2 Cylinder vs. 1 Cylinder (2 vs 4 stroke)

[prginocx]

I know this is opening up a can of worms, BUT...<br />Wondering if I can get some opinions. I recently sold a 1989 3.5 Horse Suzuki 2 stroke motor. It was pretty vibratory and loud and I feel mostly due to the one Cyl. design. <br />Long time ago (1974) I used to have a Mercury 2 Stroke/2 Cylinder 5HP motor. Seemed to be pretty quiet and smooth.<br />But my Uncle says ALL One Cylinder designs are that way, either 2 or 4 stroke. <br />So is it a good idea to go up to a 2 Cylinder design ? Is a 2 Cylinder 2 stroke superior in quietness to a one Cylinder 4 stroke ? <br />And maybe a 2 Cylinder 4 stroke beats them all ?<br />Can you guys give me some recommendations ? I'm willing to spend up to $850.<br /><br />Weight and fuel mixing are not issues for this application. All the motors must be between 3.5 and 6HP.

 

[Laddies]

Re: 2 Cylinder vs. 1 Cylinder (2 vs 4 stroke)

 

[Laddies]

Re: 2 Cylinder vs. 1 Cylinder (2 vs 4 stroke)

The first thing to remember is 2 cyl engines are always smoother than 2 cyl, they are usally heavier and more expencive. A 4 cycle is cleaner running and more fuel effecent, but heavier and more expencive, the 2 cycle will pack much more power to the pound. So I guess It's what ever blows up ones skirt

 

[artburr]

Re: 2 Cylinder vs. 1 Cylinder (2 vs 4 stroke)

I have had 5 hp Jonson two strokes that were very smooth running. I now have a Nissan 1 cyl. four stroke. It ain't as smooth, vibration-wise, but it will troll all day on a teacup of gas and it is quiet.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 2 Cylinder vs. 1 Cylinder (2 vs 4 stroke)

I would go with a 2 stroke 2 cylinder motor.<br /> 4 stroke has to many moving parts which regardless of quality and care results in more <br />maintenance.Also with the 4 stroke you can run into difficulty with the oil sump if you transport it wrong then of course there is the oil change ritual to deal with.As I've said many times when you run a 4 stroke outboard it is like running your car at 100 mph.Especially when dealing with a little motor.A 2 cylinder 2 stroke has 4 times the power strokes per revolution of a 4 stroke Kind of like comparing a 16 cylinder car to an 4 cylinder car.More power strokes per revolution is smoother.

 

[JB]

Re: 2 Cylinder vs. 1 Cylinder (2 vs 4 stroke)

Twin cylinders are definitely the way to go, Mate (I aint even trying to spell that handle. ).<br /><br />Four strokes are heavier, more complicated, more expensive, more economical and usually smoother. They also require attention to how they are stored.<br /><br />In the 3.5 to 6hp range I don't think anything matches the JohnnyRudes of the 70s and 80s for value and satisfaction. The newer ones may be just as good. <br /><br />I don't think there are any 4 stroke twins in that range, though the JohnnyRude 4 stroke 9.9/15hp of the 90s were very nice. . . about as smooth as the legendary JohnnyRude 3HP twins.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 2 Cylinder vs. 1 Cylinder (2 vs 4 stroke)

2nd the motion from all above. I think the problem with 1 cyl outboards, is they skimp on the flywheel to keep the weight down (just a guess based on logic). If you don't have that second cylinder to hit while the other one is resting it is just rough and noisy ; plain and simple. <br /><br />Having had a single cyl Merc (4 hp as I recall) with all the amenities like thru hub exhaust and all (not an el cheapo piece of junk), and another Merc twin 7.5 hp, it's day and night.....and the Merc was still noisy.<br /><br />I'll not have another single.<br /><br />On 2-4 stroke on that size engine, I'd take the 2 for the above reasons and fuel is nothing so don't even think about it. Even with my 7.5, my 3 gal gas tank almost had the gas go bad before the engine used it up. Grin.<br /><br />My 2c,<br /><br />Mark

 

[prginocx]

Re: 2 Cylinder vs. 1 Cylinder (2 vs 4 stroke)

Originally posted by Laddies:<br /> The first thing to remember is 2 cyl engines are always smoother than 2 cyl, they are usally heavier and more expencive. A 4 cycle is cleaner running and more fuel effecent, but heavier and more expencive, the 2 cycle will pack much more power to the pound. So I guess It's what ever blows up ones skirt

 

[prginocx]

Re: 2 Cylinder vs. 1 Cylinder (2 vs 4 stroke)

I'm confused...Quote "...first thing to remember is 2Cyl engines are always smoother than 2 Cyl...<br /><br />Say what ??

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 2 Cylinder vs. 1 Cylinder (2 vs 4 stroke)

I think the first 2cyl was supposed to be 4 cycle and the second 2 cycle. With that said, and I agree, gotta ask why.<br /><br />Well since the 4 stroke rests on every other bang and the 2 doesn't you'd think the reverse. But maybe the 4 has a bigger flywheel to carry you over, or maybe it's the fact that the power impulse is longer, or heck, I dunno.<br /><br />Mark