i keep hearing about how much more maintainence you have to perform on a two stroke compared to a 4-stroke. what makes this so? the four stroke has more moving parts and is more complicated. so what more do you have to do to keep a two stroke running? thankz

 

The extra maintenance comes from having to mix gas and oil (no big deal) and doing top ends every so often - piston rings and hone. Everything else is about the same. I think the issue is overblown.

 

so an oil injected two stroke like a blaster or a polaris two strok would actually take the same maint. as a four stroke?

 

No, you still have to replace the topend mabe once a year or every two, depends on how you ride, I know 2 people that have old (87-88) 2strokes that have never had a new piston and rings.. you dont have to replace them but if it breaks it ends up costing alot more to fix. 2-strokes are very simple machines, anybody can work on them. I know at least with the blaster it seems you keep it clean and somewhat maintained and it will last a long time.

 

on a four stroke the piston and cylinder wall are bathed in oil. also four strokes build up less heat due to detontation every other time the piston comes up.. where as the 2 strokes only get oil after the fuel has been burned away and they fire every time the piston comes up..

all the crank bearings get oil thru the mixed gas
on a 2 stroke.. where the crank on a four stroke is basicaly submerged in oil all the time.. the lobes on a four stroke help sling that oil up to the bottom of the piston and helps it get stuck in the oil ring..

in a sence more oil on moving parts meens longer life span.. less oil meens well you know

 

I agree that people make a lot bigger deal out of the 2 stroke vs. 4 stroke maintenance. I have owned both and actually think that the 2 stroke is easier. Think about it...you never have to change your oil(except bottom end) and oil filter. Mixing is pretty much brainless with a ratio rite. With a four stroke you have to keep an eye on your lifters and such. changing the top end is no big deal. Just my opinion.

 

2-strokes tend to get ridden alot harder/faster and beat on alot more, that could be partially where the bad rap comes from..