Old generator servicing/fixing

[Filament]

Not wanting to hijack the other thread currently running about a Generator advice.
That thread reminded me that I bought a Generator for pennies years ago from eBay, partly because it was very nearby and cheap (and I can’t be trusted when that happens) and partly because it’s a diesel generator with a Lister engine and I’m fairly sure that means it can run on vegetable oil and at the time I ran my vehicle on vegetable oil so it seemed like if nothing else a good excuse to buy a big engined thing



I’ve never run it. I can make things and fix things, but engines I seem to have a blindspot about.

I’m just not sure who I would take it to to get it fixed as generator servicing companies are focused on newer machines.



Any ideas on who would be best to speak to to bring it back to life? Feels like I need to find a retired old school mechanic used to working on generators/lawnmowers/old diesel engines, but obviously that’s easier said than done. Any thoughts very welcome.

Pics here

 

[Dibs-h]

I'd be tempted to split the engine from the "leccy" bit and see if you can get that running. Test for basic things like compression (on a car you'd take out the glowplug, but not sure these would have one - but would expect there to be a means of testing compression) and fuel getting to the cylinder. Once you get that running - I'd look to mate it back to the leccy bit and see if you get an output.

 

[Spectric]

First thing to is to get the engine running, Lister diesels are not complicated and you need to clean out the fuel system, check it has compression give it some fresh fuel and see if it runs. Is it the two cylinder with crank handle ?

 

[clogs]

Filament,
I second Spectric.....often the old fuel oil has turned to glue.....
Ye, they will run quite happily on veg oil......but here it costs more than regular fuel oil.....
but there are engine specific starting aids.....so we need to know the engine and it's HP......
There are many Lister part guys/businesses out there.....just google it......
Most of the time they get sold because the egine gets tired and slow/lazy to start.....
it does take a lot of grunt even for the little ones....even factory fresh the were not an instant starter.....
I have an 6-8 HP Lister engined genny waiting for an electric start mod.....
I have athritis in my shoulders so cant swing em more than a min.....

If u lived near me we could fix it together.....
Lastly have a look for an old fashioned plant hire firm, they may recomend a retired person....
My prefered engine is Hatz......

 

[Filament]

Thanks so much everyone. Yes it has a crank handle.
I’ll see if I can get hold of a Lister specialist and inspect the fuel system when it’s less brass monkeys out!
Given that as I say engines leave me scratching my head, it’s whether it would be worth paying to get it sorted when it’s a nice to have rather than need to have.
Veg is crazily expensive now. I used to get it for 10p per litre from my local chippie and happily run the truck on it with incredibly low emissions. How times change…

 

[scockram]

L and S Engineers have a lot of small engine parts, (amoungst much much else). I used to do grounds maintenance and tree work for the guy that owns the business, nice bloke. I'm sure he told me once that they specialise in old engine parts, Lister etc. Worth a ring as well as I think they've got a lot more than listed on the website, it's not the best and they've got a huge catalogue of stuff. That said I'd highly recommend the company for components, tools and parts. I buy spares for Stihl chainsaws, they're always cheapest.

https://www.lsengineers.co.uk/lister-engine-spare-parts.html

 

[Oldman]

Here is another spare parts supplier Lister Petter Engine General Specs :: Lister Petter Engine Data
And a lister engine forum Lister Engine Forum - Index
If this is anything like the one we had at work, you had to lift the decompression tab and crank it like a mad person, drop the tab and be ready to be covered in soot when it fired up. But this was in the 1960's oh and it used to like thumbs so wrap your thumb around the handle with your fingers, not opposed to them.

 

[clogs]

Oldman,
ur exp brings back memeories.....
the later smaller engines had a geared timed out decompression lifter plus a neat fuel dump straight into the inlet manifold.....
U can see why the like of Kubota took over.....hahaha......
Filament.....
the gen part is the most important...old school more reliable but did need a little maintainenece....
Modern genny's use electronics for control, which are rubbish....ask me how I know......even genuine Honda.....

 

[mancave mike]

Hi, I have just acquired a single cylinder Lister 3kw generator circa 1972 which had been an installation in a cottage off the grid, not been used for many years but very well cared for with electric start and all switches breakers etc, a lucky find, I bought it simply to power an industrial 3kw heater, I changed the oil etc and had the injector checked which the guy said was "as new" and she fires up fine and runs the heater well, raises the temperature in the house by 2/3 degrees in under half an hour, not run yet for long periods so not sure on fuel consumption but so far it looks to do what it says on the tin, these engines are built like tanks and simple engineering, so far very pleased.

 

[bourbon]

any narrow gauge railways near you? lots of those loco's used Lister engines in them. They may be able to help