Lister Engine Forum

Lister Engines => Listeroid Engines => Topic started by: EdDee on October 14, 2015, 10:16:45 AM

Title: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 14, 2015, 10:16:45 AM
Hi Guys,

I am a "Newbie" to this forum, although I have been lurking on and off for some time as a guest. I am submitting a path of action and I would like some forecasts as to the eventual outcome from you highly experienced gents who have been down this road before. As always, experience is the best teacher and i would love to hear what you think would happen.

The scenario is as follows:
1)Take delivery of a new listeroid CS12/1
2)Do the absolute minimum prep work on the engine, check and set spill timing(A little advanced from the original 18deg to around the 20deg mark), check and set Valves, Quick Clean of Crankcase inner, Fill with Oil and diesel, Bleed injector system, Change governor spring and de-rate to 750RPM from the original 1000RPM
3)Install onto Chassis with a 7.5KW genhead driven by 2 v-belts from the Flywheel rim(No Grooves) and install a radiator with thermosyphon circulation and electrical fan assist with temperature switch.
4)Run one tank of diesel thru the engine under moderate load (2.5-3Kw) for basic break in.
5)Install a basic water injection system on the inlet manifold, install a Donaldson air filter in place of the junk filter that was supplied with the engine.
6)Break most of the rules with exhaust routing(Down 1m, Across 2m, Up 1/2m Across 1m, Up 3m or so and for giggles add another 90degree bend or 2 after all of this to get the exhaust to go where i want it)
7)Start, stop and run on WMO thereafter, highly varying load conditions, from 1.5Kw to a max of 7.5Kw for short periods, average load about about 2.5 to 3Kw.

Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: dieselgman on October 14, 2015, 01:54:27 PM
A couple quick responses...

1.) Do not buy a 12/1 if you want to run 750 rpm - just buy an 8/1 (850rpm) and slow it to your desired speed. This may require some adjustments to flywheel balance to make her stable.

2.) Running at 750 rpm is only going to produce barely 4kW (if that)- even if you start with the 12/1. So your high-end loading expectations will need to be adjusted accordingly.

The rest is a crap shoot with varying and unpredictable Indian assembly and QC practices as we have all observed. I have heard of a few folks assembling and running without modification and without complaint... but far too many who have found problems to remedy on close internal inspection.

dieselgman
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: Combustor on October 14, 2015, 03:25:34 PM
Hi there EdDee,
                      Carefully read as much as you can on the topic of burning WMO in the threads on this site and others, and then make up your mind as to whether it is for you.  Some report good results but others have sad tales to tell, as there are many variables and unknowns with its use. Factors affecting results include
Source and type of oil
Contamination with unsuitable oils, (synthetics, gear lubes. coolants, fuels etc.
Blend ratio's, with diesel, heating oil, kero, jet fuel, RUG, other secret brews,
Heavy metal residues, (cause deposits and abrasive wear),
Your ability to achieve fine filtration and remove residual water/detergent "goo"
Possible need to preheat to keep flowing in cold weather
Legalities of transporting and storing, in some places, once oil is used, it is classified as Dangerous Goods.

If you can secure a source of an un-contaminated oil of a single type,then it may be worth some careful trials but be prepared for a lot of research and experiment and learn from other
users who have succeeded.  Also look into waste veg oil as fuel or the possibility of turning it into bio-diesel. Either way, you will need a lot of spare time.
          Do not listen to anyone who says you can build a refining setup that will turn WMO into diesel. It is a very hazardous process,not very successful and illegal almost anywhere.
Good luck.
 
Combustor.
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: EdDee on October 14, 2015, 05:27:00 PM
Thanks Gman and Combustor, points noted!

 I prepare my fuel (WMO) by heating it to around 110 to 120C and stirring it around to boil off water. Thereafter I let it settle overnight and decant the top 2/3 to a holding tank (through a 5micron filter) where it can further rest till I need to use it. I guess I have just been lucky so far in my choice of bits to put the whole setup together.

There is quite a bit more to my setup than the above description of my first post, but it is essentially, in its basics, pretty much as described. My reason for posting the What If, was to get an honest, genuine opinion of what to avoid and what I could expect. Somehow, my numbers as calculated, came out pretty much similar to what you have recommended, but in reality, I am able to draw power off the unit well above what has been predicted. Initial estimates came up around the 4kw mark which is around the 18A mark at 220V... I can and do peak load at about 25 to 30A with the exhaust only just starting to smoke. So far I have racked up quite a few hours and nothing has gone bang....Yet...

Any further reccomendations would be awesome! I am a slow learner, so repeat often and no offence will be taken... ;D
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: dieselgman on October 14, 2015, 05:49:19 PM
Perhaps you have a 12/1 that is more than I initially assumed. Usually I thought they were the same displacement engines as the 6/1 and 8/1 - just run up to 1,000rpm to get the extra power. If yours has a larger bore and/or stroke, then it would be able to make more power at 750 rpm than what I had guessed at. Our 18/1 units run at 750rpm... just have a lot more cubic inches to make the extra power.

dieselgman
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: Tom on October 14, 2015, 06:01:14 PM
Been there, done that and don't do it any more. Motor oils are high in ash, when it's burned the ash is left behind and grinds up the rings and cylinder walls. The ash also collects on the tip of the injector as a little stalactite and messes up the spray pattern. And surprising the abrasiveness of WMO ground up the internals of a IP and injector. I tried blends, settling and filtering. The only success I've read is using a centrifuge or making your own distillery. I don't use enough fuel in a year to justify the cost of a centrifuge, so now I'm back to off-road diesel.

You will find that starting on WMO in cold weather is difficult and gets more difficult as the engine rapidly wears. I also had problems with deposits on valve stems causing sticking when cold. If you're going to run non-stop for long periods you might do better than I did. My typical run is 4-8 hours charging batteries. Order lots of spare parts with your engine if you're going to try this and depend on it for power.
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: EdDee on October 14, 2015, 06:32:21 PM
Gman, i think u are right about this unit.... i havent had the lid off yet so i cant confirm though...

I am currently just over the 1k hour mark on this engine and so far, touch wood, its holding up well. Most of its life so far, has been running on WMO of the worst possible kinds I can find. Tomorrow we go to collect 1000L of old truck sump oil to burn off in her! That should keep her spinning for a while... I am burning off the oil to generate electricity and heat water for the household, but, mainly to dispose of it in a more environment friendly and useful way.

Of exhaust smoke and carboning has been very little, a little bit of water down the inlet on a constant basis seems to be working well. I never shut down the water supply, it is drawn into the manifold by induction stroke and the level of the float bowl is such that when the motor stops, so does the water. The average run lasts around 12 or more hours.

The worst wear on the injection system happened on day one - a tank of store bought, water contaminated diesel was put in... not enough to stop the engine, but enough to stuff things up quite niceley when it stood overnight in the IP... a strip and clean out, smoothing off the rough bits ensued, back up and running albeit a bit hard to start with low IP pressure.. now running on 30 to 40W oil, IP pressure is up and going! I don't preheat the fuel oil as it seldom falls into the single figure C temps here, even in mid winter...

The only major-ish failure experienced thus far was electrical of nature, a bit of creative rerouting solved that...

Tom, what is your definition of rapid wear due to ash and deposits, 100,500, or more? I am trying to work out if I have been lucky so far, or if the mushroom cloud is just over the horizon!

It looks like this thing would run on peanut butter and grease if I could get it into the pump.... Uncle Otto would be proud....
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: Tom on October 14, 2015, 09:26:06 PM
Going from memory here, but there was a pretty good ridge on a liner in about 200 hours. There was a pretty good amount of blowby coming out the breather too. Never did try continuous water injection as I hadn't heard about doing that while I was doing the WMO experiment. On the Micro-Cogen board Glort swears by it so you may be on to something there.
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: dieselgman on October 14, 2015, 09:45:50 PM
Caterpillar and the US Air Force have used their waste diesel lube oils as fuel. Cat used to recommend up to 5% waste mixed with the diesel fuel, and in fact offered a third-party system for stationary engines that continuously fed the oil into the fuel supply side of the system. The Air Force experimented with up to 15% as I recall reading... and with good results. Neither of them recommended using any kind of contaminated waste stocks though, and nothing except for lubricating oil out of a diesel engine.

dieselgman
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: EdDee on October 15, 2015, 10:44:12 AM
Thanks for the replies, Tom,Gman and Glort.
Gman: I remove as much contamination through filtering, settling and boiling as i can - so far it seems to be working. On the tank i again have a fine filter that hopefully takes out some more solids to make it passable...

Tom: So far there is little blow by, maybe a tad more than from new, but nothing to be alarmed about as yet....hold thumbs!!

Glort:Agreed with the prep of the fuel, that does make an enormous difference - the one batch that was from a trusted source is the one batch that caused the most problems so far! Agreed re the parrotted mantras, but, this happens in all walks of life, its a bit of the "Herd Instinct" coming to the fore i would think...

A Little common sense does seem to go a long way, often though, common sense isnt so commonly available!!

Water injection has made a big, and i mean a really big difference to the running of junk fuels in my case - before it was installed, carbon started to build up at an alarming rate and that coupled with a badly timed injection system started things down a path of early failure. At first I was under the impression that the fuel was wholly at fault, installed WI and things improved, or at the very least didnt get worse. Found the timing bolt had shifted from it's painted to lock it in position, retimed the injection and used the previously unused lock nut to lock it in place...been running ever since.... I did not decarbon after the initial SNAFU, but with the water in place, carbon has definitely reduced both in the injector area and the exhaust system... What a pleasure!!

I have the option of adding all sorts of PLC's and advanced systems to monitor and control - my opinion is that these are most likely to cause problems in the future - Listers run for decades and have run for decades without them - simple is best I reckon - I have yet to see a 10 year old PLC still in full operation in a Lister environment...

The WMO I am using has everything from Dino, ULP to ATF and Paraffin mixed - little water or coolant as such - I simply keep the Visco around the 25-35 mark and it burns well - or appears to be so far .... Time will tell!

I have been expecting early cylinder/ring failure because of ash in the burnt residue - so far compression is reasonable to good, little blow by so Poseidon is doing his work(I hope) to help rid the exhaust stroke of nasty bits!!

I have also expected IP and Injector problems due to the junk fuel - I am still sitting with a brand new Injector tip and 2xFuel pump elements as spare, waiting to install should the need arise, due to erosion by acidic WMO - It looks like the 100+C heating/cooling/settling routine is ridding the WMO of water and as such is limiting the effectiveness of the acids...

My general thoughts on the lister motor are that it was designed to be simple, with simple maintenance, with simple fuels, to be run by the common man - with todays tech we are inducing more problems through our own cautiousness, albeit inadvertently, that the simple things are being overlooked and we expect the tech to take the place of the basic needs of the engine - Coolant, Fuel, Lubrication, Tight Bolts and dont let the first three mix amongst themselves!!

My WI system is simplicity itself - controlled level float bowl(Made from bits of an old chicken waterer), gravity fed from a water hopper, with a 1/8" pipe feeding in just in front of the valve stem(guestimated) - it draws water droplets in on induction with not enough water induced to allow for a wet exhaust or enough to cause problems with milking the oil.... every now and then i give it a good flush by choking the inlet to the air filter and it seems to keep things running quite clean - this is done for about 2 mins every couple of days or so... no schedule, no need, just like running the steam engine for giggles... It blows a lot of grey steam out the stack so that tells me it must be cleaning something out which cant be bad!! Lol....

I would like to try WVO, but that is in short supply in my areas, all piping etc is WVO ready, with dual tank and filters just waiting....

Anyways, enough rambling from my side.... time to earn a living i guess... 800L of fuel gunk just arrived, so i better get cooking!!

L8rs
E
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: Gippslander on October 15, 2015, 01:03:25 PM


.  These peasants could not be able to afford a new engine even every year so I wonder how they get on with their factory engines run as delivered?





That is a interesting question. Maybe there are lots of little listeroid repair shops in India and Pakistan .  Mike
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: dieselgman on October 15, 2015, 01:42:58 PM
I have seen them running pumps and concrete mixers over in India - basically in a big pile of dirt, and seemingly doing just fine. Spare parts are almost dirt cheap there and they can rebuild in an afternoon with a few hand tools and a big hammer.

dieselgman
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: 38ac on October 15, 2015, 02:27:52 PM
Not many deep mechanical thinkers live as peasants, a large part of the equation.

 From what I hear back from missionaries working in third world areas they don't,  as in  run very long. There are heaps of non running engines and equipment scattered about that need only minor repair, some of it next to new.
Another answer is those same penniless peasants that buy a cheap engine also have to buy fuel to make them run and the engines don't get run many hours. An engine that runs for 30 minutes once a week gets 26 hours a year thus a 100 hour life span engine is a four year engine. vs a 4 day engine on 24/7 operation.

My sampling of Indian engines is small compared to some, maybe 30 in total but fewer than 25% of them were free of some defect that would seriously lower a western type life expectancy. At least 1/4 of them had a major defect that was a guarantied failure with in a very short time span.  Maybe they send all the garbage here and the good ones are sold third world? I don know? This is  just my experience.




 These peasants could not be able to afford a new engine even every year so I wonder how they get on with their factory engines run as delivered?

/quote]





Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: veggie on October 15, 2015, 03:03:38 PM
As a person who imported many (from two different suppliers) I can tell you that I did not see a single engine that did not need some work.

1]The most common ailment was a poorly fitted con rod bearing. Usually waaaay too much clearance (like 10 to 15 thou") which would cause bearing destruction in short order.
I made a point of changing them out immediately or giving the buyer a new set of shells,
Many uneducated buyers would not notice the con-rod knock mixed in with the rest of the engine noise and many users of listeroids put little few hours on them so it would take some time for un-serviced bearing shells to raise an issue.

2]The second most common thing I noticed was cylinder liner protrusion above the deck. While 0.005" is the desired number, I saw many at 0.020" and this made it hard for the head gasket to seal the water passages because the cyl. head sat higher than it should. A thick gasket and a lot of lacquer at the factory got them to pass the run test.

