The two-stroke engine is simple in construction, but complex dynamics are employed in its operation. There are several features unique to a two-stroke engine. First, there is a reed valve between the air-fuel intake and the crankcase?. Air-fuel mixture enters the crankcase and is trapped there by the one-way reed valve. Next, the cylinder has no valves as in a conventional four stroke engine. Intake and exhaust are accomplished by means of ports - special holes cut into the cylinder wall which allow fuel-air mixture to enter from the crankcase, and exhaust to exit the engine. These ports are uncovered when the piston is in the down position.
Air-fuel mixture is drawn into the crankcase from the carburetor? or fuel injection system through the reed valve. When the piston is forced down, the exhaust port is uncovered first, and hot exhaust gases begin to leave the cylinder. As the piston is now in the down position, the crankcase becomes pressurized, and when the intake port into the cylinder is uncovered, pressurized air-fuel mixture enters the chamber. Both the intake and exhaust ports are open at the same time, which means the timing and air flow dynamics are critical to proper operation. As the piston begins to move up, the ports are closed off, and the air-fuel mixture compresses and is ignited; the hot gases increase in pressure, pushing the piston down with great force and creating work for the engine.
The major components of two-stroke engines are tuned so that optimum airflow results. Intake and exhaust tubes are tuned so that resonances in airflow give better flow than a straight tube. The cylinder ports and piston top are shaped so that the intake and exhaust flows do not mix.
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