February, 2010 | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 2

Pre-Ride Snowmobile Checks

yamalube

Living in the Pacific Northwest, I have been disappointed with the snow this season—to put it lightly. Usually I take my snowmobiles out several times a week, but for most of the season it hasn’t even been worth my time. This weekend I’m heading out to my buddy’s cabin, and there is sure to be some prime powder. To that end, I am going to do some basic maintenance and checks on my snowmobiles, which have been largely neglected this season.

There are a few checks that I check before every ride, including the fuel and level of Yamalube oil. I also make sure to check the engine coolant and brake fluid, just to be sure that they aren’t running too low. Remember to always inspect the engine coolant when the machine is cold to get an accurate reading. Tomorrow I will go over some other basic maintenance points that should always be checked before heading out.

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Adjusting an ATV Carburetor: Part Two

CarburetorYesterday we went over the main idle adjustments, and today we will delve in deeper to how to fine tune the carburetor on your ATV. Once the idle is set, it is time to make minor adjustments to the various idle positions. For the off idle to ¼ throttle, the slow jet and slow air jet are the most effective means of getting the results that you want; use a larger slow jet and smaller slow sir jet for a richer mixture, and vice-versa.

For the ¼ to ¾ throttle, raise the jet needle for a rich mixture, and vice-versa; this is accomplished by lowering the clip. The last adjustment is for a wide open throttle. The main jet is the main component for the open throttle; choose the size that offers the best performance—install a main jet that is one size larger than this to ensure engine durability. When using a lean mixture of gasoline and Evinrude XD100, your performance will increase, but you also run a risk of over-heating and piston.

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Adjusting an ATV Carburetor: Part One

CarburetorThe carburetor is one of the most vital components of any two-stroke engine, as it works to blend the air, fuel, and outboard motor oil so that they can be utilized in the stroke cycle. For many owners of two-stroke engines, however, carburetor maintenance and mechanical issues are a headache. The next few days we will go over the basics for making routine adjustments to the carburetor.

Always start by adjusting the idle, which controls the RPMs that the engine runs at. Set the idle speed to the proper RPM level by adjusting the idle screw. Next, turn the idle mixture screw so that the engine runs smoothly, with the optimal speed and response. Once this is done, make any final adjustments to the idle screw that may be needed. Tomorrow we will continue reviewing carburetor adjustments.

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Boat Buying Tips

boatAside from your house or car, a boat is probably one of the biggest purchases that you will ever make. With that in mind, it is important to do some research before dropping thousands on a watercraft. One of the most important things to consider is whether you want an inboard or outboard motor.

Outboard boats tend to be less expensive and our good for fishing and other leisurely water activities, while an inboard is a near necessity for extreme water sports. In this down economy, many people are considering buying a used boat and saving some money. If you are considering this route, put the boat through a strict vetting before finalizing your purchase. Aside from inspecting the hull and outer surfaces, also examine the engine to ensure that the previous owner maintained the system with Evinrude XD 100 and other essential fluids.

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Two-Stroke Engine Basics: Part Four

lawnmowerNow that we have overviewed the inner workings of a two-stroke engine, the advantages should be ascertainable. The consolidation of the stroke cycle allows for a more rudimentary and lightweight design, which also produces more power. This combination makes two-stroke engines ideal for various handheld equipment and small vehicles. With these obvious advantages, some may be wondering why two-stroke engines aren’t used in cars and other large vehicles.

The main drawback to the two-stroke is its longevity; the fact that the outboard motor oil and gasoline are mixed means that there is less direct lubrication, and the system wears faster. Because of this necessity to mix the gas and oil, the engine burns more of these fluids than there four-stroke counterpart—which is a major drawback in a vehicle that experiences extended usage. Finally, there is also more pollution emitted from a two-stroke due to the nature of its compression cycle.

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Two-Stroke Engine Basics: Part Three

yamalubeYesterday we overviewed the main process that takes place in the cycle of a two-stroke engine. Now we are going to breakdown this process a little further to better understand what is occurring in this process. When the piston is working in its cycle, the crankshaft will give the piston momentum so that it can return to the spark plug for the compression stroke. During this process the piston compresses the mixture of Yamalube oil, fuel and air to create a vacuum, which in turn opens the reed valve and draws in more of this mixture from the carburetor.

Once the cycle is completed, the piston will fire again and repeat the process. The fact that there are two strokes—the compression and the combustion—is how the engine gets its name. Because the piston accomplishes so many tasks, the two-stroke engine so lightweight and versatile. Tomorrow we will review some of the major pros and cons of the two-stroke engine.

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Two-Stroke Engine Basics: Part Two

Two-Stroke EngineYesterday we overviewed some of the basics differences between four and two-stroke motors. Today we will go over some of the mechanical operations of the engine. A two-stroke engine is essentially a simplified version of the four-stroke, and this means that the cycle is more economical and many of the operations are consolidated. As we said previously, one of the biggest differences is that the spark plug fires once every revolution, as opposed to every other revolution.

The design of a two-stroke engine is designated as a “cross flow” and starts with the firing of the spark plug. The fuel and Evinrude XD100 mixture is combined with air and compressed. When the spark plug fires, it ignites that concoction and drives the piston of the engine. Once the piston hits its down stroke, the exhaust port is covered and the pressure drives the exhaust gases out. After the piston bottoms out, the intake port is covered and the mixture rushes into the cylinder, allowing the remaining exhaust gases to escape and fresh fuel to enter.

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Two-Stroke Engine Basics: Part One

asp46

There are three basic types of engines that are used in motor vehicles: gasoline; diesel and two-stroke. While the first two types are typically found in automobiles and other high-power vehicles, two-stroke engine are ideal for smaller crafts such as outboard motor boats, ATVs and snowmobiles. Gasoline and diesel engines use several of the same principles in their design and operation, but the two-stroke engine has some discernable differences:

~Two-stroke engines have no valves, which makes their construction more simple and lightweight

~Four-stroke engines fire every other cycle while two-strokes fire every revolution, giving them more power

~Since the outboard motor oil is mixed with the fuel, two-stroke engines will work in any orientation, which is important for handheld equipment

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