Lister Diesel generator

[Bob F]

I just saw an old Lister 3 cylinder diesel attached to a generator at a local
metal recycler. They would sell it to me if I wanted it, I'm sure. It looks
pretty old, and at least the generator half is rusty. Engine was 18 HP.

Is this something of any potential value? Any chance it could be likely
restored?

Seattle area.

 

[Bob F]

I just saw an old Lister 3 cylinder diesel attached to a generator at
a local metal recycler. They would sell it to me if I wanted it, I'm
sure. It looks pretty old, and at least the generator half is rusty.
Engine was 18 HP.

1800 RPM

 

[Curbie]

Bob,

The best place I know to get an answer to this question is:
http://www.microcogen.info

If you want to post it out there I will.

Curbie

 

[vaughn]

I just saw an old Lister 3 cylinder diesel attached to a generator at a local
metal recycler. They would sell it to me if I wanted it, I'm sure. It looks
pretty old, and at least the generator half is rusty. Engine was 18 HP.

They are fine old engines that rarely die unless severly maltreated.

Is this something of any potential value? Any chance it could be likely
restored?

Assuning you buy it a a scrap price, even if the engine and gen head are total
writeoffs (unlikely) you could probably part out what is left and make money on
the deal.

Vaughn

 

[Bob F]

These people would know:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Lister_CSOG/
http://listerengine.com/smf/index.php?topic=5098.0
http://listerengine.com

Your engine is probably an HA3 model. It's air cooled. The water
cooled ones are quieter and live longer. The HA3 was also used in the
long boats on English canals.

Parts are still available and what isn't being made in England anymore
is available from India. They are relatively easy to work on, as the
barrels and heads are mounted individually

They make cylinders and pistons...etc..etc..


Does the engine look like this one?

Electric starts are also available, but the compression release makes
hand starting not too bad. Except in winter.

It does look similar, but this one has an alternator and a starter. It says 18
HP on it, half of what the HA3 seems to be described as.

 

[Bob F]

It does look similar, but this one has an alternator and a starter.
It says 18 HP on it, half of what the HA3 seems to be described as.

This looks like it, generator and all, if you add an alternator and electric
starter.
http://www.lyrics5.com/videos.html?vid=Y7x8GQSbVDg

 

[vaughn]

I just saw an old Lister 3 cylinder diesel attached to a generator at a local
metal recycler.

For more specific information, you really can't beat the Smokstak forums.
This one: http://www.smokstak.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=60 and perhaps some
of the other sub-forums.

Vaughn

 

[Bruce in alaska]

1800 RPM

Bob, If you decide NOT to go get it would you eMail "Me", so I can have
one of the other genset collectors in the Seattle Area go get it. The
Genend is likely in the 12 Kw Range and these are very desirable up here
in Alaska, to power bush locations. I would hate to se it go to a
Scrapper, when there are folks who could make good use of it.... even if
it was just for Parts.

 

[Bob F]

Bob, If you decide NOT to go get it would you eMail "Me", so I can
have one of the other genset collectors in the Seattle Area go get
it. The Genend is likely in the 12 Kw Range and these are very
desirable up here in Alaska, to power bush locations. I would hate to
se it go to a Scrapper, when there are folks who could make good use
of it.... even if it was just for Parts.

I just unloaded it from my Caravan. The van DID NOT like it. That thing is
HEAVY.

Apparently, it was stored in a warehouse prior to being recycled. The oil looks
brand new, so maybe it was taken care of even in storage, although the caps on
the oil and valve covers needed a wrench to remove. The crankshaft turns with a
wrench.

The generator is a 10KW, 12.5 KVA "brushless" unit, direct driven from the shaft
just past the fan housing (The engine is air cooled). It is huge.

Time to start researching how to restore this thing. I've got a lot to learn.
Any more good sites for info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bruce in alaska]

I just unloaded it from my Caravan. The van DID NOT like it. That thing is
HEAVY.

Apparently, it was stored in a warehouse prior to being recycled. The oil
looks
brand new, so maybe it was taken care of even in storage, although the caps
on
the oil and valve covers needed a wrench to remove. The crankshaft turns with
a
wrench.

The generator is a 10KW, 12.5 KVA "brushless" unit, direct driven from the
shaft
just past the fan housing (The engine is air cooled). It is huge.

Time to start researching how to restore this thing. I've got a lot to learn.
Any more good sites for info would be greatly appreciated.

