Single cylinder engines

A single cylinder engine, colloquially known as a one-lunger, is an engine configuration consisting of just one cylinder, the simplest arrangement possible for an Otto or Diesel engine. The mounting can be standing, lying or angled.


Pros and Cons

Compared to multi-cylinder engines, single cylinder engines have several advantages, primarily their simple and economical construction. Balance shafts and counterweights on the crankshaft must be used to balance the weight of reciprocating parts, and can be expensive and complicated due to the collective mass of multiple cylinders. Components such as the crank have to be just as strong as in a four-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. This leads to the biggest downside of the single cylinder engine: it develops considerably lower power to weight ratios than a multi-cylinder of the same type.


Uses

Some early automobiles, such as the Cadillac 1906 Model K and 1907 Models L and M used single-cylinder engines. Single cylinder engines were also popular at one time for marine uses. Today the most common configuration is the 50cc-two-stroke Otto seen in so many bikes and scooters. These vehicles allowed the first mass-motorisation in many countries. Most engines used in small portable appliances, such as chainsaws, generators and domestic lawn mowers, usually have one cylinder. Also, the one-lunger is used in working vehicles, motorsports, airplanes, and as an industrial motor.