Nicasil = Nikasil = NiCaSil = NiComm - A combination of nickel, silicon, and carbide are electro-plated to an aluminum cylinder and then diamond honed to a precise diameter. The advantage of this process is increased heat transfer and less weight compared to steel/cast sleeves. Note: There are several proprietary processes of applying nickel silicon carbide to aluminum cylinders. "Plated" cylinders refers to this process. Top Dead Center (TDC) - The top of the piston's stroke.
Bottom Dead Center (BDC) - The bottom of the piston's stroke.
Deck - Top of Cylinder or Sleeve.
Deck Height - Top of cylinder down to top of piston "negative deck."
"0" Deck - Edge of piston crown even with deck of cylinder.
Positive Deck - If piston is above top of cylinder.
Squish Clearance - Vertical distance between top of piston and head. Measured at the edge of piston. See "Squish Test" for measuring with soft lead solder over wrist pin.
Effective Stroke - The distance from TDC to where the piston starts to open the exhaust port. (Also called: Power Stroke) A longer effective stroke helps low-end power and helps maintain compression at high altitude.
Swept Volume - Volume of cylinder with piston at exhaust port opening to TDC. (4-stroke would be volume/cc's displaced by piston from BDC to TDC.)
Trapped Volume - Volume of combustion chamber with piston at TDC.
Compression Ratio (CR) - Volume of cylinder and combustion chamber with piston at exhaust port opening, divided by, volume of combustion chamber with piston at TDC. This is the "corrected" / "trapped" compression ratio. Most accurate way is to "cc" with a syringe or burette.
BMEP - Brake Mean Effective Pressure. See "BMEP Page"
Porting and Port Timing Terms
Port - Air passageway/duct that is cast and/or machined into the cylinder.
Port Window - The part of the port that opens into the cylinder bore.
Exhaust Port - The large port where the burnt gasses exit the cylinder.
Bridged Exhaust Port - Exhaust port with a center divider.
Sub-Exhaust Ports - The small exhaust ports on each side of the main exhaust port. Measure at "choke point" not necessarily the port window.
Triple Exhaust Ports - One main exhaust port with one sub exhaust port on each side.
Transfer Ports/Ducts - The air passageways that allow the air/fuel mixture to transfer over the top of the piston to fill the cylinder.
Main/Front Transfers - The 2 transfer ports located closest to the exhaust port (5 port).
Secondary/Rear Transfers - The 2 rear transfer ports located closest to the boost port(s) (5 port).
Boost Port(s) - The port or ports that are located opposite of the exhaust port and in-line with the intake port. These ports are usually angled sharply upwards to help scavenging.
Auxiliary Transfers - Some cylinders have another set of transfers located between the front and rear sets (7 port).
Transfer Base - Where the air enters the ducts/passageways at the bottom of cylinder & top of crankcase.
Crank Angle - Crankshaft rotation measured in degrees. Total = 360 degrees.
Port Timing - Degrees of crankshaft rotation after TDC to where port starts to open.
Duration - The number of degrees of crankshaft rotation that a port is open.
TA = Time-Area = TimeArea - The time and area required for a phase of the 2-stroke cycle at a specific RPM and BMEP. Examples: Transfer Port TA, Exhaust Port TA, Blowdown TA, and Intake Port TA.
Port-TimeArea - The amount of time and area required for a port to flow the necessary air at a specific rpm and BMEP. The higher an engine rpm and/or pressure (BMEP) the more TimeArea required.
Chordal Width = 90 degrees to Gas Flow or shortest straight-line distance between sides.
BlowDown - Measured in degrees of crankshaft rotation from Exhaust Port opening to the Transfer Ports opening.
BlowDown TA - Must allow the cylinder pressure to drop below the pressure of the fuel air mixture at time of transfer ports opening. If the Blowdown pressure is to high when transfer ports open, it will stall or reverse, the incoming charge of fuel and air.
LowBlow Width - Width of exhaust port when transfer ports open. Used to calculate BlowDown TimeArea.
Port Height above BDC - With piston at BDC, measure from bottom of port, or piston, depending on which is higher, to top of port roof.
Port Roof Angle - The angle of the top of the port at the window. Flat ='s 0 degrees.
Scavenging - The process of pushing the burnt gas out of the cylinder and combustion chamber with a fresh fuel air charge. The transfer ports shape and direction of flow determines how the fresh charge will fill the cylinder and combustion chamber without short circuiting out the exhaust port. A good pipe will help the scavenging process.
