How to Troubleshoot Issues with Your Two-Stroke Bike Engine

If you like a little off-road action during the weekends and prefer your kicks on two wheels rather than four, then you may have bought a simple, two-stroke bike for your adventures. These are relatively simple machines, but they can give you a tremendous amount of exhilaration as you pick your way through a remote forest or navigate your way along dusty tracks. Yet, perhaps all is not well with the engine on your machine and you will want to figure out what is wrong so that you can get ready for your next foray into the unknown. What should you be looking for?

Start at the Beginning

A two-stroke engine is a lot simpler than its "big bike" counterpart, and while problems are rare, they can nevertheless materialise. Before you get too carried away, though, make sure that you have an adequate amount of fuel in the tank and that the shut-off valve is not activated.

Airflow

Next, check to see that your engine is getting a sufficient amount of air by looking at the condition of the filter and carburettor. Occasionally, but not often, a foreign object may be sucked in and can block the airflow. Take the time to clean or replace the filter while you are there.

Spark Plug

To see if the engine is getting fuel, remove the spark plug and have a look at its condition. If it has clearly seen its better days then it will need to be replaced, but if you can see that the end of it is wet, then the engine is receiving the right amount of fuel.

Flooded Motor

Then, replace the plug and try to kick the engine with the choke in the off position. If it is flooded, then you should try to turn it over with a wide-open throttle several times. Inevitably, it should splutter into life, and you will need to keep the throttle wide open while you clean it all out.

Carburettor

If you don't appear to be getting any fuel, check the condition of the line that leads to the carburettor. If you're careful, you can undo the fuel line, turn everything on and see if fuel is flowing before moving on to look at the carburettor itself.

Remove the drain plug on the bottom of the carburettor bowl and let the fuel drain out. Open the valve and watch the fuel run through the carburettor and out of the drain plug before you tighten everything back up again.

Replacement Parts

If the carburettor appears to have seen its better days as well, then it will need to be disassembled, cleaned and reassembled with new parts. Always make sure that you use the highest quality replacement components, however, so that you can spend more time out in the bush than you do in the garage.

To learn more about motorbike parts, including Husqvarna parts, consult a resource in your area.