Lister D compressed air engine

[Brian Rupnow]

Great work as usual Chuck. I always enjoy your posts.---Brian

 

[gus]

Hi Chuck,

Please post running video.
Grew up and old with Lister Engines. The whole trouble is it last forever. A Robin,Yanmar and Kubota are throwaways after 3---5 years.

 

[cfellows]

Thanks, Brian, always nice to know you're watching!

Gus, I painted the engine tonight. When the paint is good and dry, I'll reassemble it and shoot a video. Even under full pressure, it doesn't run very fast, but it will chug along pretty slow, just like the real deal.

Chuck

 

[cfellows]

Here's a few pictures of the painted engine. First, all the parts laid out.

And assembled...

Unfortunately, no video. I can't get the engine running again. The valve leaks too much and the slave valve won't work properly. I've tried different springs, but what I really need is an o-ring seal on the valve. But, there just isn't enough meat on the side of the head to bore it out and install an o-ring assembly. So, I'm going to revert to a poppet valve which means I also need to make a new timing gear and cam. Gonna take me a few days, but I should have it running by mid week or so!

Chuck

 

[canadianhorsepower]

how many hours can it take to biuld one like this??
of course looking that great also

 

[idahoan]

Nice job Chuck; and fast too!

Dave

 

[dreeves]

Chuck. Great looking engine. I have no doubt you will having it running like a tip in no time

Dave

 

[cfellows]

Thanks, guys.

Spent most of the day in the shop today. I had to change the type of valve in the head. Didn't have much room, so the valve assembly had to be pretty small. Didn't take any pictures of the new arrangement. However, I do have the engine running quite well now. Here is the video!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGKmDTTE1To[/ame]

I had to fiddle around quite a bit with different springs on the slave valve. I actually learned something new about it today. In the past I had just depended on the spring to stop the ball slave valve at a reasonable distance and return it when the inlet valve closed. However, on this engine, the channel with the slave valve is quite long and so, necessarily was the spring. Unfortunately, this caused the engine to run eratically. So, I installed a pin which stops the ball slave valve, threading it so I could adjust the travel. Works great and greatly enhances the way the engine runs.

Chuck

 

[johnmcc69]

Wow Chuck, another great engine. I love the sound of it, it wants to be put to work.

John

 

[skyline1]

Nice job Chuck it even sounds like Lister D and the speed is very like full size

Regards Mark

 

[Generatorgus]

Neat little engine, you won't see many of these as models. Great job, sounds good too.

GUS

 

[gus]

Ran and sounded like the real Lister,I grew up up and grew old with.

In the 40s 50s 60s and 70s ,all concrete mixers are powered with Lister. In the 70s 80s ,all concrete dumpers are driven by Listers and some Petters in Singapore and Malaysia.
It was the major selling point. The Japanese engines came and it was the beginning of the end for Lister. The Taiwanese Engine factories have a good domestic market to keep them busy.Soon the Chinese engines will take over.For now they pose no threat due non-consistent quality.

 

[vcutajar]

WOW Chuck. Great looking engine. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

Vince

 

[cfellows]

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words. I wish I could find a full size Lister, but they are kind of scarce on this side of the pond. What few there are are kind of expensive. Of course, I also suppose it would cost a small fortune to ship one over here.

Chuck