If you're riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle you must know it's driven from the twin cylinder, reciprocating piston, internal fusion motor unit. Reciprocating pistons means the pistons go up and down, or back and forth, or laterally depending on motor unit configuration.
Many factors evaluate the functionality of the motor however, one of the most important is the compression rate of the head/cylinder/piston construction. The higher the compression rate is, the greater bang or power per cylinder, up to a point.
An alternating piston of the bike's motor creates horse power by burning a mix of air and gasoline to push the piston inside the cylinder. This straight line push is referred to as the power stroke. The straight-line movement of a binding rod-piston system is moved to the flywheel, which usually turns the straight line mechanism to turning action. This rounded movement is going to be transferred to the transmission, and on to the backside wheel, generating forward motion. Looks straightforward, but in reality is more complicated.
The pistons in the Harley-Davidson V-twin are designed to deliver a unique compression ratio in a specified use for optimum operating efficiency. Past experiences and history have conditioned Harley-Davidson designers the best compression ratios for motorbikes cruised on the street.
To simplify factors let's make use of a single cylinder motor as one example. The average four-stroke single cylinder motor (one half of a twin cylinder motor) operates in a number of distinct phases. That's why it is named a 4-cycle motor (or engine). Through the intake stroke (1), air or gasoline is taken in by vacuum pressure throughout the exposed intake valve as the piston moves down. As the piston starts back up (2) the intake valve shuts and then the air and gasoline mix is compressed. Since the piston reaches up to the top of the stroke the air/fuel mix is heated by the spark plug then the piston is pushed downward violently by the expanding air and gasoline combination (3), producing the previously mentioned straight line action that is transformed via the flywheel into circular energy. As the piston comes back upwards (4), it drives the burned mixture released (exhaust gases). which is called the exhaust stroke.
lf the compression rate is decreased, the motor makes minimal hp. lf the compression ratio is comparatively high the motor can produce a whole lot more power for each cubic inch of displacement than an identical motor using a reduced compression setting ratio. A lot of things influence the cabability to operate a motor with higher compression, not to mention the availability of high octane fuel. With no supply of high octane gasoline, a high compression motor unit may be afflicted by pre ignition (pinging), due to the fuel air mixture firing ahead of time. Pre ignition is often very harmful for a motor.
Compression ratio is described basically as being the mass on top of the piston at bottom-dead-center (BDC), separated by the mass above the piston at top-dead-center (TDC). The more pressurised the gas and air mixture is when burned the stronger the punch. An increased force would mean more power, as well as additional stress on all the physical components involved. Higher compression motors need the use of high-octane fuel to prevent pre-ignition and/or detonation, which can cause pricey problems on piston rings, pistons and valves or even a whole lot worse, not winning the race.
For average cruising most skilled mechanics advise a compression ratio approximately 8.5:1 and 9.5:1. Any higher and a higher octane fuel qualification is needed. With compression ratios lower than 7:1 a motor can't perform adequately. Hopefully you now understand what compression rate means. But, this is just static compression ratio. Cam lift and valve overlap along with other aspects determine the actual or functional compression ratio. In addition, remember that increased compression rates while boosting power can also increase deterioration of the motor. High compression motors usually are not excellent cruising bikes, just like lower compression motors aren't excellent race motors.
Many factors evaluate the functionality of the motor however, one of the most important is the compression rate of the head/cylinder/piston construction. The higher the compression rate is, the greater bang or power per cylinder, up to a point.
An alternating piston of the bike's motor creates horse power by burning a mix of air and gasoline to push the piston inside the cylinder. This straight line push is referred to as the power stroke. The straight-line movement of a binding rod-piston system is moved to the flywheel, which usually turns the straight line mechanism to turning action. This rounded movement is going to be transferred to the transmission, and on to the backside wheel, generating forward motion. Looks straightforward, but in reality is more complicated.
The pistons in the Harley-Davidson V-twin are designed to deliver a unique compression ratio in a specified use for optimum operating efficiency. Past experiences and history have conditioned Harley-Davidson designers the best compression ratios for motorbikes cruised on the street.
To simplify factors let's make use of a single cylinder motor as one example. The average four-stroke single cylinder motor (one half of a twin cylinder motor) operates in a number of distinct phases. That's why it is named a 4-cycle motor (or engine). Through the intake stroke (1), air or gasoline is taken in by vacuum pressure throughout the exposed intake valve as the piston moves down. As the piston starts back up (2) the intake valve shuts and then the air and gasoline mix is compressed. Since the piston reaches up to the top of the stroke the air/fuel mix is heated by the spark plug then the piston is pushed downward violently by the expanding air and gasoline combination (3), producing the previously mentioned straight line action that is transformed via the flywheel into circular energy. As the piston comes back upwards (4), it drives the burned mixture released (exhaust gases). which is called the exhaust stroke.
lf the compression rate is decreased, the motor makes minimal hp. lf the compression ratio is comparatively high the motor can produce a whole lot more power for each cubic inch of displacement than an identical motor using a reduced compression setting ratio. A lot of things influence the cabability to operate a motor with higher compression, not to mention the availability of high octane fuel. With no supply of high octane gasoline, a high compression motor unit may be afflicted by pre ignition (pinging), due to the fuel air mixture firing ahead of time. Pre ignition is often very harmful for a motor.
Compression ratio is described basically as being the mass on top of the piston at bottom-dead-center (BDC), separated by the mass above the piston at top-dead-center (TDC). The more pressurised the gas and air mixture is when burned the stronger the punch. An increased force would mean more power, as well as additional stress on all the physical components involved. Higher compression motors need the use of high-octane fuel to prevent pre-ignition and/or detonation, which can cause pricey problems on piston rings, pistons and valves or even a whole lot worse, not winning the race.
For average cruising most skilled mechanics advise a compression ratio approximately 8.5:1 and 9.5:1. Any higher and a higher octane fuel qualification is needed. With compression ratios lower than 7:1 a motor can't perform adequately. Hopefully you now understand what compression rate means. But, this is just static compression ratio. Cam lift and valve overlap along with other aspects determine the actual or functional compression ratio. In addition, remember that increased compression rates while boosting power can also increase deterioration of the motor. High compression motors usually are not excellent cruising bikes, just like lower compression motors aren't excellent race motors.
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Bear in mind it's very important to make certain you ride your motorbike with protection. Always make sure that you wear genuine carbon fiber helmets.