Listeroids can be (and are) good engines if given a bit of attention at the start. And the price of spares certainly makes them good candidates for alternative fuels.
So go for it ! The cost of a set of rings and an injector may be greatly offset by the savings in fuel cost. Each person's methods and setup is different so you have to do the math and see if it works for you.
Oh...and the hobby factor ! sometimes it's just so much fun that the $$$ don't matter (within reason)  ;D

cheers,
veggie
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: 38ac on October 15, 2015, 03:22:11 PM
many users of listeroids put little few hours on them so it would take some time for un-serviced bearing shells to raise an issue.


cheers,
veggie


That's my experience also, lots of indian engines around. Most owned by hobbyists with ideas that never got done. There are a few around that have some amount of hours on them and virtually none (by percentage) that have a history of long and hard work behind them.
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: EdDee on October 15, 2015, 05:05:09 PM
Lets see how long this one of mine lasts, I am going to continue running it as long as it runs...I should have over 1200 hrs on it by month end if it lives that long... Last check was around 1000 as we stand now... I run it about 12 to 15 hrs a day... Hold thumbs!

She was running a bit smokey earlier today, very light pale grey, pushing about 5kW while processing the fuel gunk, boosted the water intake for an hour or so and she is breathing cleanly again... (Probs ran upwards of 40 or 50L maybe more of water through the intake in 90 mins)

Maybe I am just one of the lucky ones - I make her work hard and long - she seems to like it!!

From my little experience so far, it seems as if these girls like a long hard run to keep ticking over - anything less than about 4hrs per session leads to oil fouling and the like, with the associated induced faults to go with it - My unit only "calms down" after about 1/2 an hour of running and gets to full grunt after about an hour.... Coolant temps are within working limits quite quickly, but the lower case is barely warm for the first while... go figure...
 ;)
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: EdDee on October 16, 2015, 10:01:27 AM
Ditto, ditto and yet ditto again....

Only one comment to add - In my experience with oils, from ATF, BRAKE, GEAR, HYDRAULIC, SUMP and DINO - all are capable of carrying a substantial amount of water while doing their job - The worst I have seen so far was when I drained the final box on my Komatsu bulldozer - 50 odd L or so of 30W - lovely brown colour - cooked it down by about 40% - yep - 40% of it was water held in suspension - got it past the chip fryer sound and popped it straight back in the box with 20L to top it off.

The last batch of fuel goop yielded about 5L suspended water in 60L of oils - it looks good when you put it in, but with a bit of heat, interesting things start to happen!

The final settling yielded about 500ml of water in the cool catch area of the cooker, it was drained off the bottom and was clear... We are fueling the old girl up to do the day's run as we speak... Lets see if she lasts the day!!

It is seems quite easy to see what blends you have in your recovered oil, albeit somewhat tedious - look for temperature plateaus while heating - lighter distillates will slow the temperature climbing as they boil off (you must be stirring it well for even heat distribution) - the most spectacular boil is round the 98 to 100C area when the water starts doing its thing (Best to add energy slowly around this temp) - Yesterday I kinda got involved with paperwork and telecalls while the main heaters were on, got to the cooker about 30sec too slowly and found a very dirty fuel processing machine with a catch tray doing its job! Yep, the water started to flash off and helped some sump gunk out of the overflow vents....

Spill contained 100%, simply reprocess once recovered, life goes on!

Lol
E
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: Tom on October 16, 2015, 10:54:19 PM
Tell us about how you hear and process your oil. I'm being given about 200 gal of k1 so no nees fot more fuel here for a few years.
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: EdDee on October 17, 2015, 09:02:03 AM
I keep it simple... heat it to around 95C or so, hold it there until it stabilises, bump it up slowly to 100, once water is boiled off I push it up to 110 and hold it there for a while... stirring continuously ..... shut down the stirrer and let it cool... when it gets below 100 I start filtering it thru a 5 mic filter by gravity, leaving the last 25% to 30% in the tank.... I don't filter from the bottom, but about a 1/4 way up... once fully cooled any settled crap is drained off the bottom and the tank is filled for the next run.. I pump heat in via 2 elements, one of 4 or so kw, the other is 1.5 kw... both on for fast, big one only for slow, and small for holding and very slow heat up.. they are normal hot water elements, but the smaller is for hard water, so it has a lower heat density... total vol oil processed is about 70 L a batch or thereabouts..

Once all cooled and filtered, I adjust visco to about 25/35 and throw it in the tank.... usually use dino to adjust, RUG gives a bit of a knock ....

While heating, I am sure that the small percentage of RUG etc in the gunk is boiled off... these are quite minimal, hardly any odour too, and by the looks of it are not worth condensing for use as a dilutant later...

That's about it...

If you spot any things in my method that I have missed, let me know!

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: EdDee on October 19, 2015, 09:28:05 AM
In the spirit of "Lets see what we can get away with" - I pushed the boundaries a little too far!!

I filled up the WMO tank with pure, unthinned, but filtered and de-watered recovered sump oil - A mix of nasties that could quite easily be used as printer ink - The thickness was around the 40 to 45W mark, possibly a bit thicker even (fed into the injector at day temps around 25C) - The engine was already warmed up and I was pulling around 5 to 6kW electrical from it - I had the unit processing the next bunch of gunk - All went well......Until..... the load from the fuel processor dropped away, the fuel processing unit was at temperature.... it ran for maybe about an hour with no load and started to wet stack and blow smoke from the temps dropping away in the combustion chamber... No prob, I thought, a drop of water will sort this out when its up to load....

I re-loaded the genhead and started a heavy water injection cycle going(about 500  to 750ml water per minute for 15 mins or so) ... It helped, definitely, but did not clear the injector tip fully... I ran the rest of the afternoon and evening with the dirty injector (didn't feel like stripping it down so late in the day) and matters did not get any worse, nor better.

This morning I quickly pulled the injector and brushed the carbon off the tip - started on WMO from cold and there was mild smoke, a very pale grey, you had to look carefully to see it. I switched to Dino for a few mins to warm up and then back to WMO... Smoke gone!

This WMO is so thick, you can almost remove the fuel line from the pump and it only just flows through the filter... A handy trick - use a long, maybe 4ft heavy rubber fuel hose from the tank (1/4" ID) - the pump can scavenge the line and syphon the fuel in pulses, the line collapses slightly and then the filter catches up..

I also am naughty with the injector return line.... but that's another story....

So... to sum it up.... thick oil=high load only..... max it out to 30W fuel at 20C average for varying loads and it will keep spinning!! (With water of course!!)

Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: EdDee on October 19, 2015, 08:57:13 PM
Glort: I run heavy loads of water through the engine regularly, but keep an eye on the lube oil for emulsification. The exhaust blows plenty of steam, up to the point of water droplets being blown out...it gets quite messy when I give it a major flush out. The trick is to feed water in to the point that the rack maxes out as you do it... if revs start to fall away, back off the water slightly and hold it like that for half a min or so at a time... look out for cooling the chamber too much .... it will suddenly start passing lots of water out of the stack if you do. If this happens, shut the water downed for 5 mins or so to get the temps up and then repeat as you feel necessary...  Light doses of water on a continuous basis holds carbon down quite a bit, but every now and then a hard run on dino pee with a heavy water feed when the temps are up really seems to clean things out quite well. Water / steam cleaning the innards helps plenty, but often will not clean the tip of a badly fouled injector... it needs a good injection pattern to do its work, or so it seems to me. Point in case being this a.m. when I cleaned the injector manually before the days run. Once cleaned, I started her on wmo saw she was a bit sooty, swopped to dinopee for a few min, then back to wmo for the day.. I refilled the tank with the 43W goop and she has been running fine all day, but a little grey smoke with an oily whiff on and off... I am going back to 30w tomorrow and will advise how it turns out.

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: EdDee on October 19, 2015, 09:38:53 PM
Glort, I like your drying method, but it doesn't work for me here in Za... the Rh was around 90% today, so chip fryer method is about all I can do until I make a fuge.... good thing is, I get lots a heat into the exhaust so extra hot showers in the eve... lol... For a stirring pump, I found an old lathe coolant pump... its perfect, I could probs stir lead with it because the impeller is not in contact with the volute at all... it is a long shaft too, so the motor is far enough away from 120c to survive... I also circulate the air, but by convection... try it... just put a 3ft chimney in place of the fan for when u heat the oil, it draws quite nicely, but not too much either, so u lose less heat... fans work best when sucking air out, rather than blowing air into a vessel, hence your improved drying... try blowing air thru a radiator to see the cooling difference compared to sucking it thru....

I only filter once, on the way out of the tank... this is thru a std 1191A fuel cartridge, but I do go thru a strainer first inside the tank and over a solids trap on the way... This is all done at as close to 100C that I can, at that temp, even 50W is about as thin as water... I process about 50 to 70 L at a time, so each batch runs me at least 3 days on average... 

Air circ  helps plenty with drying... I don't do it as a rule because of the hi rh around here and the chance of spillage because of the small processor I am using... Up to now, there has been very little residual moisture that I have picked up... Hopefully I am drying it enough! I am a firm believer in not using the absolutely last juice out the can... that last 200 ml or so is where the water hides ... try for yourself some time... throw the last 100 ml or so into a clear jar every time u fill the tank from a can... any missed moisture will show up! So far, I haven't had probs with damp fuel, but water dropping out of saturated fuel, has caused major shit.... And that was the only fuel I bought for the beast... Go figure... I think Herr Otto was sending me a message ;)

L8rs...
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: mike90045 on October 20, 2015, 07:38:34 AM
Tell us about how you hear and process your oil. I'm being given about 200 gal of k1 so no nees fot more fuel here for a few years.

K1 - is that plain kerosene ?  do you need to add 2-stroke lube oil to it ?
Title: Re: What If I did this?
Post by: EdDee on October 20, 2015, 10:01:51 AM
Not familiar with K1 - Glort, please enlighten!
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: Tom on October 20, 2015, 07:39:37 PM
Yes K1 is kerosene which is a bit lighter than diesel and has less lubricating properties. The plan is to buy 20 gal of B20 and mix that with it to keep the IP lubricated. It also comes with a nice 275 gal heating oil tank. My mom bought a new house and the oil heater is being changed to LP.
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 21, 2015, 09:45:19 AM
Earlier, I mentioned a naughty bit of engineering/plumbing for the injector return line - here it is:

I have 2 tanks on the rattler, one of about 30L and the other is the original head mounted unit. I have kept the original in place and installed a + shaped fitting with a ball valve on the L & R arms - the top goes to the injector return line, the bottom goes to the IP...

Advantages: Remove the LHS Pipe to the ball valve coming from the external tank and the tank can be removed while the clunker is spinning... Same applies to the RHS onboard tank.

To bleed the tank lines, simply loosen the IP return line and the air is let out (The + fitting is about level with the IP, so the return line is the highest point in the line on the motor, but below the tank levels.)

To fill the onboard tank is easy, simply open both valves with or without the beast chugging and the big tank (higher than the onboard) backfills through the filter....(this also has the advantage of back flushing the onboard original filter to the tank too...gunk can be bottom syphoned out of it if needed)

The remote, big tank, also has a 7mic absolute filter on it.....

I often, particularly on my refining setup, backwash the filters with already filtered fuel - initially I was replacing a filter on the refiner every 150L or so, now, 500L later, the same filter is still up to spec and doing its job....

Disadvantages: A air leak will be hard to find - keep all piping below the level of your tanks so no negative pressure in the lines is the norm...Its easier to spot a drip than to listen for a joint sucking air!

The weather has been warm here for the past few days, about 25C or so, I have put about 100L of unthinned 40-50W fuel through the green machine with no major ill effects noted barring a slightly harder start up and one bit of injector carbon from running unloaded for an hour...

Hold thumbs - Just past the 1100hr mark now and the next oil change is due!! (On that note - I have no lube oil thinning because of the heavy fuel I am running...Bonus!)

 
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 21, 2015, 04:24:17 PM
Hmmmmm... Amazing how guestimations can be wrong!! Just did a check on how much water I am pumping in to do a heavy decarbon - Measured out at 1L per 3 minutes, not what I guessed previously of over a litre per minute.... Sorry gents for the earlier misinformation!! (Bow, Scrape, Humble Eyes cast downward!)
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 21, 2015, 10:39:13 PM
And as an indicator for normal operations, measured water flow at approximately 5L per hour for average running... the water is being drawn in as coarse droplets, under suction from the manifold, at an average temp of around 18C.... the water feed nozzle is 3mm diameter-

No water has been found in the oil as yet, but on cool days there is a small amount of condensate on the CC breather outlet...

Since the engine gets shut down late evening via a cable from the house, there is no dry running prior to shutting down in the evening... no evidence of corrosion present in the manifolds has been noted as yet...

Comments please ye learned fellows.....!

Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 23, 2015, 03:44:58 PM
(http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/IMAG0484.jpg)
http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/IMAG0484.jpg
Inserted three images of fuel boiling plant..
(http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/IMAG0485.jpg)
http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/IMAG0485.jpg
I dont see them coming up at all...
(http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/IMAG0486.jpg)
http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/IMAG0486.jpg
I dont know if www.listerenginegallery.com is working, so used a link to my own www server....

Any help out there?

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: dieselgman on October 23, 2015, 04:28:19 PM
Did you use the Insert Hyperlink button?

Once you use that button to insert the coding, then paste in the image URL - between the brackets.

dieselgman
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 23, 2015, 10:37:08 PM
I used the image button, possibly messed it up.... Maybe my images are too large perhaps...

Trying the hyperlink button instead:

 http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/IMAG0486.jpg  (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/IMAG0486.jpg)

Are you able to access the images?







Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: tiger on October 24, 2015, 02:13:17 AM
I was able to get it , faster too.
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 25, 2015, 10:01:48 AM
Thanks for the test.. much appreciated!
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 25, 2015, 11:00:13 AM
OK, so a wee bit of report back on how things are going with the state of how things currently stand...

Yesterday I changed the oil in the sump... looked good, with a small amount of sludge, maybe about 20ml of condensate water in the lowest reaches.. not bad at all considering the amount of water I am putting through it... comments please.

I found the strainer on the pump inlet was FUBAR... I have replaced it with a strainer of finer mesh and much larger size... it just fits into the apron and lies about 20mm below the weir... it should give me a much better filtering of the pickup oil and due to its vastly larger surface area, a good margin of safety between oil changes... comments please.

