History of the Two Stroke Engine

[JohnN]

Did you know?

Invention of the two-stroke cycle is attributed to Dugald Clark around 1880 whose engines had a separate charging cylinder. The Crankcase scavenged engine, employing the area below the piston as a charging pump, is generally credited to Joseph Day (and Frederick Cock for the piston controlled inlet port).

[Hondacrrider]

Cool, what year did they come out with liquid cooling?

[JohnN]

Found this on the web.

The Holden motorcycle used water-cooling in 1896.

All Scott motorcycles and their derivatives produced between 1908 and 1978 used water-cooled 2-stroke twins

This is a 1935 Scott Motorcycle with a water cooled 498cc two stroke twin.

In motocross, the first one that I know about was the 1976 Yamaha Factory 125 ridden by Bob Hannah. At the time it was super trick!

[JETZcorp]

I think this is a good topic to post a series of videos uploaded by one of my online friends on YouTube.  He's a fairly big vintage two-stroke guy; he's got three 490 Maicos (a pair of '82s and an '83) as well as an '86 CR500 and a few other bikes in varying states of repair, including a KTM 495 project.

Part I:
Legends of Dirt Bike History (HD)

[Hondacrrider]

Can I get part 2 of the video, oh, and I was going to get a 1983 cr 480, and yes, it was a beast, and LOUD. But, I am actually quite glad I didn't get it, because my 125 is just a bit more manageable. lol

[Out of Order]

I have Dr. John C.Dixon's book The High Performance Two-Stroke Engine. This book has alot of info that could cause me to have a two stroke heart attack!  The funny thing is that back in late 1800's the four stroke was common. Beau de Rochas had a French patent in 1862,which laid down the principles of a four stroke engine. But, the book says he failed to produce a practical design. But the first marketable engine came from a Frenchman Jean Lenoir which was a two stroke, because it fired every revolution. The book says five thousand were made from 1860-1865. Dugald Clerk produced the first two stroke using axial scavenging in 1878. This book tells you a quick intro of other two stroke engines too. Remember these engines had poppet valves back then, because modern porting was not developed till the 1920's, the schnurle ports that were meant for the diesels. 

[JohnN]

Wow! That John Dixon book sounds like something I want to check out.

This is awesome.... I'm learning some new stuff. Thank you!

[JETZcorp]

Time for a resurrection!


Anyway, Tobyeo posted a new video the other day about two-stroke history, and I thought this would be the place to show it.
Who is Walter Kaaden?

[Out of Order]

Walter Kaaden (1919-1996) worked for MZ (Motorraderwerke Zschopau). He helped improve the two strokes using rotary valves when superchargers were banned in 1951.

Here are some links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Kaaden
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/Jul/060712z.htm
http://cestlavie.blog.co.uk/2009/11/07/walter-kaaden-mz-genius-7323917/
or google:
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=walter+kaaden&aq=0&aqi=g2&oq=Walter+Kaa&fp=b36c7832dbb01be6