Single cylinder engine

A single-cylinder engine is a basic piston engine configuration of an internal combustion engine. It is often seen on motorcycles, auto rickshaws, motor scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, go-karts, radio-controlled models, and has many uses in portable tools and garden machinery. Some single-cylinder automobiles and tractors have been produced, but are rare today due to developments in engine technology.

Single-cylinder engines are simple and compact, and will often deliver the maximum power possible within a given envelope. Cooling is simpler than with multiple cylinders, potentially saving further weight, especially if air cooling can be used.

Single-cylinder engines require more flywheel than multi-cylinder engines, and the rotating mass is relatively large, restricting acceleration and sharp changes of speed. In the basic arrangement they are prone to vibration - though in some cases it may be possible to control this with balance shafts.

A variation known as the split-single makes use of two pistons which share a single combustion chamber.

Single-cylinder engines are simple and economical in construction. The vibration they generate is acceptable in many applications, while less acceptable in others. Counterbalance shafts and counterweights can be fitted but such complexities tend to counter the previously listed advantages.

Components such as the crankshaft of a single-cylinder engine have to be nearly as strong as that in a multi-cylinder engine of the same capacity per cylinder, meaning that some parts are effectively four times heavier than they need to be for the total displacement of the engine. The single-cylinder engine will almost inevitably develop a lower power-to-weight ratio than a multi-cylinder engine of similar technology. This can be a disadvantage in mobile operations, although it is of little significance in others and in most stationary applications.

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