I ran the engine for about 2 hrs pre changing the oil, it was up to normal temp before dumping the oil, I noticed that the bottom end was much cooler than the top (obviously) but the bottom end was just slightly warmer than a comfortable hand heat for me, probs around 60 C or  so, a bit low I would reckon... Comments please.

While draining the oil, I made a decent dipstick assy for the apron, as mine had none, only the weir dipstick. It was made from an old Ford dipstick, some hydraulic pipe that fitted, a hydraulic elbow and a bit of creative machining... to drop the oil in the future, all I need do is remove the dipstick tube and spin the elbow 180 deg to drop into a catch tray without drooling it over the front of the sump like it used to.... Anybody wanting a pic of the mod, let me know.

I installed a magnet on the front of the apron at last oil change, this picked up less than 1/2cc of very fine metal dust, I reckon that is reasonable for a 500 hr interval... comments?

I also retarded the timing 2 flats on the timing tappet, she has got a bit knocky lately, much improved now... any idea how many degrees that is approwimately?

Here's a kicker... after the oil change I sat around listening and looking the motor over while it did the first post service run. I noticed some bubbles coming up into the radiator overflow bottle, a problem that initially reared its head just after I put it into service, the problem was sorted after I retorqued the head first time round. I checked and pulled the head down a little more, but this time with no difference. I reckon its finally time to pull the lid off and put a new head gasket in. I am considering replacing the gasket with a copper one, this one looks like a 3 piece composite from the one piece I can see. Its about 1100 hours in, so I reckon its a fairly reasonable lifespan. One of the major motivations for going to a mono copper gasket is the absolutely cr@p after sales service of the supplier I got this engine from. I can get a copper one laser cut in way less than the 3 months it has been for the supplier to not come back to me about some queries I sent him... Alternatively, do any of ye learned lads out there know of or have a gasket to spare to a 12/1 Opex 1000rpm idi engine? (Not having had the lid off, I can't say whether its sleeved or not) .... Comments please.

I can finally say that my 220v motor friction starter mod is successful, anybody wanting pics of it, I will take some and post them here, its still unpainted and looking scrappy, the idea was to install, test, debug and finish... well, so much for painting it, I really like and use it, so much so, that I don't even want to take it off to paint it!

Still running fuel oil around the 40w mark... Warm weather so I don't even preheat it, a little smoke now and then, 12 or more hours a day runtime! (Uses about 15l a day of fuel)...

Enough of my rambling, time to get some trigger time in I reckon.... Always find it relaxing, almost as good as tinkering with big, smelly, oily, green engines!

Regds
Ed



Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: carlb23 on October 25, 2015, 02:57:29 PM
I have bought gaskets from John @ gaskets to go a few times and they have always been of high quality and worked well.   Here is a link to his US ebay site that is run by his sister.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lister-CS-Pattern-Head-Gasket-6-1-8-1-etc-/331683702686?hash=item4d39e3a79e:g:qa8AAOxyHIlTXnNR&vxp=mtr
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 25, 2015, 09:29:45 PM
Thank for the lead Carl, doesn't look like I will fit though... by the looks of it, my bore  DIA is 127mm...

 I eventually found the bore and specs on my engine, they can b found here:

http://www.omarx.in/opex/diesel-engines05.htm

Or maybe even here:

http://www.adendorff.co.za/ProductDetails/Diesel-Engines/DIESEL-ENGINE-OML-12-(LISTER-TYPE)/889

Incidentally, there is a downloadable "manual" on the Adendorff site..

Tia
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: carlb23 on October 26, 2015, 11:31:51 AM
if you contact john at Gaskets to go he can make up just about any gasket as i recall
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 26, 2015, 03:35:00 PM
Thanks Carl,

But, can u believe it.... I found the weak link in my supply chain, its the local suppliers who brought the engine down for me... I called them, on the off chance that they carried spares for the unit, or, at the very least, could source or direct me to a source for the spares. I stressed that it was "Urgent" and the response was positive - "We will call you right back" ..... Well, a working day later, no reply, not even a "We cant get it" or a "We are waiting for the importers" type of call.... What a bunch of !@#$$@... So I did some digging!! I found the importer had a spares section, one quick call later I had the price and the availability of the of the bits I needed in a hurry.... ZAR475.00 per head gasket(That equates to about USD34.5 or so), they have 2 ready for me, just waiting for them to acknowledge proof of deposit and i can send the couriers...

I have also asked them to compile a quote for the running on site spares I think I am going to need to keep this beastie turning over... Injector/FP Element, gaskets, rings, TRB's and big end bearings amongst other things....

Plus, if I can get some, another 2 full size flywheels to stick on the turny-bits to smooth out pulsing... I am looking at down-rating the speed a bit more to burn the really heavy fuel oils I can get (With Injection pump/duration/Injector and timing mods of course.) With a bit of luck, Old grease and peanut butter will be on the menu soon...LOL...

I wonder if these local yokels realise the turnover they are going to lose out on... Here I was thinking to myself: "Keep the business local, its benefits the local environment" ....Not that I am going to spend a million, but every bit helps!!

It looks like its the good old adage at work: "It's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know."

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: mike90045 on October 26, 2015, 10:07:44 PM
be careful the air surges in the crankcase don't launch your press in dipstick.  The flapper vent is supposed to prevent that .......
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 27, 2015, 10:01:01 AM
Hi Mike,

The crankcase pressure surges have been taken care of - I wasn't happy with the flappy disky thingy because of corrosion and lack of sealing on the "vacuum" stroke (as well as the problem of not being able to fill the oil on my beast without removing umpteen dangly bits) so I employed a bit of reverse engineering....

Reverse in a loose term...LOL... I found an old brass vacuum breaker from a household pressure geyser/water boiler and with a little careful lathery(highly technical term for machining on a lathe) I added one o-ring and turned the insides round so its now a one way vent out of the crankcase... It is 3/4" diameter so a small pedestal adapter was made to suit the existing mounting on the crank door... Voila... Instant vacuum breaker that can be unscrewed by hand and used as a fill point for crank oil too!

Amazing... I can pour 3L of oil into a 19mm hole in a stiff breeze and not spill a drop.... but... you guessed it... She still insists I lift the toilet seat....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 28, 2015, 03:09:50 PM
Heres another "What If?" scenario...

You start your beast and see bubbles coming out the radiator header tank..... There is a ring of scum around the top of the tank, the head gasket is obviously leaking into one of the water galleries... Now.... What if you continue to run the animal while waiting patiently for the new gasket to arrive?

You do of course, keep an eye on coolant and sump oil, but, the beastie is a critical part of your day to day running...... Its just not allowed to die!!

Lets hear some forecasts of possible damage that may happen....

Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: Tom on October 28, 2015, 05:06:20 PM
I ran mine that way for years. It finally lost compression due to water leaking into the cylinder and rusting the walls. The problem with mine was that the lip the liner sits on in the cylinder block was not machined square to the surface. So if you want to keep running it and want to keep the liner perhaps the coolant should be drained after each run.
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 28, 2015, 09:03:25 PM
Point noted Tom, thanks for the heads up!

Draining evey evening does not seen to be necessary as yet, there is very little if any coolant lost in the overnight shutdown so far. In total, I would guess maybe less than 100ml consumed over the last 4-5 days. This coolant is high in glycol as well, probs in the region of a 25% water mix in it... Just enough water to take it from syrup to easily flowing .... This would probs help to combat corrosion to a small degree if it enters the cylinder I would think.... Your thoughts? (Also, the unit runs about 15 hrs a day at the mo... I really don't wanna run around at midnight to fill a jug of coolant, only to have some miscreant forget to replace it the following morning and run it up dry!)

The volume of gas getting into the coolant does seem to be increasing slightly... By my reckoning one of 2 things are happening... Either the top of the liner is starting to gas cut a groove, or the gasket is starting to break down further... It is probably the gasket breaking down I reckon, well I hope so anyway... I am not going to behead it until the new gasket arrives if I can at all help it.

If I lose compression badly, or if she starts blowing major coolant out of the header tank, I might have to crack the top end off and effect a temp fix .... There are numerous ways of doing a quick and dirty to keep going in a bind... Have you tried any perhaps?

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 28, 2015, 10:26:43 PM
A point to ponder....

Energy stored in a flywheel is directly related to the mass of the flywheel... Double the mass and you double the stored energy... On my premises, I run numerous sensitive electronic bits and bobs... the smoother the ac, the longer they will last...fact. Like all lister type low speed gens, there is a mains flicker due to compression and ignition strokes, I was wondering if doubling up the flywheels has been tried before by any learned gents out there... My concern is whether the crank can handle the huge weight of double flywheels without detrimental bending moments taking their toll. A further benefit of the larger flywheel mass would be improved surge load capability and not to be forgotten, a better governing curve.... not to mention less wear and tear on the governor and IP with their associated linkages as well... and in all probability, possibly better bearing life in the big end department...(see how a racing motor with a cut and lightened flywheel hammers the big ends ...)

Some might say that to stabilise the system, increase the revs... this is true, because energy stored goes up by the square of the revs... ie double the revs and you store 4x the energy(roughly speaking you would only get 1/4 the flicker) .... but.... increase the revs and you start narrowing down on the types of fuel you can burn... more on that if you want my warped outlook on fuel types...I have some theories, probably wrong, but they have been working for me so far... So, rev increase will not work for me in this case...(just in case it blows my fuel theories.....)

This is one where the experts can surely advise...

As an aside, I am not in favour of weighting the gen rotor.... there are just too many gremlins that creep in on belt drive systems if this is done... its kind of akin to trying to drive a flywheel with a spring, fine for near constant torque like electric motors and the like, but not irregular torque of a single power stroke of 180 degrees out of every 720... harmonics show up and break things when you least expect it... very difficult to tune out, and very easy to run amuck... what works in one scenario more often than not fails completely in an identical, or almost identical other scenario...

Experience from the world-wise would be enormously appreciated!

Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 29, 2015, 04:18:52 PM
Hey Guys...

Here are some pics of my rather scrappy, untidy, badly laid out, unpainted, work in progress, prime mover....

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private)

Please excuse the untidy bits, any help to finish it will be repaid with beers and a barbecue!!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: Hugh Conway on October 29, 2015, 08:29:36 PM
@EdDee

Re your reluctance to add weight to the generator shaft.......the start-o-matic 2.5Kw gen head uses a heavily weighted drive pulley. I have never weighed mine, but read somewhere that the pulley/flywheel weighs in at around 80 pounds. Apparently Lister thought it was a good idea.
I like your idea of adding additional flywheels to the engine. The start-o-matic flywheels are quite a bit heavier than standard flywheels, again, never weighed mine, but they are far heavier than those on my listeroid. Should you find an additional set of wheels and installed them, we would all sure like to know how it worked out!
Nice work , BTW, shown on your photo link.
Cheers,
Hugh
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: Tom on October 29, 2015, 10:26:02 PM
If you're going to go the extra flywheel route be sure to use ones from an engine with internal balance as an extra set of counter balance weights would not be good. I've read of people getting good results with truck brake drums and rims used as a flywheel. The SOM Lister gensets used 300 lb flywheels and 75-80 lb pulleys on the alternator.

Looks like you've got a grooved flywheel so you probably can get away with adding some weight on the alternator. Some have report belt slippage when doing this using serpentine belts.
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: mike90045 on October 30, 2015, 06:51:20 AM
A point to ponder....
Energy stored in a flywheel is directly related to the mass of the flywheel... Double the mass and you double the stored energy... On my premises, I run numerous sensitive electronic bits and bobs... the smoother the ac, the longer they will last...fact. Like all lister type low speed gens, there is a mains flicker due to compression and ignition strokes, I was wondering if doubling up the flywheels has been tried before by any learned gents out there... My concern is whether the crank can handle the huge weight of double flywheels without detrimental bending moments taking their toll. A further benefit of the larger flywheel mass would be improved surge load capability and not to be forgotten, a better governing curve.... not to mention less wear and tear on the governor and IP with their associated linkages as well... and in all probability, possibly better bearing life in the big end department........

My thought is, the "weight" on the shaft is not the issue, but the stiffness of the added load, when starting, and the pump delivers a full squirt of fuel, and while the RPM is building up, the piston is hammering against 2x the inertia of the original flywheels.  Will something break ?
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 30, 2015, 12:03:36 PM
@EdDee

Re your reluctance to add weight to the generator shaft.......the start-o-matic 2.5Kw gen head uses a heavily weighted drive pulley. I have never weighed mine, but read somewhere that the pulley/flywheel weighs in at around 80 pounds. Apparently Lister thought it was a good idea.
I like your idea of adding additional flywheels to the engine. The start-o-matic flywheels are quite a bit heavier than standard flywheels, again, never weighed mine, but they are far heavier than those on my listeroid. Should you find an additional set of wheels and installed them, we would all sure like to know how it worked out!
Nice work , BTW, shown on your photo link.
Cheers,
Hugh

Agreed Hugh.... But my few meager years of experience tell me that one should add weight to the item needing inertia/generating the pulses.... any other parts where you add weight will still be driven with the original pulsed power stroke - this will exercise the elastic limits of the couplings and if not allowed for lead to failure of those parts sooner than scheduled. I am loathe to upgrade my drive system to 10 to 15kw capability and still draw only 5....

If i find some wheels, I will give them a try and report back!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 30, 2015, 12:10:04 PM
Quote
My thought is, the "weight" on the shaft is not the issue, but the stiffness of the added load, when starting, and the pump delivers a full squirt of fuel, and while the RPM is building up, the piston is hammering against 2x the inertia of the original flywheels.  Will something break ?

I think that would be unlikely, from a power stroke point of view anyway - the bearings/crank etc are capable of taking the full power without failing immediately - what does worry me would be the "droop" that may occur in the crankshaft by the huge mass of the additional flywheels further from the bearing centers(Imagine a weight lifter with a good size load on the bar...).... this would cause flexing on the power stroke and metal fatigue would set in sooner than later.... one snapped crank would be the outcome.... Lovely smooth power for..... oops!! 10 minutes!

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: veggie on October 30, 2015, 12:11:15 PM
Some (including Lister startomatics) add a heavy flywheel to the generator head also.

