Two-Stroke Engine Repair and Maintenance

item re 7/29/24 thank you ...

I assist mechanics with diagnostic via phone daily, since two stroke diagnosis is my livelihood I can say that this book was worth the read. This book is great for beginners with little experience or homeowners looking for a better understanding of their equipment. I had to check my ego and exercise some patience to approach this read as if I knew absolutely nothing about two stroke engines and in doing so I gained new perspectives and knowledge I did not previously have. This book provides a very solid base to grow from and I would recommend this to any of my apprentices to help them as they stumble through the learning curve that is two stroke engines.

Written at the high school level for technical and non - technical reader.

While I'm only a software engineer, I am also relatively mechanically inclined and wanted to wrap my mind around basic maintenance for my 2 stroke equipment (i.e. trimmer, chain saw, mantis tiller, etc.).After reading this book twice, I walked away with much more than basic 2 stroke maintenance abilities. I would now feel comfortable tackling all but the most complicated of repairs on my 2 stroke equipment. The author, Mr. Dempsey, definitely brings the nature of 2 stroke engines, the technical details and terminology, and much more all within reach for those inclined to work on equipment. While making things like the kinds of tools or techniques a professional would use to diagnose and handle many repairs understandable for laymen, the author also provides a myriad of tips and tricks for identifying, diagnosing, and in some cases actually carrying out an effective repair without spending hundreds of dollars on a tool that you may use once in a lifetime (and he at least makes it clear, while still instructing on how you could do the complicated repair yourself, that there are some things you likely want to take to a professional, as they'll already have the expensive tools or in-depth knowledge necessary to more realistically handle that issue).Long story short, this book is so good, so readable, and so applicable that in the short time I've had this book I've been able to read it twice, and successfully execute basic maintenance and repairs on my own 2 stroke equipment. Kudos to Mr. Dempsey on writing such a useful book!

Although I'm still going thru it, (I bought 3 books) this book is comprehensive from basics theory of operation, design and modifications. All in 1

I bought a non-running Wacker very cheap and needed to sort out the 2 stroke motor. I bought and carefully read this book and was then able to strip and rebuild the carb successfully. It didn't start immediately but by reviewing the excellent theory diagrams and text I could work out that I had accidentally swopped two hoses. Put it right and the motor started! Without reading this book there is no way I would have got the engine going. Clear descriptions of the underlying theory, with many clear drawings. The book is not specific to one particular product so I was able to adapt to the carb I was working on. Highly recommended.

If it helps me to gain the the correct thought process on approaching work on these engines I may update my rating, but being used, abused and sent out to me is plane crap. I’m sick of the waisted time and gas to return junk like this !!

Amazing book that taught me the theory behind combustion engines and how to fix 2-Stroke engines.The knowledge in this book carries over to any combustion engine. After reading it, I was able to fix my own car, which is a 4-Cycle, so that tells you how well this book is written.After reading this book, I was also able to determine that my weed wacker was too far gone for repair (pitted and sludged up piston crown and walls, with a non-working ignition system), and get my 4-Cycle lawnmower back to idling normally and reliably.I recommend it to anyone looking to learn how to fix combustion engines!

Works

Good book for basics of small engine repairs.

Small 2-stroke garden tools fall into the category of being relatively inexpensive to buy but are nevertheless complicated to maintain oneself & prohibitively / uneconomically expensive to have repaired professionally.Therefore a book like this is very useful.The best aspects for me are that it is very general, it explains HOW the parts work, so one is prepared for whatever actual item needs repair. To try to offer a specific-to-model "Haynes" style book would be a lost cause for small cheap 2-strokes. There are hundreds of model types on the market. Even a specific item eg Manufacturer ABC chainsaw model XY123 will be found with various carbs, ignition components etc.Other good points are the excellent writing style and a sensible & appropriate level of detail.However it is clear that the American author never expected the book to be read outside the USA, but this matters little.

very informative

Excellent easy to follow and understand, would be helpful with a trouble shooting section but still good in how to understand what individual parts are and what they do.