Join us on www.smokstak.com We have a Moderator in England, that is
the acknowledged Expert on Lister Diesels. You can ask your question is
either the Motor & Generator Forum, or the Vintage Diesel Engine Forum.
Lot os folks with Man-Years of Professional Generator Servicing
Experience.

 

[Bob F]

I finally went out with the reading glasses - I have a SR3 built in 1972. With a
10 KW Lima generator.

 

[Curbie]

Bob F,

I finally went out with the reading glasses - I have a SR3 built in 1972. With a
10 KW Lima generator.

I thought I'd run a search on what you got, lots of interesting
reading, especially the first link:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...hts=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off

Curbie

 

[Bob F]

Bob F,


I thought I'd run a search on what you got, lots of interesting
reading, especially the first link:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...hts=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off

Curbie

Thanks. That first one is good. The pics give me a better idea of what it will
look like inside.

 

[Curbie]

Bob F,

Two more searches you may be interested in:

SR3 Lister
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...hts=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off

10 KW Lima generator
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...hts=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off

Curbie

 

[Bob F]

Bob F,

Two more searches you may be interested in:

SR3 Lister
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...hts=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off

10 KW Lima generator
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...hts=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off

I had found the first, but the second is new to me. Thanks.

 

[Cat22]

I just saw an old Lister 3 cylinder diesel attached to a generator at a local
metal recycler. They would sell it to me if I wanted it, I'm sure. It looks
pretty old, and at least the generator half is rusty. Engine was 18 HP.

Is this something of any potential value? Any chance it could be likely
restored?

Seattle area.

There's a guy in Centralia dong listers.
http://oldstylelisters.com/
Cat22

 

[Ade]

There's a guy in Centralia dong listers.
http://oldstylelisters.com/
Cat22

Hmm, I wouldn't buy from him if he was the last supplier on earth...

Unfortunately, the details of the various shennanigans he got up to are
not currently available, with the listerengine.com forum having gone
MIA.

 

[Ade]

Unfortunately, the details of the various shennanigans he got up to are
not currently available, with the listerengine.com forum having gone
MIA.

No, wait, it's back...



Read it (while you can) & weep (if you bought one):

http://listerengine.com/smf/index.php?topic=4465.0

 

[Bob F]

No, wait, it's back...



Read it (while you can) & weep (if you bought one):

http://listerengine.com/smf/index.php?topic=4465.0

Interesting reading.

I actually bought the Lister. What I need to decide now is what to do to it to
get it working. When I removed the cap on the valve cover of one cylinder, it
took a wrench to get it loose, and a bit of rust/crud dropped inside the cover.
The parts under the cover look pretty dry, like they haven't been lubed in a
long time. I figure at the least, I need to vacuum out the crud that dropped in,
and then lube everything well, including injecting oil into the 3 cylinders. If
anyone has restored a long stored lister or equivalent, I would love to hear
what you think needs to be done with such an engine before actually trying to
start it. I'm not rushing into this. I want to do my research first.

 

[Ade]

Interesting reading.

I actually bought the Lister. What I need to decide now is what to do to it to
get it working. When I removed the cap on the valve cover of one cylinder, it
took a wrench to get it loose, and a bit of rust/crud dropped inside the cover.
The parts under the cover look pretty dry, like they haven't been lubed in a
long time. I figure at the least, I need to vacuum out the crud that dropped in,
and then lube everything well, including injecting oil into the 3 cylinders. If
anyone has restored a long stored lister or equivalent, I would love to hear
what you think needs to be done with such an engine before actually trying to
start it. I'm not rushing into this. I want to do my research first.

OK, your first task would be to join the http://listerengine.com forum.
Although it has an irritating tendancy to disappear (sometimes for
hours, sometimes for days or more at a time), it is nonetheless a wealth
of information, and knowledeable people who can help you through your
refurbishment/restoration.

Another forum you might consider is at http://microcogen.info; it's less
focused on the Lister engine (& much more on combined heat & power), but
there's a strong Lister[oid] presence there, and much help could be
gleaned. That forum is also much less likely to disappear than the
listerengine one...

Finally, there's a Yahoo group - Lister_CSOG - for owners of Lister (and
Listeroid) CS type engines. IMHO that one's the hardest to use (because
it's a mailing list), but is if anything the most focused.

Good luck!