Veggie
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 30, 2015, 12:20:53 PM
If you're going to go the extra flywheel route be sure to use ones from an engine with internal balance as an extra set of counter balance weights would not be good. I've read of people getting good results with truck brake drums and rims used as a flywheel. The SOM Lister gensets used 300 lb flywheels and 75-80 lb pulleys on the alternator.

Looks like you've got a grooved flywheel so you probably can get away with adding some weight on the alternator. Some have report belt slippage when doing this using serpentine belts.

Agreed about the counterweight wheels, and on that note - everybody is balancing dynamically at the rim, or close to it....  Has anybody actually measured the CG offset for a wheels/crank/rod setup.... It might be way more useful to balance these beasts at the point of the radius where the out of balance mass is concentrated... Just imagine, A 'Roid that doesn't jump around depending on the revs its running!! Smooth power (with the classic flicker of course...we wouldn't want to get rid of that, would we) from idle speed to full revs!!

The flywheels aren't grooved, I just have the 2 v's tracking on the rim.... works fine, and barring one serious thundershower that drenched everything for a few minutes, no slippage at all that I have noted.... All the way up to about 70A (at 220V) impulse loading while testing!!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 30, 2015, 12:29:13 PM
Some (including Lister startomatics) add a heavy flywheel to the generator head also.

Veggie

Agreed Veggie,

Not my first choice though... prefer to moderate the pulses at source if at all possible.... At target it creates major strain on all the links... everything in the train needs to be beefed up considerably to cater for this.... If you are unlucky and happen to choose the right weight matching the right frequency matching the right stretch on the belt, spectacular things will happen in a very short time period.... Remember the bridge.... wasnt it called Galloping Gertie?

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: dieselgman on October 30, 2015, 01:10:09 PM
Worst that will happen is likely to be belt stretching or chirping... nice elastic coupling there.

I agree that a pulse reduction at the source is better engineering, but how are you going to accomplish that feat? I would rather deal with some drive belt issues rather than stress fractures in the crankshaft.

It is my studied opinion that the British engineers were quite savvy and figured out how to do these things very well- within the technologies of their times.

dieselgman
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 30, 2015, 01:20:29 PM
Worst that will happen is likely to be belt stretching or chirping... nice elastic coupling there.

I agree that a pulse reduction at the source is better engineering, but how are you going to accomplish that feat? I would rather deal with some drive belt issues rather than stress fractures in the crankshaft.

dieselgman

Hi GMan,

Chirping and stretched belts don't do it for me... Too much maintenance required to keep things turning... Currently, over 1200hrs on the original belts, not been adjusted since installation... That's a duty cycle i can enjoy.....(No grooved flywheels either, just running the inside of the vbelts on the periphery of the flywheel....)

The big trick is to try and determine the maximum point loading for the additional flywheels, once done.....etcetcetc... head hurting already..... Lets see if someone out there is better at the calcs than I am, or better still.... Has tried similar already....!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: dieselgman on October 30, 2015, 01:28:08 PM
One of the very effective modern fixes for dealing with stretching belts is to add in a spring loaded idler pulley.

dieselgman
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 30, 2015, 01:49:51 PM
Hi Gman,

I would not recommend that for an extra heavy load with a pulsed drive....the belt whip would be enormous and become difficult to manage.... unless of course you have super heavy springs on the tensioner...

Some time back I got hold of a 5000Psi 4 stage compressor - I wanted to set it up for charging some compressed air, PCP type rifles I own.... It came with a baseplate mounting, Ali double sheave pulley and all the right bits.... just a bit dodgy looking, but mechanically and pneumatically sound.... I popped a motor onto the base(it used those old rubber circular motor mounts... concentric to the front and back bearings...), belted it up and turned it on.... What a show!! the pulsing being transmitted back to the motor by the intermittent load of the compressor under low pressure when only the first stage is really working, caused something akin to the "Lister tango" but in a rotary way on the motor .... It tore up the rubber mounts pretty much within about 5 minutes of running..... No problem, they were probably perished, away i go and make up some Nylon inserts.... Well.... they lasted about 10 minutes.... No problem, put a 5x20mm steel strap around the motor, clamp it tight, bolt it to the chassis... no more torque problems.... or so I thought.... that lasted a couple of hours and then it broke too....

Something sparked in the back of my mind.... no wonder I got it for relatively bugger all.... the chap I got it from had the same problems....

Another bit of scratching around ensued and I found a Double sheave CI pulley with taper lock.... way more over engineered than the unit required (1/2HP motor)... I installed that on the compressor side to act like a bit of a flywheel and voila.... no more tango, rattle or rock and roll..... the flat bar mount is still in place... unused and loose.... found some older and even more perished motor mounts... they are still in place and not falling apart... All is sweet.... been running of and on for about 2 years now....

Goes to show!!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: veggie on October 30, 2015, 02:38:44 PM


A heavy flywheel on the generator head was standard issue on Lister Start-O-Matics for many years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT_exyuLSpk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT_exyuLSpk)

Veggie
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on October 30, 2015, 02:59:42 PM
Hi V,

Agreed, but that doesn't make it correct..... not to me anyway... Also, the flywheels in the SOM are grooved for the belts, they look like C section belts too, but I could be wrong...

Take a look at the whip in this video, bearing in mind there is minimum load being pulled....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR088eesEZg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR088eesEZg)

I dont like that....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on November 02, 2015, 10:14:01 AM
Hi Guys,

Did some governor mods this weekend.... well, lets just say It was a pretty interesting experience!!

Problem:
The original spring I was using was giving me fair response and stability, but was a little "hitchy" in the upper power range causing quite a bit of lag under heavy load.

Started by making a stud to link the spring to on the governor arm, then moved the adjuster from the one side to the other - the adjuster is now on the "fixed" side of the governor spring. This allows for a much easier and reliable method of setting engine RPM while it is running.  While I was at it, I removed the stud that the spring was originally affixed to and made the mounting space for the spring virtually the full width of the crankcase, attaching it to the lower camshaft cover bolt - this allows for a whole range of springs to be tried(Which I of course did...)

My Findings:
A long spring which is fairly soft, but tensioned to the original tension of the spring that I was using - This caused major hunting with the linkage setup as it was. I changed the linkage lengths and got them to as good as I could with this "long and soft" spring - virtually perfect under low loading, but under high/full load the engine started to hunt.

Conclusion: A long spring is not always the best for every situation - I shortened it down in stages and found matters improved, but were not as good across the range as they were before.

Solution:
I then replaced it with the "Original" spring that I was using and found a marked and vast improvement to the governing - the problem with hunting disappeared(Long/Soft Spring) and having "tweaked" the linkages to as good as they could be with the long and soft spring, this in turn improved the setup on the original spring throughout the power range.

Conclusion: A longer/softer spring will show up linkage length problems and pronounce them to a degree that they become easier to sort out - it is easier to hear a 100RPM hunt than a 20RPM hunt(for me anyway). Be careful you don't overspeed when it starts hunting!!

Once you have got the linkages set up as best you can, then you can concentrate on the spring tension/pull ratio to get the revs to where you want them - Be prepared to change springs as it is not only the tension of the spring that matters, but the tension/stretch ratio that determines how the engine responds and gives it the required power "stability" across the range. If the spring is too soft/long - the governor weights fly out just a little to far and they seem to go "over-center" and it takes a major rev dip for them to drop back into their "linear" operating area.. If the spring is too short and hard, when you get the  ....... well.... I didn't get a chance to go into these waters..... With a Rainstorm pissing down and a sense of humour about to fail - I stopped testing when it was doing what I wanted it to!! (Always a good excuse-If you have fixed the problem, stop fixing it some more!!)

Note: The "Original" spring I was using was not the one that came with the engine - I had put a more suitable spring on to de-rate from 1000 to 750 RPM in the beginning of the "Lister Journey"

Hope this helps someone, somewhere, sometime.....

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on November 03, 2015, 06:49:14 PM
Hi Guys,

Another day done, a few more miles travelled on the Lister journey...

Yesterday afternoon quite late, I received my replacement cylinder head gasket... Awesome! (Or so I thought...)

On closer inspection I found that while the outer sizes of the gasket seemed to match my roid, the inner bore diameter of the gasket seemed, well, a little bit on the small side from what I was expecting... Not much, mind you, just a few millimeters... (remember, at this point in time, the roid was still running with a rather sickly sludge trying to climb out of the radiator header tank, fuel oil vapours were taking a nice short cut, bugger the exhaust, straight to the cooling system! I hadn't stripped it down yet, I am using it for daily power and hot water...)

Well, to make a short story long, one quick call to the importer later and I had his personal assurance that the gasket was spot on... He even went to his racks and pulled another one out and measured it while I was on the phone... It matched mine to a tee....

Right, plan of action was made... wait for the weather to clear, finish fixing a couple of single cycle hand engines.... (You do of course know what they are, don't you?) ... Clear the decks of the usual paperwork ... Rip the lid off Lizzie... Pop her back together... Wind her up, and... of course, all will go smoothly... been here 100s of times before..... Shouldn't take more than an hour or so..... Right... supper is ready, I will finish this off in a mo! ....

Stewed chicken..... Brilliant!

..... ...... ....

Well, suffice it to say, started the job at about 13h00.... finished it about 20h00.... 7hrs is a "bit" long to loosen a few nuts and bolts....

The damn gasket was WRONG!!!!

In the 7hrs, I managed to get the head off, confirm the gasket was a cock up, scan and touch up a layout of the original gasket, email it to a company down the road, get it laser cut out of 1.2mm aluminium, install it and discover some coolant leaks, remove it and coat the galleries with a silicon based sealer, reinstall it and test, start the green biaatch up..... All running... eventually!

Tomorrow I will speak to the lads that cut this gasket for me and get a few cut in a slightly thinner sheet... this one is 1.2mm aluminium, I am going to try 0.6 as well... the liner step is a wee bit large on my roid, so I am thinking of making an ali single sided composite with a paper lower to try and get away from this rubber goo... Anybody have any thoughts about this? (0.6mm to pump up the compression ratio a bit while I am at it...)

I will also have a chat to the suppliers of the OEM parts.... Seeing that foul language and rude gestures aren't tolerated on this board, I don't think I will be able to give an account of the conversation that will take place.....

The look around the innards was quite interesting while I had the lid off... a little black carbon, not much. A little crusty white deposit, and not too much of that either... what was interesting was the ridge that has developed, it is about .1mm maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less, at the height where the top ring stops... This is after running a sh!tload of really crappy sump gunk as fuel for well over 1000hrs now.. Anybody with comments, please chip in with the "I told you so" now please...Lol... But seriously though, after 1000hrs or more of runtime, what wear has been experienced on our welfare listers on WVO, WMO or DINO? Please chime in and give me a couple of numbers so I can judge the performance of mine...

There are some photos on http://WWW.warriorpaintball.co.za/private (http://WWW.warriorpaintball.co.za/private) of the head removal and what was found... Including a nasty little ding in the head, right in the middle of where the high pressure ring of the headgasket seats... So far this evening, there has been no blow by on the gasket, coolant is holding its level and all seems peachy, but its only run about 3hrs now... Hold thumbs!

The governor mod is working brilliantly so far... only very little rev change between  no and full load, less than 3hz estimated, only thing that shows loading is the exhaust tone deepens as she starts to pull, hopefully I have got at least one thing right over the last couple of days!

Tomorrows plans.... if all holds together overnight .. a cup full of washing powder into the radiator to break down  the oil slick and clean it up, bring it to temp and then drain it out... I am not running glycol in it now... let the settled glycol out of Lizzie rid itself of the floating muck and reinstall it in the cooling system... What could possibly go wrong? .... oops... jinxed... better not push my luck too far... enough said!

Ah yes... Suggestions please... Let's give this thread a more meaningful title..... Any ideas?

Cheers... keep the wheels spinning...
Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on November 05, 2015, 12:29:06 PM
Hi Guys,

A bit of a follow up.... (Is anybody reading this BTW? Kinda feel like I am talking to the hills here....LOL)

Cleaned and flushed the cooling system with a dose of good old washing powder(Pre-Dissolved of Course)..

All is well, things are cleaning up nicely, no more short circuits for fuel oil found.... Also, there are no coolant leaks around the head whatsoever...

Now that the governor is nicely sorted out, I decided to replace the IP element. I have replaced it with an element that is 8mm dia instead of 10mm as per the original - For anybody interested in the specs see below:

Opex 12/1 Single Cylinder - Element – 10mm Dia in 034 pump

Piston Numbers–    L3B
                                323
Sleeve Number-           308

Piston - Spiral Down from Crown to RHS of Piston (Crown Up)
Piston AOL = 78.4mm

Sleeve AOL = 50.4mm
Sleeve Shank Dia = 13.97mm
Sleeve Head = 16.75dia x 16.25Long

I have measured a load of up to 18A (I am aiming at 20A Max average) and at this load the old crate is starting to smoke a bit (I must still pull and clean the injector tip and check for carbon on the tip as I didn't do it while I was doing the head gasket, time was short!!)

Performance seems smoother with the new element, I think that with the worn element, the rack had to be a little further open to get the same power, bearing in mind that the piston/sleeve was worn war past nominally usable by a bit of REALLY BAD pump diesel with water contaminant mix in its first days in operation...

My logic in this seems to say that the more the rack is open, the later the diesel injection event stops per stroke. (Not that this has anything to do with it but...)

If the pump wear is borderline, as the viscosity of the fuel changes, the advance on the timing changes erratically. This is caused by the fuel squeezing past the side of the piston possibly until enough resistance is encountered to pop the injector. The slower the engine runs, the more slip on the fuel event, the more retarded the injection event. As the engine speeds up, less time for slip, more advanced injection.

Spill timing this thing was impossible with the old element - it was so worn that on slow hand flywheel turning, there was little or no flow through the IP non-return valve with dino... To get it to perform reasonably, I had to set the timing by ear listening to the knock... Got it quite close BTW, its around 21deg when I checked it quickly after the new element was installed.....

What I have found is that with the smaller element, (36% Area Reduction between original and new), power seems to be there as required, but, above all, there is less "intermittent" diesel knock - this was noticed immediately on startup. Originally, there was a constant diesel knock, not bad, but every maybe 10th or 20th rev there was a somewhat louder knock.... This has now disappeared!! (I don't see this as being due to the smaller element, but by a un-buggered one!!) What I have noticed is that the governor does not open the rack fully, there is still about 3 to 4mm of travel unused....Hmm... I will have to attend to that I reckon....

