Lister generator?

[Greg1959]

Found a 2 cylinder Diesel Lister generator, buried up in brush, on the farm. Looks like it has been under water at some time.

Engine froze. Can't crank over by hand.


Should I scrap it or try to save it?

 

[Billy Shafer]

Save it. Those things were built like tanks.

 

[Dalet]

(quoted from post at 20:02:50 09/17/12) Save it. Those things were built like tanks.

I agree, the generator is probably shot, but the motor will probably run again.

 

[huntingreen2day]

If it is like the one I had it has compression release levers. also the generator is a starter generator.

 

[Tramway Guy]

I agree. Save it. Simple engines. Parts readily available.
Not all are starter-generator. I worked on one last year that had ring gear starting.
Fuel systems are individual pumps driven off camshaft, high pressure line to each nozzle in the head. Timing is done by shims. Not hard but can be tedious.

 

[kendak]

if it's the HR series I have [2] HR-6's that were running when I set them up...I'll give you any parts that you need ...just couldn't take them to the scrapyard ...the pistons, barrels, heads & rods are the same on the [1] to [6]cyl.....were used here in MS. delta to pump water on rice...take care

 

[kendak]

BTW most of the 1,2,&3 cyl. models used here in the delta back in the 60's were hand cranked & had no electronics at all..just flip the decomp. lever & give it a spin ...we used to only shut them down once a week & change oil & back to work for a week...see ya

 

[NCWayne]

I've got a 2 cylinder Lister Petter set up with an 8 KW generator set up as a standby generator for my house. It sets 99% of the time but as long as the battery is hot it has never failed to start for me no matter how cold. All I do is hit the decompression levers, get her spinning, and knock them back. It it's really cold it also has two ports that allow a bit of ether, etc to be shot into the intake, but I've never had to use them. I once ran it for over a week, after an ice storm, and averaged about 4 gallons of fuel every 24 hours.

That said, as others have stated previously, the generator attached to your's is probably shot, but the engines are built like tanks and with a bit of work will probably live again and run for a long time with a little TLC.

 

[barnE]

I would save it, but I save cars and tractors and lawn mowers and motorcycle and trucks and boat motors and all antiques. Dave