.. still ?

[crazyal]

I have the 25cc Honda 4 stroke weedeater, I also put a brush blade on it. I have had it for 10 years, it was a pain to start at first, but after it got broken in, it starts easy. I run out of energy before it will run out of a tank of fuel ~4 hrs. Some times I wish for a little more power but all I do is change the string, change the oil yearly and add fuel.

I have a 35cc Honda and it's a beast. With the saw blade on it cuts through 1" saplings like grass. It's always started great. It has a primer bulb that purges the air out of the system, two easy pulls and it's running. It purrs like a kitten when it idles. I heard that Honda developed different string that was quieter because the standard trimmer line was louder than the engine. It's nice not having to smell 2 stroke exhaust or need any hearing protection.

 

[mikehaugen]

As far as lawn equipment goes, everyone is still selling the 2 strokes. I just bought a new Stihl Kombi tree trimmer with the 4 stroke version. As mentioned before it Stihl uses premix, so i really dont know what the benefits of this motor are. It was the only version that the dealer had in stock at that time. He sold the 2 stroke version, but i needed it that day.

I don't think stihl is still producing the 2-stroke versions anymore. They were phasing in the 4-mix engines about five years ago. They are all 4mix now and so don't put the sticker on them anymore.

(Maybe the homeowner versions are still 2-stroke?)

The advantage is that they have the torque of a 4 stroke, but no crankcase oil. This means less weight and maintenance, and less of a screaming sound. They claim that it isn't technically quieter, but a less annoying(?) sound.

I personally would rather mix the oil with the gas than have oil that needs to be changed, but I have other 2-stroke equipment around so the mix is available anyway.

 

[TomSeller]

1. The advantage is that they have the torque of a 4 stroke, but no crankcase oil. This means less weight and maintenance, and less of a screaming sound. They claim that it isn't technically quieter, but a less annoying(?) sound.
2. I personally would rather mix the oil with the gas than have oil that needs to be changed, but I have other 2-stroke equipment around so the mix is available anyway.

1. I would agree, sounds a little in between a 2 and 4 stroke sound. Still loud.
2. Agree, MUCH less chance of a mistake of putting straight gas in your chainsaw when you have both it and the trimmer out.

 

[Soundguy]

and less of a screaming sound. They claim that it isn't technically quieter, but a less annoying(?) sound.

.

i wear hearing protection for all power tools. heck.. even hammers. sound was never a real issue to me.

nothing compaired to a tractor engine 3' from you with an open pipe 3' from you..

 

[mikehaugen]

i wear hearing protection for all power tools. heck.. even hammers. sound was never a real issue to me.

nothing compaired to a tractor engine 3' from you with an open pipe 3' from you..

The sound never really bothered me either, just something they are claiming as an advantage. But I do think the 4-mix engines sound pretty sweet... sounds like a 2-stroke, but much throatier.

 

[Patches]

They are surely still building 2 stroke engines. My 2013 Ski-Doo snowmobile has a Rotax, 2stroke, 800cc, direct injection engine(E-Tec); more fuel efficient than my previous 4stroke Yamaha sled, quicker and faster top end than the 4 stroke, and lighter than the 4 stroke(which is a big deal when your in a couple to several feet of snow). The 4 stroke will certainly outlast the 2, but longevity is not inherent to snowmobiles. I don't think I've ever owned a sled with over 6/7,000 miles.

 

[Notlaker]

What brand? My Stihl pro 130 starts and runs like a top. Lots of torque.

It's a Ryobi S430.

 

[ajd187]

They are surely still building 2 stroke engines. My 2013 Ski-Doo snowmobile has a Rotax, 2stroke, 800cc, direct injection engine(E-Tec); more fuel efficient than my previous 4stroke Yamaha sled, quicker and faster top end than the 4 stroke, and lighter than the 4 stroke(which is a big deal when your in a couple to several feet of snow). The 4 stroke will certainly outlast the 2, but longevity is not inherent to snowmobiles. I don't think I've ever owned a sled with over 6/7,000 miles.

Yup the two stroke is alive and well in the dirtbike world as well. Yamaha is still selling a lot of them as is KTM. And thank goodness for that - two stroke high performance motors are so much less costly to maintain.