I ran Lizzie up at about 5 to 600RPM manually controlled and she runs absolutely beautifully!! So much so, that I am looking to down rate her a bit further still... It will be on a dual governor spring/belt/pulley system that can be changed quickly and easily - If all goes well it should be a quick "UnClip/Clip/Belt Off/Belt on" scenario to change her kW rating.... If I was "The Flash" I could probably do it with the engine running!!

For the lower power rating, I am adding a smaller pulley outboard of the large pulley on the genhead, there should be enough space on the shaft to do it... I will take some pics of the dual governor setting when I do it....If it all works out, it should be KISS personified!! The current pulley on the genhead is around 300mm dia, the belt runs on the outside of the flywheel(About 595mm dia at around 750RPM). I am looking at a pulley around 200 to 220mm diameter as an addition for the genhead, lowering the engine speed to around 550RPM or so. Any guesses as to what the max power delivery at the electrical plug will be at this ratio?

Anyways, Enough rambling from me.... Time to go play with toys.... I love my work!!

Cheerz....
Ed

Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: TxBlacksmith on November 05, 2015, 03:06:27 PM
Reading every word...I try to learn something every day....don't always succeed...but I try  ???
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on November 05, 2015, 06:17:30 PM
Hey TxBs... where ya based....?
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: dax021 on November 05, 2015, 06:41:28 PM
Also reading and trying to learn something.  Finally got my SR2 back today, so tomorrow is wiring up day, then let the fun begin
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: TxBlacksmith on November 05, 2015, 07:03:18 PM
I'm in N central Texas,  near DFW metro-mess...at least for a few more months, until I hopefully finally  ::) get to retire
from the Fire Service..... :laugh:
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on November 05, 2015, 07:56:06 PM
Hey Dax, where u based?

Hope the wiring goes well, I am still not finished with mine... Its hooked up to the property, but the changeover is manual... Every time I want to run on gen, I have to start then switch over manually... the switch over is becoming a pain in the ass... I have a couple of 100A breakers that I might just wire up to pull in automatically, saves all the hassle of running around... I guess its a bit lazy, but whatever...

My wiring is dead simple, one main circuit breaker in the gen head, one sub breaker on the wall box, one analogue ammeter and one analogue voltmeter... Simple works for me... I am tired of bit bashing and writing machine code... not worth it for a single installation... Besides, the tough time I put this thing thru would have wrecked any sensitive PC/PLC controls by now.... come to think of it, has anybody actually seen a PLC outlast a lister?

Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on November 05, 2015, 08:05:30 PM
Hey TxBs,

A good mate of mine was in the fire service this side of the world, also retired now, actually got boarded for medical reasons, lungs packing up.... Hope your innards are still OK and u can get a few more miles out of the chassis!

Ed
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: Tom on November 05, 2015, 08:36:14 PM
Hey Dax, where u based?

Hope the wiring goes well, I am still not finished with mine... Its hooked up to the property, but the changeover is manual... Every time I want to run on gen, I have to start then switch over manually... the switch over is becoming a pain in the ass... I have a couple of 100A breakers that I might just wire up to pull in automatically, saves all the hassle of running around... I guess its a bit lazy, but whatever...

My wiring is dead simple, one main circuit breaker in the gen head, one sub breaker on the wall box, one analogue ammeter and one analogue voltmeter... Simple works for me... I am tired of bit bashing and writing machine code... not worth it for a single installation... Besides, the tough time I put this thing thru would have wrecked any sensitive PC/PLC controls by now.... come to think of it, has anybody actually seen a PLC outlast a lister?

Ed

Used to work on a Westinghouse PLC from 1984, resurrected it from almost dead by finding some unlocked programming software. It was optically coupled to everything and that is the only reason it never fried, but the optical interface boards fryed frequently.
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: TxBlacksmith on November 05, 2015, 11:42:27 PM
Thanks Ed, still a few miles left in me I hope, chassis is a bit worse for the wear. 
I got a building dropped on me when I was 22yrs...long time ago, and the problems didn't show up for years...
but I am squeaking by...looking forward to moving to the country, tinkering with the Dursley,  etc.
I am hoping to find a good sized engine to rebuild, to power a full line shaft set up for my Blacksmith shop.
That and drinking some fine single malt by the campfire... :angel:
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on November 06, 2015, 11:03:14 AM
Hey Tom,

Dont know that PLC .... I used Siemens and later LG... The LG was quite cheap and powerful too... nice expandability as well... Still got one lying around here somewhere... must fire it up some time and see if it still works... otherwise it goes into the "Target" drum for when I play with the single stroke hand engines... Good fun was writing machine code, assembler, for the 8051 micro's... built quite a few data collection units for one task or another... I probs wont even know where to start if I hit the keyboard again... Lol... Use it or Lose it is a very apt description!!

Regds
Ed

 
Title: Re: What If I did this? (Otherwise known as "Breaking the Rules")
Post by: EdDee on November 06, 2015, 11:13:43 AM
Hey TxBs,

Bummer about the building drop.... At least you've made it this far and still not retired, what are you 45+?...

Awesome stuff for the Blacksmith shop... I have a building here, well parts of one anyway, that I have been reserving for my housemate to set up as a BSShop... quite a co-incidence!! I would like to hear what you have in mind to produce in the shop, equestrian tidbits or other? (Personally I would love to watch, firsthand, someone forge and make a Samurai sword or a damascan barrel for a shotgun....)

What size engine are you looking for in particular? I have put the feelers out for some listers this morning, possibly may come in with some good leads - the old farms around here all know a single cylinder stationery engine as a Lister - A mate picked up a Blackstone some while back thru one of these leads. Around here, there are supposedly quite a few in barns that are falling to disrepair, the original owners put them in before power was available nationally and when power came available, they were shutdown and never used again....

As to the Single Malt and the campfire, you are welcome to it, you deserve the finer things and pleasantries in life!! (I am a peasant and drink Rum&Coke while partying till late!!)

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: TxBlacksmith on November 06, 2015, 01:47:35 PM
Ed..    I became a professional firefighter at 19,  I am 56 now...my how time flies  :laugh:
As to the blacksmith shop, I guess I would ultimately love a true Lister twin for the lineshaft power,
but i know how rare those are here in the states.  I have a line on a 6HP 1916 Witte engine that was used for
pumping water at a railroad tower out in the country, it is in decent shape, but missing the carb.
I am restoring a 1917 Little Giant power hammer, and know where to find a drill press and grinder that are lineshaft driven.
I plan on producing a small line of higher end kitchen knives and woodworking chisels, forged in the japanese
tradition.  I am not wanting to have to work all the time, or make a lot of money, just enough to support my hobby
and maybe a little extra on the side.  I am also a historical reenactor, I cover the time period from 1740 to 1850, depending on the event.
I will be continuing to forge colonial period ironwork for the camp, as well as the nicer things for the home.
I am a peasant as well, my wife gives me 1 bottle of really nice single malt each year for Christmas, and i maybe buy 1 more myself...
So I sip it neat, very slowly like the true wondrous nectar it is! ;D  Most of the time I am a sour mash whiskey drinker, neat or on the rocks.  That
I can afford to drink as needed  :D
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: Tom on November 06, 2015, 05:32:36 PM
The Westinghouse plc is an industrial system with ladder logic programming. When I arrived there was an old Compac lunch box portable that was used for programming it, but the one and only copy protected 5.25" floppy disk was bad. I found an unprotected copy for sale on the net and we were back in business. Most of my PLC stuff has been on Rockwell systems which are very expensive stuff that will last for years.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 06, 2015, 05:38:24 PM
Hi TxBs,

We r about the same age, give or take a year... Snap!

Send a pic of the hammer if u can, sounds cool! I have an old blacksmiths post drill lying in my basement workshop strangely enough... I think it is capable of being line shaft driven as well as hand, but doesn't have an onboard clutch... I think it used a slack leather round belt and a jockey pulley...

If u can get the steel formulation and temps right to match the Jap  traditional steels, they will last generations to come! Nice stuff! A hobby that can pay its way and buy the odd beer is always good to go... Just don't lose the hobby aspect, as soon as it becomes work, it sours it...

Historical re enactor... way cool!! I collect guns and stuff, have a few muzzle loaders from round that time and more than a few replica cap and ball six shooters, absolutely love them! Militaria is fascinating to me, as a new bachelor, I have put a lot of my toys up on the walls, a total man-cave... Lol... No woman could put up with my sh!t full time I reckon....  1740 to 1850.... Hmm.... lots a cutlery, old flintlocks, muzzle loading shotguns... the first of the colt revolvers...  muzzle loading cannons ... damn I could enjoy that.... what other ironwork are u gonna forge?


Here's to all us commoners out there! Rock on! ...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 06, 2015, 05:47:03 PM
Hey Tom,

Agreed re the Rockwell stuff, same goes for Siemens... Ladder programming is not so bad, its just when you get into the heavier stuff for temp control and heating that the functions get a bit hairy.. What were those functions called again? To prevent overshoot...

Strange enough, on almost all PLCs I have salvaged or tried to in the past, the one cheapest component in the system was always the one that caused the most damage... the damn backup battery... board mounted... starts leaking due to age, good bye PLC....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 06, 2015, 06:10:26 PM
Hi Guys,

Seeing as its a listeroid forum, I better at least post something Listeroid for today...Lol...

This arvie I shut the beast down and stuck a 225mm single sheave pulley on the gen head outboard of the 300mm double pulley and ran it up... I was able to generate a max load of about 1.8 to 2 kW constant, but very pulsey power. The lister pulse was defs present, but it did sound oh so awesome! There was the start of black smoke at this load, not very bad, but enough to concern me. I stopped the test.

I then whipped off the pulley and stuck on a 250mm pulley and ran it up again. I was able to pull around 2.2 to 2.4kW constant, with less pulsing, less smoke, and also a most enjoyable rythm,.... way more practical for my needs!

All was going brilliantly.... the fridges were running fine, the water pumps were working beautifully, all electro mechanical devices were doing just as they should..... but... my UPS`s on my electronic household circuits were screaming blue murder and waving white flags... The APC units were picking up the pulsing and reverting to battery because of the instability... Has anybody else had this happen?

I have set them to low mains sensitivity to no avail... As soon as they see low rev lister power coming, they go battery... if anybody has a firmware hack for them, please drop me a message! They are the APC 2200 and 3300 units, there must be something that can be done to get them more frequency tolerant..

Changing from hi to lo rev mode is dead simple...  I shut down, slip a belt off onto the small pulley, take up the slack on a jockey pulley that is fixed in place, unwind the governor and start her up... dead easy!

Note to self.... don't forget to unwind the governor..... I dunno if the gen head can handle a 30% over speed.... not keen to find out!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 06, 2015, 10:21:22 PM
As a side note, I had a look at "event timing" as opposed to "clearance timing" on the valves today, the inlet opening event is fine(about 7BTDC), but the exhaust closing event looks to be out...(factory spec is 15 to 55 after TDC if I remember correctly, this is obviously a misprint... )..  Setting the exhaust tappet clearance to event seems to be a no go at the moment... I have reverted back to clearance setting on the exhaust... again, even this is a guess because all the info I have only goes up to the 10/1, nothing there for the 12/1...it is spec at 8 thou cold on in and exhaust... 38ac, if u r out there, gimme some comments if u can.... I read your insights on the WOK BTW, very informative and well set out... nice one!

Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: dax021 on November 09, 2015, 08:21:42 PM
Has this thread died - what's happening Ed?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 09, 2015, 08:38:40 PM
Hey Dax,

Nope not quite dead yet.... Been a bit hectic, will play catchup as soon as I get a chance....

Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 09, 2015, 10:20:57 PM
Hey guys,

Here are the latest happenings from darkest Africa.... Well its night time now, the roid is put to bed, I guess that makes it "darkest"....

Yesterday I eventually managed to get the CS plug out... Foolishly, when I commissioned this engine, I only gave the CS plug a light twist with a spanner to ensure it was tight... well, it was... tight up against some prime Indian debris... Amazingly, the green gunk they painted this creature with, managed to put up a bit of a seal, so not much leak was noticed during the early running from the CS plug... when the green stuff became a bit dodgy from the heat, a substantial amount of carbon had worked its way into the threads, successfully locking the plug in place..

Removal was a prize pain in the ass.... nothing that a spanner with 3ft of pipe couldn't sort out though... The reason for the removal, was to see the deposits in the IDI chamber... There wasn't much to be seen, way less than 1cc of total deposit was removed... most of it from the concave surface of the plug... there was relatively little to be seen in the chamber itself... it is almost as if the plug was a cooler point causing the deposits to adhere more easily to it perhaps...? I don't know... If you want to see pics of the plug and chamber inner, let me know and I will post a link to them...

I suspect, no, I am certain, that when I replaced the head gasket with my home brew version, I have gone down in compression... Hindsight is 20/20... Starting is more of a chore now than before... it takes a fair bit of turning over on the starter motor to get her firing... once running, a shutdown and restart by hand is easy... I am currently still running pretty much pure WMO(if there is such a thing) and only now and then switching to dino for short periods...(WMO is a far nicer running fuel for me, less knock and more power...) I have got thinner gaskets cut, I just need a bit of time to fit one... I am currently running on a gasket that is 1.2mm thick, aluminium. I want to try a .7mm gasket to see the difference it makes... Micrometer readings of the lip seal area of the original gasket indicate that it was squashed to about 1.05mm thick at cylinder wall... the 1.2mm I have in place now has definitely dropped the CR a bit, if my basic calcs are right, it would have dropped it by around 1 point if the motor was around the 17 to 1 when original... I did the calcs, just don't have them close by at the mo...

With this drop in CR, there is a definite dip in the power output and an increase in smoke while running under load.... A change to a thinner gasket will confirm it I reckon.... It seems as if WMO in particular, needs a bit higher CR than dino for reasonable running... pardon me if I have stated the obvious....Lol...

As to the economy impact of the lower CR... well ... difficult to say at this stage, but the influence seems minimal...

Another day in listerland draws to a close.... let's see what tomorrow brings!

