Bill Daniels wrote:
"Greg Arnold" wrote in message
news:m76hg.11350$KB.6912@fed1read08...

2cernauta2 wrote:

On Mon, 05 Jun 2006 09:12:12 -0600, Shawn
sdotherecurry@bresnannextdotnet wrote:


Why are these two stroke engines so notoriously unreliable?
Thoughts? Experience?

My personal perception of 2strokes as installed on a DG400 and a
DG600M, is of very good to excellent reliability. Never a problem with
the single cylinder 600, a few problems with the 400 (carb needle
valves, HT wires).

aldo cernezzi

I have no first hand experience, but I was under the impression that the
simplicity of the sustainer engines (no starter, etc) means that they are
quite reliable, if only because there is not much that can break.


Small 2-stroke engines which require oil mixed with the fuel will often have
startng problems after long periods of inactivity. The fuel/oil mix forms
gum in the small passages inside the carburator blocking them. I understand
there are spicific 2-stroke oils that reduce but do not eliminate this
problem. The cure is to dismantle the fuel system and clean it with
solvent.

I wouldn't expect a weed eater, snow blower, or lawn mower that has sat with
fuel in it for 6 months or so to start easily. Sustainer engines are no
different.

Guess I picked up on a few out-of-the-norm complaints and assumed they
were typical.
Seems like a preflight run-up of the engine would reveal/mitigate many
starting problems in flight.

BTW, my string trimmer was a pill to start this spring :-p

Shawn