The dwell cycle crank includes a reciprocating piston having a piston head or cylinder, a main body connected to the piston head, a cap detachably mounted to the main body, an S-shaped cam formed between the main body and the cap, a follower disposed in the S-shaped cam, a rotatable crankshaft, and an offset journal disposed between the connecting bearing and the crankshaft to thereby form a torque arm. The S-shaped cam and connecting bearing create periodic dwells and faster strokes in the crank cycle to maximize volumetric and geometric efficiencies of the engine.