Regds
Ed

PS... these damn UPS's are still pissing me around..... they are way too proud to run on a lister at 550 to 600 rpm.... This problem looks complex... pass me the bigger hammer please......
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: Tom on November 09, 2015, 11:04:09 PM
To change CR you can add or remove gaskets between the cylinder base and crankcase. Don't know what the bump clearance for that beast is, but I'd suggest keeping it within the bottom range of the spec. To measure bump clearance place a couple of bits soft lead shot or solder on the piston above the wrist pin, torque head and rotate past TDC. Remove head and measure clearance. On my 6/1 it's set for .045"
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 10, 2015, 10:04:06 AM
Hi Tom

Noted! ..... But.....

There is not too much in the way of gaskets at the bottom end of my beast that I see there, around 1/2mm or so tops - I am trying to avoid lifting the cylinder and breaking any gasketing on the lower end at the moment - keeping the bottom setup as close to original for testing as I can. A further reason for playing top and not bottom cylinder games is that if I remove from the bottom, my top ring will fall above the bore ridge that is formed from running which is quite substantial at this stage - as soon as this happens, the top ring is probably gonna get hammered, so the right thing to do would be to remove the cylinder, scrape and hone the ridge, then re-install... I have thinner head gaskets so that would be the easier path for me until i tear it down to do rings and liner.... Your thoughts?

Squish measurement is not difficult to do - when I took a quick look at the piston crown/liner top step dims at TDC - there was plenty of clearance - way more than a mm by rough guess - it is spec'd around 80 to 100thou as standard - so I left it alone and concentrated on the busted head gasket to get it up and running asap... At that stage I only had the one gasket available to me so there was little choice to be had, knowing that I had enough plus surplus clearance available... performance could be addressed later..... When I pull the head to do the "real" gasket, I am going to cc it and get the true volume of the IDI chamber - that would allow me to work out the optimum head/squish clearances for this motor... I was thinking around a starting compression ratio of 17.5:1 and possibly working it up to a little higher, maybe in the region of 18.5:1 finishing, for the burning of the more "difficult" fuels at lower RPM (Valve/Crown clearances allowing it of course) - again, anybody please chime in if you see anything I might have missed, or if you have been there and can give me a bit of insight before I grab the spanners and the "big" hammer....(18.5 seems to be about the best max from what I have looked up so far, higher than that doesn't give the return/bottom end wear ratio rewards apparently....)

Keep it spinning!!

Anyways... Enough said for now, lets see how the day's run pans out... Sump gunk is still being used as fuel... About 4 to 500L left to process!!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: Tom on November 10, 2015, 05:36:54 PM
You've got a ridge already? It will be interesting to see how the crank holds up to the additional CR. What size is the crank journal on that beastie?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 11, 2015, 03:33:03 PM
Hi Tom,

I expected a ridge fairly soon and wasn't disappointed.... I am not cracking my fuel down to component, so additives are being burnt as part of the combustion process... Whilst the additives seem to do an excellent job with the lubricity at normal operating temps and pressures, I can only surmise that they are reversing their roles under combustion and being left as abrasive residues... An interesting possibility, difficult to substantiate with minimal hi-tech equipment to verify though.. To simply do a burn test on a small sample yields very little to no residue, bear in mind. that this beast has about 1700L of waste oil through it so far - I am sure that the small amount of contaminant/L has done a thorough job of wearing things down in the process of combustion. Another thing that cannot be forgotten is the metal particles of sub 7micron size that can and will be deposited during combustion on rings and the cylinder walls. 7 Micron because that is the finest that I have been filtering to so far. These metal particles would undoubtedly act as an abrasive and help the wear process... There is little to no evidence of pitting through corrosion that I can pick up, so I think that my method of drying the oil is satisfactory(my guess, which evidence seems to bear out, is that by making sure the oil is thoroughly de-watered, acids or alkali seems to be rendered somewhat if not entirely inert...)

I am considering putting on a temperature controller on the cooling system as a temporary measure... This will allow me to vary the engine temperature as well as keep an eye on it from a safety aspect as well. I noticed something quite interesting today when I started it up, although cold, there was little smoke and that struck me as strange. A diesel, as we know, likes to run in the hotter areas of the scale, so this is where I have been running it... It would be interesting to see if running a little cooler would make a difference to power/smoke output/deposit buildup from the fuel I am using... Just a thought.....

Fortunately this beast runs about 100ft away from my office door so monitoring it visually has become second nature...

As to the journal size, your guess is as good as mine, I presume it would be in the 2" range or thereabouts - I have ordered a big end bearing to keep as a spare, it just hasn't arrived yet.....

Keep it spinning....
Ed

PS: Here is a link to some pics of the inside of the IDI chamber and COV plug.... Some deposits are visible...

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/COV Plug and IDI Chamber/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/COV Plug and IDI Chamber/)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: vdubnut62 on November 11, 2015, 09:22:33 PM
I've seen worse. Have you checked the ph of the wmo before using as fuel?
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 12, 2015, 08:17:56 AM
Hi Ron,

I must confess.... I haven't! There is no corrosion to the IP or metal lines/injector innards at all(After 3 months on the gunk) - This leads me to conclude that the PH of the goop is within tolerable limits.... Of course, corrosion can be accelerated by an elevated temperature, but this, I think, would also cause evidence on the injector tip insides... Maybe I am wrong, but this seems logical to me... Your thoughts?

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 12, 2015, 02:04:50 PM
Hey all ye learned gents out there...!

Would one of ye be so kind as to check my calculations and let me know if I am going astray:

CC Readings:      2   cc Inlet         
                      2   cc Exhaust         
                         65   cc IDI Chamber         
                     69   Total Head Chamber Volume         
                  
Bore Measurement:      
              127.15   mm Bore Below Ridge   (Just for Interest)
      127.4   mm Bore at Crown above top ring   (Just for Interest)
       127   mm Bore above Crown    in squish area      
                127.15mm Approximate Bore below squish area in cylinder proper (Just for interest, used the bore as 127mm for calcs)
        2.26   N Squish (away from Injector Pump)         
       2.26   E Squish         
      2.47   W Squish(Hard Globular Carbon/Deposits) (Don't trust this measurement)
      2.26   S Squish      

            Squish seems large, but the motor is spec'd at between 80 to 100 Thou... ie 2 to 2.5mm.... so this seems in spec...   

      Assume W Squish reading is bad, Discarded            
      2.26   mm Ave Squish at 127mm Nominal Bore         
                  
      28.62812823   cc Squish Volume         
      8.867119363   cc Gasket Volume at .7mm thick at 127mm Bore         
                  
      106.3           cc Final Squish Volume Total         
      1769.623678   cc Cyl Swept Volume         
      17.64744759   Compression Ratio Actual         

And that about it!!

Tell me if I screwed up....

Much Appreciated....
Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: Thob on November 14, 2015, 02:26:47 PM
I thought squish was measured with the head gasket in place - that way it accounts for how much the gasket squeezes down when you torque the head bolts.  If that is the case, then you wouldn't add the gasket volume to the squish volume.  It also affects what the spec in the manual means...

Which way did you measure your squish?  With or without the head gasket?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: vdubnut62 on November 14, 2015, 05:45:19 PM
Hi Ron,

I must confess.... I haven't! There is no corrosion to the IP or metal lines/injector innards at all(After 3 months on the gunk) - This leads me to conclude that the PH of the goop is within tolerable limits.... Of course, corrosion can be accelerated by an elevated temperature, but this, I think, would also cause evidence on the injector tip insides... Maybe I am wrong, but this seems logical to me... Your thoughts?

Regds
Ed

I'm afraid I'm empty-headed! I was just curious if you had checked. I have no idea if PH even makes a difference from my own experience.
 Mr. Bodell on the "other" forum seems to think it does.
Ron
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 14, 2015, 09:32:58 PM
Hey guys,

Another small update on what's happening with the green monster.... Since new gasket is installed with the higher c ratio, lots less smoke when running a 30w or so fuel. I think I have discovered what was causing intermittent smoking and carboning over the last little while and thought it might be worth the mention...

When I process fuel, I feed it into a 200l holding drum, drawing off the bottom quarter or so. Up until recently, I found this to work quite well. Now however, it seems with the warmer weather we are having, there is some heavier oil settling to the bottom. When filling of late, this heavier oil(estimated at 45w plus) has  been causing a bit of a problem... knock it down with a 4 or up to even 8 to 1 dino mix and it runs way awesome....

I have also now installed an auto switch over for the mains. It consists of one contactor powered directly by the generator, disengaging a second contactor powered by the mains. It works quite well, so much so that when the gen head stopped working today(more on that later), the switch back to utility power wasn't even noticed... not even by a ps3 that was online downloading some rather large game update... There is one small problem that I have to overcome the contactor on the mains side is a  bit like me... slow, old and lazy... it, on the odd occasion, takes a spilt second too long to drop out and causes the gen head to go head to head with the mains... No biggie, but I don't like it as it trips the trip switch on the panel... I will have to get a better contactor or try and sort out some form of delay without using a "bought" one... No matter... I will find a way.... suggestions welcomed!

The gen head finally tossed its cookies, there is one wire on the ac brushes that had chafed through to earth and welded itself there... No matter, I just swopped the L and N lines over as a temp measure to keep going(N and E are linked in the panels anyway), well .... eventually it went open circuit today...  The faulty wire was snipped off and a bypass wire installed externally.... Working better than ever, looks like this new "temp" fix might just end up to be a permanent one...

They say that bad luck comes in threes, well, I had my set today... first the contactor laziness, then the busted brush wire, and finally a broken wire on the cooling fan... Luckily I installed a temprorary temperature controller on the head outlet yesterday... my mission is to control and vary coolant temperatures by adjusting when the fan comes on to minimise or try to, control head temps a bit to get the cleanest burn on varying fuels.... well, it looks like the temp controller might just become semi permanent once the temp experiments are done, it will be wired to an over temp siren to let me know when and if things go awry....


One good thing did come of it though... I established that there is more than enough cooling sans fan to keep the heat down if the engine is running unloaded as it did for quite a while today.... No Gen, means no cooling fan and no instrumentation working either.... The radiator is thermo syphon, so that won't fail....

Anyways, again I ramble on,,,,

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 14, 2015, 09:44:30 PM
Hey Thob,

I measured all clearances with the head stripped... My gasket was factored in at its measured thickness... the gasket is made of aluminium sheet cut by laser... effectively the compression on gasket such as this is virtually zero... it is soft enough to seal if your head is nice and flat and if there is sufficient step on the cylinder rim... with a smooth rim of course.. The pain in the butt is building up the lower surface of the gasket with silicon ridges to seal the waterways because of the cylinder step.... the top surface gets a much finer layer of silicon for the same reason... I have had reasonably good luck with similar gaskets before... let's hope this will be one of the cases too!

Regds
Ed

PS... Well spotted Thob! I overlooked that with my messing about! You are perfectly correct! The final squish clearance for the head is supposed to be measured with the gasket in place, head torqued down. My volumetric measurements do conclude that the compression ratio is in spec though... I don't think that the bit of extra clearance will make a major difference in the grand scheme of things on this engine... A too small squish would or could cause valve interference(which I checked with the CR on) ... my thinking is that as long as the squish is same or larger than factory spec, with a sufficient compression ratio, all should be good to roll.... Your thoughts? (The squish was measured with a depth mic at Tdc... I did not torque the block down, there was probably a small amount of block and base gasket sprinback around, but the bottom gasket is well compressed and undisturbed... Unlikely that there will be too much error there). Also, the original gasket mic'd out at 1.05 mm on the rim seal, the new one is only .35mm smaller... this equates to around 4 cc squish volume error...not a major difference in compression ratio....again, your input would be highly appreciated... u got a sharp eye!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 14, 2015, 09:51:46 PM
Hey Vdub,

It probs does make a difference, maybe the ash we are picking up with WMO is an aluminium oxide formed by the combustion of aluminium held in solution by the acidic oil... Anybody have access to a mass spectrometer perhaps.... Lol... I wish I did... would certainly take alot of guessing out of the equation.... come to think of it... Ali oxide is white... and highly abrasive.... makes you think....!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 15, 2015, 12:06:30 PM
Hey guys...

Right, the auto changeover switch is in and sorted.... Instead of a delayed start or similar being put on the coil of one contactor, I have interlocked two contractors and installed a control relay to prevent the chance of both contractors being in circuit simultaneously.... works like a charm....

If anybody wants a circuit to show how it hangs together, just shout.....

Next step is to install variable coolant temperature handling to see how it affects carbon buildup... Should be quite interesting....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 17, 2015, 08:20:02 PM
Hey guys,

Anybody still out there in ListerLand?

Another update... played around with the cooling system a bit and found some interesting and frustrating things out while I was at it...

If I run with no thermostat on the engine water outlet, temp hovers around the 75C mark and remains reasonably stable.. The top radiator thermo switch kicks in and out, but things remain relatively even... If I run solely on the bottom radiator thermo switch to control the fan, the temperature elevates to around the 90C mark under normal load, going up to approx 95C in a slow cycle... but remains relatively stable... As soon as a heavy load is imposed, the system gets close to overheating... around the 99C mark and the coolant starts to boil off... not an ideal situation... I am trying to stabilise my running temp under normal and heavy loads to around the 95C max mark(hoping to do this mechanically rather than by electronic means, from a reliability fail safe point of view).

I installed a 88C thermostat at or very near to the head flange. In it I have drilled a couple of 3mm bypass holes to try and stop temperature cycling... It hasn't helped one bit.... the temp cycles from 65 to 85C ad nauseum..... particularly when the load drops away... BUT... before I go and drill my new thermostat like a piece of Swiss cheese ... I have an idea, and if anybody has tried this, I would really appreciate some feedback....

My idea is as follows... install a reduced T piece in the top and bottom lines of the coolant system alongside and parallel with the cylinder block and before the thermostat. This will make for a small external cycling channel that will have its own thermal loop to warm up the cylinder and thermostat hot side without trapping heat in the head exclusively.... The answers I don't know are: Will it stop the temperature cycling, or at least even it out a bit?, Will it interfere with the thermo syphon system as a whole? Will it create world peace, love and harmony?  Who knows.... if you have tried it and have the answer, chime in please and let me know what you found!

