Idleing a 2stroke wear?

[robertglines1]

Is it harder on it than driving it down the road? Have been led to believe over the years it is. Is this also true that it wears faster?  I ran construction equipment for years and was told to run a detroit with the ears pinned back.(hard) Do not lug the engine (run below torque curve) keep it at or above that or use lower gear. That is what I have praticed.  Comments.  Bob

[bevans6]

The common wisdom is that idling a 2 stroke does not get or keep it warm enough for complete combustion.  That lets unburnt fuel wash down the cylinder walls leading to glazed bores and worn rings, it soots up the combustion chambers and unburnt fuel washes down and dilutes the oil in the crankcase.  High idle is supposedly high enough to minimize such things, but running with a load on the engine eliminates them.  So the old warriors say...

Brian

[TomC]

It is bad to idle ANY engine for extended periods.  On my Caterpillar, I would start it, let the oil pressure come up, then raise up the idle to 1,000rpm to let it warm up and build up air.
What you're describing is for non turbo'd 71 series that has torque at 1600rpm.  On my 8V-71 turbo, the trans is set to shift at 1900rpm, and on light acceleration will up shift so the rpm comes down to 1,110rpm.
On Turbo'd engines, the torque was at 1400rpm, and on DDEC engines down at 1200rpm.  Rule of thumb is to not go below max torque.  Run them hard, and they will be happy-also watching for black smoke.  Good Luck, TomC

[robertglines1]

Sometimes I need to ck signals: to make sure that what I have as a understanding and have been operating on is correct. Now at 65 and11/12th I still have allot to learn.   I do learn something new ever day! awaiting new education with the 60 serries in th 98.  Bob

[luvrbus]

You will be ace in about 3 years with the Pro/Link and the series 60 Bob lol

good luck

[oldmansax]

It's probably not good for them but I idled mine always when I was driving a truck. If I needed heat, the truck idled. Sometimes for days. I cut it off every 2 days to check the oil & start it back up. Didn't have A/C in the old trucks but once I bought one that did, it idled all summer too. Of course, when I left the lot everybody within 4 miles knew it..  It looked like I was burning greasy rags & old tires... 

Anyway, not sure about how much wear it caused, Some I had ran 300,000 or 400,000 before I had to do anything to them, & at least one busted a hole in the block at 25K.

Not trying to argue or start a food fight. Just telling what I did. If I was somewhere & needed to idle the bus now I would do it again........ at least until the Greenies got me!! 

TOM