Basics

[Tim754]

 I try very hard to NOT to create vast quagmires of psycho-mechanical gobbledegook about what makes internal combustion engines run. It is only three things ,or crikey only two if it is a diesel ,

1 Fuel/air mix
2 Compression
3 Spark *               

Not that hard is it.!!!!    Now go out to your spark ignition engine and match (aka tune ) 1 and 2 to 3, or perhaps 2 and 3 to 1, or how about 3 and 1 to 2.... 


* Yep spark not required for ya compression ignition engine.   

[lukeb1961]

http://www.amazon.com/Engines-Introduction-John-L-Lumley/dp/0521644895

[JAP 454]

Yep, It's not that complicated really,Tim, if one of the 2 or 3 get out of kilter, it will not proceed. One of the most basic explanations I've ever heard of the dear old Otto cycle is " Suck - Squeeze - Bang - Blow "
Foss

[Tim754]

Suck - Squeeze - Bang - Blow "   That is for the Otto Cycle engine!!!!  Damn at around 17 years old I definitely thought that was for girls........

[pancho]

 Suck squeeze bang blow! ya'll beat me to it!

[chrisdespo]

dont forget that on a 2stroke there is two lots of compression to think about.............

[Lozza]

I try very hard to NOT to create vast quagmires of psycho-mechanical gobbledegook about what makes internal engines run. It is only three things ,or crikey only two if it is a diesel ,

1 Fuel/air mix
2 Compression
3 Spark *               

Not that hard is it.!!!!    Now go out to your spark ignition engine and match (aka tune ) 1 and 2 to 3, or perhaps 2 and 3 to 1, or how about 3 and 1 to 2.... 


* Yep spark not required for ya compression ignition engine.   

Two strokes are not simple they just look it.

[Tim754]

 Lozza  Two stroke or Four stroke or even Wankel rotaries... Fuel/air mix (sucked , valved or injected in) Compressed by well compression...then a provided spark causes a rapid expansion of the she bang.     w

{what makes internal engines run}. Should read "what makes internal combustion engines run"  Sorry for that typo have corrected.

[Tim754]

What be an External Combustion Engine?     A  boiler type steam engine is one Think about it.

Hmmm now how about
 a rocket engine?
Or a fan jet
or a ram jet
or a gas turbine
or back to the padded cell time.

[Montynut]

I find this an interesting way of explaining things
http://www.animatedengines.com/

[micks]

don`t forget timing

[maico police]

I find this an interesting way of explaining things
http://www.animatedengines.com/

What a great site. Makes me want to grow a beard, smoke a pipe and get a whole heap of small engines to show off on Sundays at country fares.....

[JAP 454]

Suck - Squeeze - Bang - Blow "   That is for the Otto Cycle engine!!!!  Damn at around 17 years old I definitely thought that was for girls........

When I was in the marine game , I was trying to sell a customer an electric outboard, he asked "How much horsepower ??, I told him these eggbeaters were measured, not in horsepower but foot pounds of thrust and told him this model produced 48 Ft/Lbs of thrust , his reply was " Sounds like me when I was 18 ".  He bought one !!
Foss

[Montynut]

I find this an interesting way of explaining things
http://www.animatedengines.com/

What a great site. Makes me want to grow a beard, smoke a pipe and get a whole heap of small engines to show off on Sundays at country fares.....

Don't laugh Ross with Global warmingclimate changecarbon economy green shite BS the steam engine in all its wonder will emerge again with a solar furnace or some such crap

[pancho]

 Talk about steam, when my 'ol man had the Museum at Maroochydore there was this huge book on engineering (circa 1890s) that had the drawings of a steam engine stationary power plant with its own concave mirror geared to track the sun through the daylight hours to provide high temp steam in a copper coil at the focal point!

pancho.