Keep it spinning.....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: Tom on November 18, 2015, 12:16:41 AM
BTDT, the coolant on my generator is used in a hydronic loop in the floors of our home. I found that in addition to the thermostat a valve is needed in the lower hose. Slowly keep turning it down while underload until the cycling stops. I did this once and now she's rock steady under all conditions. There is a 1/8" hole in the thermostat.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 18, 2015, 10:24:24 AM
Hey Tom,

Thanks for the info - Much appreciated!!

If I might ask, What is your average return line temperature variance into the engine? Over here, it will vary between probably slightly less than 30 and probably just over 70C I reckon... With that sort of large temp range in the offing, I am anticipating problems with accurate head temp control on my side...

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: 32 coupe on November 18, 2015, 11:23:09 PM
Tank or radiator ?

I'd try a new stat with one 1/8" hole placed to the top position.

195 seems to be about correct.

They can take a while to warm up even under load.

I'll amble off for now,

Gary

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: Tom on November 18, 2015, 11:39:47 PM
Hey Tom,

Thanks for the info - Much appreciated!!

If I might ask, What is your average return line temperature variance into the engine? Over here, it will vary between probably slightly less than 30 and probably just over 70C I reckon... With that sort of large temp range in the offing, I am anticipating problems with accurate head temp control on my side...

Regds
Ed

My return temps are all over the map too. When warmed up the return is around 90f. When running on just the cold tank it can start at 40f and a hot tank it can be over 100f.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: mike90045 on November 19, 2015, 06:27:58 AM
Hey Tom,
Thanks for the info - Much appreciated!!
If I might ask, What is your average return line temperature variance into the engine? Over here, it will vary between probably slightly less than 30 and probably just over 70C I reckon... With that sort of large temp range in the offing, I am anticipating problems with accurate head temp control on my side...
Regds  Ed 

Tom set my coolant loop up too.  I have about a 25 gal salvaged gas tank as a coolant tank, and from cold start (40F) takes about 90 minutes to get the return line warmed up over 120F  Then the lower end (crankcase) finally gets the frost thawed off it, but in cold weather, I've never see it get over 100F  (using harbor freight IR Thermometer)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 19, 2015, 03:01:49 PM
Hey Mike,

Thanx for the info!

I take it you will be somewhere around 195F on the head outlet and around 100F on the block inlet - Delta 95F or so....

I have been running the last couple of days on a semi-boil system with radiator cooling - My block inlet is around the 80C and the outlet is around 101C - that equates to about Delta 20C - in F that comes down to 176F in with 213F out - I would like it a wee bit lower on the output, but there is no steam venting into the header bottle on the radiator, just an alarming increase in visible level as a slug of steam forms, then circulates out of the head and condenses... The level returns to original in short order.... The fan is way capable of holding the temp in the system down, it runs for about 15sec every 2 mins or so and then shuts down(That's around a 12.5% duty cycle).... I am using a temp switch in the lower apron of the radiator to monitor and turn on the fan, which is line with about in the lower half of the radiator core... Current day temp is in the high 20'sC, hence the reason for wanting to get a little more leeway to allow for the really hot days(for here anyway) when it can get up to an ambient of 35-38C - When one of those days arrives, I will have to go back to the top radiator temp switch because the entire system will be pushed well above boiling point I reckon....

What I have found with this higher running temp, is a far clearer exhaust gas ... this to me anyway, means less sooty carbon and exhaust buildup.... Also probably a better conversion efficiency, but this i think would be relatively minimal and difficult to gauge over a short period..... The more learned gents-please feel free to correct me if I am going astray....

While on efficiency et al.... Has anybody grabbed a bit of heat from the CS Plug to warm up the last inch or so of fuel line before the injector by using, lets say, a piece of flat brass or copper bar bolted to the CS plug and wicking the lost heat via contact into the injector line... It looks pretty simple to accomplish, just don't know how much benefit it would be.... (Sound of drawer being opened, shouts of glee, and a 50x10x300mm brass bar being brandished aloft.... Eyes drop back to screen and reply anxiously awaited....Lol)

Enough of my BS.... Time to go play!!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: Tom on November 19, 2015, 07:20:53 PM
I've seen COV plugs used as oil preheaters. It was reported to work well.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 19, 2015, 09:10:34 PM
Hey Gary and Tom,

Sorry, in my haste to go play I missed your replies...

Gary, I think I have sufficient in the line of bleed holes, the problem is my cooling system is a bit too efficient if I run it on the top temp switch... on the bottom switch, it is just not quite enough cooling to allow any leeway...  Warmup is quite quick, I estimate 15 min or thereabouts to get the fan cycling on and off on the top switch...that is without the stat installed and the motor running around the 80C on the outlet...

Possibly I must reduce cooling efficiency a bit, there are a few ways I could do it, one is by partially isolating the temp switch with a buffer material to dissipate a bit of heat before the switch... that shouldn't be too difficult to do, even make it marginally adjustable to fine tune it a bit... add a few cooling fins and that might do the trick with an adjustable shroud over them to fine tune... the advantage of doing it that way, is that the fins would dissipate more heat in colder weather, less in warmer, causing the switch to either come in sooner or later temperature wise.... almost self regulating depending on the ambient temperature... interesting thought... defs worth a try I reckon, and very easy to do....

If I can lose the thermostat, put a piece of ali bar in its place to do similar work, less moving bits and things to fail...

Tom: I am not too wild about a large temp differential over the length of the cylinder... I know it is accepted, but I am interested in keeping the top half of the motor as warm as I can, but below 100C... less condensation, less oil fouling, less heat loss during combustion... Just a thought...

If I can come right with my "solid state" temperature tuner on the top temperature switch on the radiator, it might just be something that others can find handy... and keep the top half of the Beastie warm and snug as well...

Again I ramble on... please tell me to shut up!

Kelp it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 19, 2015, 09:25:50 PM
Hey Tom,

Thanks for the reply re the CS plug heat scavenging ... I am really keen to give it a go and see if it clarifies the burning a wee bit more... As hard as I have been on this beast in the last few months, I am constantly amazed, on a daily basis, that she starts up and runs! Yes, she is getting a bit tardy on the morning wind up, yes, she uses a bit of oil on a daily basis, but when I equate the workload that has been put through her so far, I can give her a bit of leeway I reckon.... (and that with the crappiest fuel I could possibly find!)

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: buickanddeere on November 20, 2015, 01:16:19 AM
Eddy. Is there any way to incorporate a small electric pump . To act as the recirculating like or port in most forced circulation cooling engines ?
 Is there a way to reduce the cooling area or efficiency of the rad/fan? To raise the temperature of the coolant leaving the radiator ?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: 38ac on November 20, 2015, 02:11:39 AM
An old fellow who helped me get going told me that thermostats and thermosyphon don't play together well, most of what I read lends credence to what he told me. Not saying it cant be made to work, it just doesn't come easy.
 I have resisted using thermostats on the few complete set ups that I have installed and instead have placed a gate valve in the lower water port line as the old timer instructed.  It is simple, goof proof once set and lets the system pretty self regulate. yes we run a bit cool under partial loads and a bit hot under heavy ones. The slick operators pay attention to the weather and cover or uncover a portion of the radiator to help compensate.  I don't have anyone trying to run 100s of hours a week so the trade off for a very small loss of fuel efficiency is made up for in KISS.  ;)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 20, 2015, 07:08:36 AM
Hi B&D,

There is always a way to get a pump in, in fact I have one that can be used.... I just don't want to!! (KISS principle to the max!)...

Reducing the efficiency of the radiator is also an option, but again, back to the old adage, SIZE DOES COUNT....Lol .... Due to the large temperature range this beast needs to operate in, preferably unattended, I am looking to find a way that if at all possible, even seasonal variances are catered for automatically with as few moving bits as possible... Should I be able to come up with a relatively "ID ten Tee" proof way, it might just be able to benefit all users, in all climates....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 20, 2015, 07:28:21 AM
Hey 38AC,

Agreed re the Thermo-Syphon/Stat debacle... They do not like to be neighbors in any system.... Agreed, they can work, and do work very well together when u eventually get the kinks out... but, they are not the best under all conditions.... Particularly if the stat gets cooked up beyond its range, it tends to fail closed which can cause big problems in a system that is run by unskilled hands with minimal eyes on... Weather shutters can be implemented on the radiator - think of the old beetle engines for the colder climates... They had Auto-Air restrictors on some models that were temperature controlled... They worked well, but also were one of the first things to fail in the hotter climates... Now, if I can get away from moving parts almost completely, and control fan startup and monitor environment temp at the same time just by using a piece of Ali Bar as a spacer between the radiator and switch.....(I am stuck with a switch and electric fan...My design doesn't let me get away without them..)

The gate valve might still be used initially in my system to control flow, but again, I am not too wild about something that can be messed with causing problems later, like "Oh. is that what it was for.... I thought it was to shut off the water to the building..." ....  .... .... one melted roid and bad mood later....Lol....

Keep it Spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: carlb23 on November 20, 2015, 10:47:10 AM
I had the radiator fan fail once on my roid and it overheated and just stopped.  When i went to turn it over it wouldn't budge.  I took off the inspection cover to see if i could see anything (i didn't know the fan had failed at this point and thought maybe the big end bearing went) by the time i got the cover off the engine was free again.

I then discovered the failed fan and knew that it had overheated.  After the engine cooled for a while I started it back up for a few seconds and it ran fine.  Not wanting to take any chances i tore the engine down completely.  Upon inspection I could not find any evidence of damage from the overheating episode.  I put the engine back together with a new set of main bearings just because i had several spare sets and the old ones had a few pit marks in them and the engine is running fine.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 20, 2015, 11:48:04 AM
Noted Carl....

That was a close one!! I hope to never go there again.... Been there on a few cars in my foolish years, now the b@lls are smaller and the brain is bigger... I Hope!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 20, 2015, 12:15:07 PM
Hey Guys,

I might just have found the magic bullet....

Take a look at this: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Radiator Switch Heatsink B.jpg (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Radiator Switch Heatsink B.jpg) ... Simple, easy to do reasonably adjustable and you can custom it to your own needs...

This has taken my head outlet temp from 75C to 85C nominal to 88C to 95C nominal under full load.... By diverting a small amount of air from the fan over the "fins", you can increase the head temp as needed. By splitting it in half (it's a pair of M/F units) you can lower the temp as needed too...

It is made out of 35mm Ali bar stock, 3mm fins/gaps about 5mm deep. One side of each half has a Male 1/2" BSP Thread and the other a Female. The unit screws into the radiator switch socket and the switch in turn, screws into the "extension" .... The combined overall length is about 70-75mm... I have bored it out to minimize the thermal mass and allow it to heat/cool a little quicker minimizing the lag as far as possible... Id is threaded female to suit the temp switch, virtually full length....

I removed the thermostat and housing I made, the temp immediately took a step at stabilizing, albeit at a lower than required level.... Added the heatsinks, one at a time, and the temp rose as needed. The day temp in the lean-to is around the 30C mark, I will check the evening temp and report back as to whether the unit allows for a broad range of ambients as a bonus.... My logic says that if the ambient temp is lower, the heatsink end at the switch will be lower too.... the fan should shut down earlier and minimize the temperature sag on the engine in cool weather.... Hold Thumbs!!

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: BruceM on November 20, 2015, 03:15:49 PM
I was very interested to read 38ac's comments on thermostat difficulties with thermosiphon systems.  I've certainly had some trouble with mine.

My thermostat's kept failing after 1-2 years, and too much hot-cold cycling.  Things I've found helpful were reducing radiator area dramatically, restricting coolant flow via ball valve, and increasing the bleed holes in the thermostat to two 3/16" size holes (top and bottom).  This seems to have done the trick.  Radiator area reduction and coolant flow restriction were done with extended full run on an exceptionally hot summer day.  I'm sure it still gulps a bit, thermally, in winter but it has been behaving well.

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 20, 2015, 03:54:31 PM
Hey VDub,

Here is the circus diagram for all the electrickery you were looking for.... (Auto Changeover Switch):

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Auto Changeover Schematic A.pdf (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Auto Changeover Schematic A.pdf)

As per the usual, use at your own risk, get a qualified person to check it over, commission and install for you.....

Keep it Spinning!!

Regds
Ed

PS... How it works...
The genset is the controlling factor, there are no frills or fancies. The only luxury item that is used is an overload sensor that I had lying about.

When the gen is off, the utility contactor pulls in and runs mains power to the selected circuits you wish. As soon as the gen starts up, it pulls in the control relay and this in turn drops out the utility contactor and pulls in the gen contactor as well. The 2 contractors are interlinked to prevent both being pulled in simultaneously and thus blowing up your gen head.... The house then has the selected circuits powered by gen, while other circuits in the house such as cookers and ovens etc run off of utility power. Should too many hair dryers, dishwashers, fridges and toasters be turned on simultaneously on the gen circuit, the overload sensing on the gen contactor triggers and the control relay is switched off, reverting to full utility power and bypassing the gen. Once the overload resets(I have set mine to auto reset after 60sec), the control relay is pulled in and the selected circuits go back to gen power... The contractors I am using are 3 phase, but I have wired the contacts on each contactor in series... Should a contact bar burn closed, the other 2 will surely open, giving a redundancy effect and a bit of a parachute, Just in case!...

The changeover when one input drops away is very quick, ups's don't kick in and PC's don't reset, so things seem excellent ...

Choose contactors that are at least 25% or more above your gen outputs capacity, Bigger even, if u can find... remember that the overload trip on a contactor output is 25% on average above what you set the dial for.... it is also not immediate, so allow for that too... the control relay only needs to be rated to switch the current of the coils on the contractors, nominal 5A should do it quite well...

Hope this helps make your live a bit easier!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 20, 2015, 11:07:43 PM
Hey guys,

From a warm and dry afternoon to a cold, wet and windy evening... temp  during this afternoon was in the high 20s C and this evening it was a rainy and windy 12C by shutdown... Why the weather report? .... Well, the radiator switch heatsink seems to be doing its job over the mid lower end of the temperature scale... the cooling system has "self adjusted" itself and kept the head temp at around the 90 to 93 C mark without intervention from me at all, and this is with a air temperature swing of around 18C or so. It looks promising so far, but a bit more testing will still need to be done to confirm that it is working to my satisfaction... Don't copy it just yet, let me screw it up first and save you the trouble!

