Why are snowblowers 2 cycle?
I hate 2 cycle engines; nor do I think they will last as long as one with a pan. So... mowers have 4 cycle engines, why not snowblowers? The obvious initial answer would be b/c of the cold but there are plenty of low temp oils out there that could be used.
I ask as I may be in the market for a new one this winter and would like a 4 cycle if such a thing is available.
I ask as I may be in the market for a new one this winter and would like a 4 cycle if such a thing is available.
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I don't know where you've been looking, but I haven't encountered a 2-cycle engine on a snowblower since can't remember when. Maybe on the smallest of the small, but certainly not on anything other than hand-held. 0 -
Most snow "blowers", 2 stage, are 4 cycle. Snow "throwers", single stage(gas powered little brooms) are usually 2 cycle. You can get yourself a snow blower from 5hp-20" up to 13hp-36". It all depends on much snow you want to move, how fast you want to move it, and how much money you want to spend!![:D] 0 -
+1 I think you are confusing 2 stage with 2 cycle. Most larger snow blowers are 4 cycle. I have a very small one that is 2 cycle. 0 -
My snowblower is 4-stroke... 0 -
2-Cycle has better power to weight,in low HP engines.
Jeff0 -
quote:2-Cycle has better power to weight,in low HP engines.
Jeff
Horsepower....not torque. 2 strokes have a better HP to weight ratio than the 4 strokers, but the 4 strokes have much, much better torque. The torque of the 4 stroke is what helps move that heavy, wet snow. The 2 strokes will bog right down and shut off.0 -
Eventually, they'll be no more 2-strokes if the EPA has their way. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by jonk
Why are snowblowers 2 cycle?because Frosty likes it that way.
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I have not seen snow here in Warrior, AL for about 7 years, so [:D] 0 -
Lawnboy used to make a green aluminum framed 2 stroke mower that was bad to the bone. You could not bog it out in high grass. It had power and torque. It had a small engine, but made about 6 hp and was very light weight. I love 2 stroke engines. Unfortunately, the EPA will probably ban them some day. 0 -
The reason for 2 stroke engines is because they can be run in any position. A 2 stroke engine can be run upside down. 4 strokes need oil for lubrication so they have to be run in the upright position only. 0 -
Here on Earth all but the smallest snowblowers are 4 cycle. What planet are you on? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by forkliftking
The reason for 2 stroke engines is because they can be run in any position. A 2 stroke engine can be run upside down. 4 strokes need oil for lubrication so they have to be run in the upright position only.
Umm ever hear of the German BF-109 fighter? It had a V form engine with the crankshaft on top.
Ever hear of a Radial engine?
Ever seen/heard of a engine where the crankshaft was fixed, and the rest rotated?
All 3 exist, and all 3 were/are 4 stroke engines0 -
quote:Originally posted by Tailgunner1954
quote:Originally posted by forkliftking
The reason for 2 stroke engines is because they can be run in any position. A 2 stroke engine can be run upside down. 4 strokes need oil for lubrication so they have to be run in the upright position only.
Umm ever hear of the German BF-109 fighter? It had a V form engine with the crankshaft on top.
Ever hear of a Radial engine?
Ever seen/heard of a engine where the crankshaft was fixed, and the rest rotated?
All 3 exist, and all 3 were/are 4 stroke engines
But none of these engines were monuted on lawn and garden equipment. And nope, never heard of a radial engine. Heard of a rotary engine though.0 -
Never heard of a radial engine??? You really are wet behind the ears!
Radial... Each bank of cylinders will consist of an odd number. There's a reason, but I'll bet you'll not know what it is.
4-Strokes can be run in any position without a problem. Ever hear of a dry sump?
WW1 aircraft with radials... Entire engine with propeller affixed rotated around the shaft. Cooling was better that way. Torque was a monster. Engine wasn't throttle controlled. Rather, the pilot had a cut-off switch for spark.
Rotary engines??? Who cares?0 -
now that would be hot! a radial on a mower! and the daimler in the lawn tractor! 0 -
And the young ones think they know it all.
Radial engine once powered an (unsuccessful) Indy car.
I'll bet you a dollar that not one of them know why the odd number of cylinders.
Doug0 -
quote:Originally posted by forkliftking
The reason for 2 stroke engines is because they can be run in any position. A 2 stroke engine can be run upside down. 4 strokes need oil for lubrication so they have to be run in the upright position only.
Wrong for a number of reasons.0 -
Mine has a nos system 0 -
WW1 "radials " were round engines but really Rotary not radial design. They ran on a gasoline and castor oil mix and had a high power to weight ratio. They sound like chain saws because they were two stroke. Having a large rotating mass, they obeyed the laws of gyroscopic precession when a turn is initiated by the pilot. That gave
a rotary pilot an advantage over an inline engined plane in steep maneuvers.
I witnessed Cole Palen's Sopwith Snipe (similar to a Camel)crash into splinters because the pilot was too fast downwind. He interrupted the ignition for too long intervals in slowing it. He misjudged his glide,
the engine overloaded with fuel and didn't respond when he found he was landing short and tried to apply power.
Early post WW2 gas mowers were two stroke, direct drive. They caused a number of serious accidents by throwing stones with great force.0 -
My snow blower is 4 stroke as well. 0 -
Lawn Boy don't make two strokes anymore. [:(!] 0 -
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my lawn boy is 2 stroke. how old is it? when did they stop making them? 0 -
dolfan said: Eventually, they'll be no more 2-strokes if the EPA has their way.
Man, is that a scary thought ... can you envision a 4-cycle Chain Saw? Hard to see how it could be as positionally versatile as the 2-stroker.
At first I could not see a 4-cycle snow mobile, either ... oh well, anything is possible.0 -
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2 stroke engines running upsidedown and at various angles can't happen why? Cuz they're on chain saws, & weed eaters. Somebody please explain why they can't. I've had a small-engine class, scored an A+. EPA really can't eliminate the 2 stroke because of this advantage. Problem with 2 strokes is when they overheat the expensive rings brake down. Some concrete cutters have to be 2 stroke. Rotary 4 strokes suck in snow. I've seen Mazda RX7s stuck in their own driveway, said to be the new wave of engine back in 1993-ish, most likely never be in a truck though, cuz their high revving / low torque. I'm curious how much blow by gasses are produced compaired to a regular 4 stroke cuz of how the rotors seal. Ever see a 2 stroke on a rototiller? I most likely never will, why do you suppose that? That's a cool bike. How do you keep your left leg from getting taken off by the belt drive system without a cover? 0 -
2006 was the last year for 2 stroke anything. 0 -
Then show me a pic of a 4 stroke chainsaw or weedeater then. Ever leave the house? Ever hear of scooters, mopeds, or dirtbikes? Wonder if Michael Jackson's glove is a 2 or 4 stroke? 0 -
The need for a gravity held oil supply was eliminated by a dry sump; the reason radial piston motors have odd numbers of cylinders is that the firing order is every other cylinder, so if the number were even, half would need a separate distributor, but since the number is odd, the firing order can fire 1,3,5,7,2,4,6,1,3... until you turn it off. 0
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