Aaron’s Engine Anatomy

Briggs and Stratton 8.75 hp motor

Background

Briggs and Stratton is the worlds largest manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines, producing an average of 11 million engines a year.

Piston

the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from expanding gas in the cylinder to the crankshaft via a piston rod and/or connecting rod.

Connecting Rod

connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. Together with the crank, they form a simple mechanism that converts reciprocating motion into rotating motion.

Oil Splash

Splashes oil into the cylinder to keep it lubricated for the movement of the piston

Camshaft (Cam)

The Cam controls the opening and closing of poppet valves and is connected to a camshaft which rotates it

Crankshaft

the part of an engine that translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation. It is typically connected to a flywheel to reduce the pulsation characteristic of the four-stroke cycle, usually referred to as the crank

Poppet Valves

Often just referred to as valves, they are used to control the timing and quantity of gas or vapour flow into an engine. It consists of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem.

Cylinder Head

Often referred to simply as the head, it sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. The head also provides space for the passages that feed air and fuel to the cylinder, and that allow the exhaust to escape. The head can also be a place to mount the valves, spark plugs, and fuel injectors.

Engine Block

an integrated structure comprising the cylinder(s) of a reciprocating engine and often some or all of their associated surrounding structures (coolant passages, intake and exhaust passages and ports, and crankcase).

Spark Plug

A device fro delivering electric current from an ignition system to the combustion chamber of a spark ignition engine to ignite the compressed fuel/air mixture with an electric spark.

Governor

A governor is a device used to measure and regulate the speed of an engine.

Governor hook-up

Controls how the governor is set up to limit the speed of the enigine.

Fuel Tank

Holds fuel until it is needed by the motor.

Carburetor

a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. Also called the carb.

Fuel Hose

Carries fuel from the fuel tank to the carburetor.

Spark Plug Cap

A "spark plug cap" or "boot" is hollow a rubber elbow that helps prevent accidental electrical shock should the user come in contact with that area of a running engine.

Muffler

Used to reduce the amount of noise emitted by the exhaust of an internal combustion engine.

Exhaust Gasket

A seal to prevent exhaust gas from leaking.

Pull Cord

Used to turn the starter cup which turns the crank and flywheel to start the motor.

Flywheel

A flywheel is a rotating mechanical device that is used to store rotational energy. Some common uses of a flywheel include providing continuous energy when the energy source is discontinuous, delivering energy at rates beyond the ability of a continuous energy source. This is achieved by collecting energy in the flywheel over time and then releasing the energy quickly, at rates that exceed the abilities of the energy source, and controlling the orientation of a mechanical system.

Fan

Used to keep the engine cool.

Gas Cap

Used to keep the gas in the fuel tank.

Choke

modifies the air pressure in the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and supplies a richer fuel mixture when starting the engine, hooked up to carb.

Air Filter

a device composed of fibrous materials which removes solid particulates such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria from the air to prevent abrasive particulate matter from entering the engine's cylinders, where it would cause mechanical wear and oil contamination.

Cylinder

A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine, the space in which a piston travels.

Air base

Holds the air filter.

Crankcase Cover

Covers the crankcase.

Oil Dipstick

Indicates how much oil is in the engine.

Starter Cup