䊚Shindaiwa Inc. 1995
18
Section 2 Troubleshooting
Diagnosing
Engine Seizure
Severe metal galling/
transfer all around the
piston; even scoring
Figure 2.19
Piston damaged from
lack of lubrication.
Carbon scoring
produces soft-
edged grooves
on the exhaust
side of the
piston. Piston
rings are still
free in the
grooves.
Ingested water
or snow leaves
a shiny,
polished area
on the intake
side (away
from the arrow)
Ingested debris
produces a
sandblasted
appearance or a
dull grey surface
on the intake
side of the piston
(away from the
arrow). The
piston skirt is
worn thin at the
base. Ring lands
are worn.
Figure 2.20 Operating with debris in the cylinder.
An engine can seize whenever there is metal-
to-metal contact between internal moving
parts. Most engine seizures can be traced to
at least one of the following:
Lubrication (Figure 2.19)
■Lack of oil. Insufficient or poorly mixed oil
ratio. Shindaiwa machines are designed to
use Shindaiwa Premium 2-cycle Engine Oil
at a ratio of 40:1 (3.2 ozs./U.S. gallon).
■Incorrect oil type. Generic-brands and
some outboard motor mixing oils may not
provide sufficient lubrication throughout the
broad temperature range associated with
high performance air-cooled engine
operation.
IMPORTANT!
When Shindaiwa Premium 2-cycle Engine
Oil is not available, fuel should be mixed
with a premium-grade 2-cycle mixing oil
specifically designed for use in high-
performance air cooled 2-cycle engines!
Debris (Figure 2.20)
■Excessive carbon buildup. Carbon
accumulations may be dislodged from the
exhaust port, jamming between piston and
cylinder.
■Faulty or missing air filter. Dirt, water, or
other debris enters the crankcase and
cylinder, scoring the piston and cylinder
and causing rapid component wear.
TROUBLESHOOTING
All Shindaiwa products are powered by high
performance engines that produce the most
horsepower from the lightest possible
design.
Two factors are critical to the service life
and durability of any high performance
engine:
1. Lubrication
Proper lubrication is essential for reducing
friction between an engine’s moving parts.
By reducing friction, lubrication also
helps reduce the heat developed during
normal engine operation.
Since a 2-cycle engine doesn’t have a
reservoir of oil in its crankcase, a steady
supply of high-quality lubricant must enter
the engine as part of the fuel mixture.
Refer to the Fuel and Oil Section in the
Appendix for specific fuel/oil mixture
information.
2. Cooling
Cooling any high performance engine is a
complex task. To remove the heat generated
from both friction and the combustion
process, Shindaiwa engines rely on:
■Lubricating Oil
■Air-Fuel Mixture
■Cylinder Design
■Flywheel Design
ATTENTION!
Proper lubrication and cooling are
essential to both the performance and
service life of any two-cycle engine! A
partial failure in either of these areas can
lead to engine seizure!
Factors Affecting Engine Durability