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Which 2- stroke engine produces more power? vertical or horizontal head design? explain why!
- Pygmaelion
- Goped

- Posts: 63
- Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 7:00 pm
- Location: Poughkeepsie NY
Well, assuming the same displacement, and the same crank size... What's at work here?
Gravity... The fuel and the air it's suspended in have to fight directly against gravity, using air pressure to get into the top half of a vertical cylinder. However, the piston does get a very slight assist when on the downstroke from the same force...
In a horizontal, most of the motion is lateral, perpendicular to gravity... You don't have as much distance to travel vertically to get air/fuel moved... and if you're already in motion, the forward acceleration (if there is any) should help the piston kick back into position.
Truthfully, I can't see as any of these reasons would lead to a notable increase in HP... I mean, gravity? lateral acceleration? We're measuring newtons of force here... Please fill us in on the answer.
Gravity... The fuel and the air it's suspended in have to fight directly against gravity, using air pressure to get into the top half of a vertical cylinder. However, the piston does get a very slight assist when on the downstroke from the same force...
In a horizontal, most of the motion is lateral, perpendicular to gravity... You don't have as much distance to travel vertically to get air/fuel moved... and if you're already in motion, the forward acceleration (if there is any) should help the piston kick back into position.
Truthfully, I can't see as any of these reasons would lead to a notable increase in HP... I mean, gravity? lateral acceleration? We're measuring newtons of force here... Please fill us in on the answer.
My 2 cents. Its a packaging/design issue. I'd say horizontal has more potential, at least on scooters.
All the vertical designs I've seen on scoots don't allow the carb to package onto the back of the cylinder, they have to port through the case. This increases the intake volume and lowers the compression on that side of the piston, since 2-strokes compress both ways. Also, the intake tract is longer, hindering efficient high RPM operation. On horizontal engines, the carb can port straight through the cylinder (like it is on most bike engines, ala RZ350). Short, semi-straight runs, good for flow and high RPM.
The disadvantage is that horizontal engines are longer (jug sticks out in front,) so the overall bike either grows in length (bad) or the frame has to be designed to envelop the engine (more expensive.) Spree frame is a good example of an inexpensive design.
The other major power boost, watercooling, seems to be indifferent to vertical or horizontal, so that's a non-issue IMHO.
All the vertical designs I've seen on scoots don't allow the carb to package onto the back of the cylinder, they have to port through the case. This increases the intake volume and lowers the compression on that side of the piston, since 2-strokes compress both ways. Also, the intake tract is longer, hindering efficient high RPM operation. On horizontal engines, the carb can port straight through the cylinder (like it is on most bike engines, ala RZ350). Short, semi-straight runs, good for flow and high RPM.
The disadvantage is that horizontal engines are longer (jug sticks out in front,) so the overall bike either grows in length (bad) or the frame has to be designed to envelop the engine (more expensive.) Spree frame is a good example of an inexpensive design.
The other major power boost, watercooling, seems to be indifferent to vertical or horizontal, so that's a non-issue IMHO.
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BTW, gravity effects are negligible compared to mass inertia effects. Do the math.
Admin, Hondaspree.net
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Buy air filters and gaskets here (Ebay): http://stores.ebay.com/noiseguysstore
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