Loads varied from light to maximum design load over the time period tested so far, including overload conditions of 20A plus, at 230V... At no stage did the cooling system boil... it came very close, but just before boiling point was reached(around 97C), the fan started up and held the heat demons at bay...

As a safeguard, I am prepping some concentrated glycol to replace the coolant in the cooling system with... Although the heat transfer properties of the concentrate will be lower, causing a slightly higher head temperature, the benefits I feel, will outweigh this. The primary benefit will be a much elevated boiling point, in the region of 110C to allow for more leeway before coolant gets dumped from the overflow port on the header tank by steam/vapour expulsion..... My header tank and radiator top tank are not large enough to cater for more than a litre or so loss before the heat syphon loop gets broken... Bad things will happen if it does... But hey, if I get it ticking over OK, if the header tank was good enough for a 1600VW, I am sure my roid won't complain!

Enough rambling... Darkest Africa is again dark.... now that Optimus Prime Mover has gone to sleep....

Keep it spinning!

Regds
Ed

PS... contrary to popular belief, I don't have lions roaming the back yard... bushbuck, duiker, waterbuck, porcupines, bushpig and warthog... but no lions.... Damn, I miss them...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 21, 2015, 10:14:53 PM
Hey Guys,

Another bit of a report back on the temperature stabilisation...

Today I took a chance and drained off all the coolant from the thump monster, cooked it up and boiled off as much water as I could, without boiling away too much glycol... It panned out at about 40 to 50% by volume of my coolant was made up of water, or at least, that was what I boiled off anyway... My total coolant volume in the monster is around 8L... this I boiled off down to just over 4L in an effort to re-concentrate it...  The deficit I made up of some reclaimed coolant I had lying around.. I then refilled the cooling system with this concentrate and spun it up...

What I have found is that now the temperature is even more stable than before, it fluctuates around 5C from 99 to 104 degrees with no sign of being near to boiling point of the coolant in the system at all... This is with no thermostat, purely thermosyphon, wildly varying loads(the daughters were home and various hair appliances, washing machines and kitchenware was in full employ today)... I must add though, the weather is far from warm, with a stiff breeze... So any hot weather testing will certainly still need to take place.

Going from a 50-50 glycol to 100% glycol has elevated running temperatures by about 8C, but in doing so, possibly because of the higher viscousity coolant, the temperature seesaw is almost nil compared to previous... The added benefit is that now the temperature is elevated a little more, giving a slightly cleaner burn too....

If the temp remains reasonably tolerable in hotter weather, I think I will have the cooling system at its optimum best for my current setup... A good time to stop fixing it would be around about now!

Next project, is the preheater for the injector... I am going to attempt to tap off some unclaimed heat from the cs plug to do all the heating I can,,, It will have to, of course, be somewhat adjustable, to tailor the preheatimg to suit the fuel source that is being consumed at the time....

Enough rambling... Time to find lions.... Lol... or was it a warthog I heard in the back yard....

Kelp it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: mike90045 on November 22, 2015, 02:13:55 AM
Doesn't the injector get pretty hot bolted into the head ?


What's the temp limit for the rubber O ring in the base of the cylinder ?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 22, 2015, 07:54:10 AM
Hi Mike,

It does, but I would like to see if warming the fuel just a little more, will improve the burn a bit more... temp of the back of the injector sits around 65 to 75C I guess.. I would like it at 100 or close as possible... that would thin out my fuel oil to around diesel spec at point of injection entry...

The o rings should be well capable if up to around 110 C without any major problems, also with a high glycol mix, I have found rubber work lasts consistently longer than with high water content... also no crusty build up or corrosion too....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Breaking the Rules with WMO and the like!!
Post by: EdDee on November 22, 2015, 10:44:30 PM
Hey guys,

Another day is done, another good quantity of waste gunk burnt off in an environmentally acceptable way.... with benefits!

Lessons learnt today:

Allow for a slow warm up with straight glycol coolant!

This morning I started the thumper and withing 3 minute of cold start I pushed the power output to max overload to see the effect... Quite spectacular actually! .... When glycol is cold, in my case around 8-10C, it is quite thick and syrupy... the thumper managed to get the glycol in the head to boiling point before it could syphon and circulate due to the cold viscosity and resistance to circulation imposed by the radiator and down flow...  about half a litre came galloping out the overflow before I could get a catch bottle in place.... must have been hilarious to watch ... no harm done, circulation picked up and took over shortly thereafter, no other over temperatures were noted during the day, the first part of which was busy processing a batch of fuel... a straight run of around 2 1/2 to 3 hours at the max design load of the system... about 5kw... The rest of the day consisted of average to high loading, intermittently overloaded.....

Directly after fuel processing, max load, I pulled the cs plug to make a minor mod for the fuel heater/injection heater that I am going to make and fit soon... Take a look at the white deposits that have formed after around 250hrs running... pictures to view here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/COV Plug Deposits 250hrs WMO (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/COV Plug Deposits 250hrs WMO)

The mod is really minor and easy to do, it consists of a tapped hole 10mm thread about 40mm deep in the cs plug. I have machined the square of the plug nice and flat to make a good heat contact surface for the brass bar to scavenge heat and transfer it to the fuel line... pictures to view here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/COV Plug Modifications (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/COV Plug Modifications)

I am not going to modify my existing line, that will be maintained as a spare, I will replace the entire line with a new one incorporating the brass heat scavenging fitting should all go well...

I also got a chance to make a small heat exchanger to fit just before the radiator, horizontally, at the top inlet.... pictures of the internals here:http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Coolant Heat Exchanger (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Coolant Heat Exchanger)

The reason for this exchanger is twofold, one to harvest a bit of waste heat before it gets lost to the radiator, and two to keep the cooling system warm from the heat store via reverse cycling overnight.... an added benefit would be to have just another couple of litres coolant to help stabilise the system temperature a bit more, but this is not part of the criteria at all... Let's hope the effort/reward ratio lands on the plus side!

Right, I am now thoroughly knackered, Monday has just arrived.... can't wait to get into the office for a bit of a rest...

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: Tom on November 22, 2015, 11:36:02 PM
Ed, if you want max btu's out of the cov plug, drill into with 2 holes to form a V in the plug. Then tap the holes for your choice of fitting.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: vdubnut62 on November 23, 2015, 02:46:18 AM
Do you think the white deposits are aluminum oxide?  Really nice craftsmanship on the heat exchanger.  I would never gone to the trouble of flattening the tubing.
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 23, 2015, 10:31:40 AM
Hey Tom,

Agreed re the loop through on the CS Plug... My resistance to doing that is simply that with WMO burning, there comes times, usually in the worst weather, late in the evening, that I will have to pull the injector to de-foul it... using the "heatsink" method, one fitting to loosen on the fuel system, hence less chance of leakage... A weak reason, but valid nevertheless (for me anyway...Lol...) In the dark, with rain pelting, the fewer leakable couplings to do, the better...

A further, possibly more valid reason for me anyway, is being able to adjust the temp of the fuel by the amount of lagging installed on the heat couple... I dont know what temp will be best yet, so this allows for a bit of playing.... and I do like playing!! ... Lol..

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 23, 2015, 10:39:17 AM
Hey Ron,

The deposits could be....who knows? A mate of mine works as a tech for a large university not too far from here.... I think I might just mail him a sample and see if he can get a mass spec done on it.... Hopefully they wont come lock me up for trying to mail an ominous white powder in a plain envelope...... :police: :police: :police:

Thanks for the comps on the exchanger... the flattening of the tubes was not initially intended, water filled and rolled they started to flatten... I checked the flow resistance through them while working on it and although it will cause a bit of back pressure on the hot water system under full stream, I will still be restricting the flow a bit more on the regulator valve anyway.... Still gotta pressure test the coil and look for pinholes... Hold thumbs... Picture the scene... Exchanger installed, drawing off heat beautifully... I wonder why the coolant keeps overflowing...... Duhh....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 23, 2015, 03:46:00 PM
Hey Guys,

The Hot (cylinder) Head tests continue....Feedback:

Ran up thumper from cold this morning, started out at about 8C and allowed it to run for a few minutes without major load....about 5mins in all.... the temp climbed quickly and the thermosyphon cycle started up fine... No major localized heating, no boil off, all fine.... Once partially warmed up, went to full daily load and things worked great.... It seems that the trick is to allow it to fluidize the coolant fully to allow it to circulate efficiently! Once done, all is well....

Lets see if this beast can start stably everyday if a few small rules are followed....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: buickanddeere on November 23, 2015, 07:02:38 PM
Temperatures of 212-230 even 240F doesn't cause damage as long as the coolant stays liquid and without steam/vapour bubbles or pockets . Trouble starts even if the outlet temp is 180F if there is coolant jacket locally over heated because vapour/steam is a lousy conductor of heat vs liquid water/glycol .
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 23, 2015, 08:57:51 PM
Thanks b&d,

Noted! Many a block has been wrecked by that I bet! My aim is to get things cycling as reliably, easy and warm as possible with no vapour pockets...  Sounds easy, but it isn't as we all know!

I might have to drop the temp on the radiator thermo switch a tad to allow for slightly more cooling on the radiator side, which in turn will give slightly better coolant turnover, better temperature gradient et al...

Quite easy to do now... just part off a few mm on the heatsink and temps drop a bit.... Or cover a few fins with some thermal insulation to allow faster temp transfer to the switch... but will give it a couple of days first to check the trend.....

Overall it is performing satisfactorily, but there is a few degrees increase in temp when the shed doors are closed... running this close to boiling gives little leeway for error... not a good thing...

Regds
Ed

PS.. one thing I did notice this morning was a lack of coolant in the overflow resevoir when cold.... nothing was spilt, I was running at a level I previously set for water/coolant mix... it appears that the glycol has a much larger expansion ratio than the mix.... alarming... and something to keep an eye on too....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 24, 2015, 01:21:09 PM
Hi Guys,

The thump monster started fine this morning, coolant was a little low, but still covering the outlet so I didn't worry about topping it up... After a few mins of warm up, just enough to get the outlet pipe warm, not hot, to the top of the radiator, I switched on the daily load... All has behaved perfectly, when the motor is fully warmed up, the coolant level is at the "normal" top mark... Nothing to worry about so far....

I think I am still going to reduce the fan switch temperature by a bit.... Just to give a small safety factor in case loads go heavy or timing goes out a tad and the monster decides to turn oil into heat without using the flywheels......

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 25, 2015, 08:19:26 AM
Hey Guys,

Day Next of the Hot-Head Trials:

All started fine this morning, ran a lot of water through it yesterday, water flow was set to the mid-high flow rate - No condensation on the CC breather too.

With the higher head temp I am able to run much more water through the inlet on a continuous basis with no condensing steam evident out of the exhaust port indicator(The exhaust port indicator is a highly technical, specially shaped port to monitor exhaust emissions at the cylinder exhaust port outlet - it consists primarily of a cracked exhaust flange that I have not had a chance to repair yet......)

All is running well, head outlet temps are still stable in the high 90C to low 100C range, no boil off either with high glycol content cooling....

Lets see what the day brings!!

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 27, 2015, 11:31:47 AM
Hey Glort,

A little update for you.... With the higher head temperature, I was able to double the the water input for decarboning things... It amounted to a measured 2/3 of a liter for a few minutes at a time, up to around 5 minutes each.... This flashed off heavy carbon deposits in the IDI chamber and piston top (and coated everything with soot in the near vicinity...but the story about the washing line will be relegated to another forum....)

I am maintaining my previous water setting for normal running, it holds most of the deposits at bay, with a VERY slow buildup over a period of time... Easily flashed off with a heavy water feed, especially timed to coincide with washday....... Did I just say that? ::) ::)

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 27, 2015, 11:46:46 AM
Hey Guys,

A 2-day update for you!!

Yesterday started with no problems, thump monster behaved well and started heat syphoning perfectly... What I have found, is the most convenient way to get things going from cold... Check oil and coolant, spin her up with no load, leave her ticking over while I blend fuel and fill the day tank, cut over to the load once done and all is well..... Unless......!

Unless you are processing fuel(5kw full resistive load working the monster hard) and...... Unless you have a SE breeze going, just a light one, and it dams up the heat in the genshed(the heat outlets are on the S side of the shed) ... Interesting things begin to happen while you are not watching... the gremlins creep in and piss coolant on the inside of the shed after drinking it out of the overflow!!

Easily solved - Removed one heat-sink section from the thermal switch on the radiator, filled the tank with more glycol (Ouch...$$$)....and kept it all spinning...

Head temps are a little reduced now, not what I wanted, but I am way happier that there is a bit of a safety margin....Hopefully the pre-heating of the fuel will make up for the reduced temp....

Goes to show, as you get ahead in the rat-race..... Someone turns up with a faster rat!!

This weekend I should be able to finish off the heating doo-dah for the fuel line, I will post pics of it when done. If all goes well, I might just finish up the heat-ex for the radiator inlet line too....

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 27, 2015, 02:30:06 PM
Hey Glort,

Agreed re the "too much of a good thing" approach.... Too much for too long will cock things up, I am sure... I am holding excessive carbon back mainly in the ring department - As soon as I see too much gas bypass, black smoke or blue smoke, thump monster gets a wash!! To much bypass=sticky rings, blue smoke=stuck oil control ring, black smoke=crap on injector tip.... usually a goods wash sorts them out.... the injector has a 50/50 chance of blowing clean, occasionally its really stubborn and needs a pull out and brush off....

I am heating the fuel line as it goes into the injector now - my logic says to me that if the fuel is hotter, its thinner... Most of my problems have been fuel viscosity related I think, note... "Think"... Anything tried is something to cross off the list... I found that with 40-50W fuel oil, atomisation was a biaaatch and she ran very smokey as soon as loads were applied.... Thin it out a bit with dino, at a 3:1 ratio WMO:Dino and things run much better... My aim is to try and get this beast running solely on sump gunk if I can.... Lets see how it works out....

Here are some pics of the fuel preheater - its not neatened up yet, but is fully functional, just need to lag it a bit to keep as much heat inside it as I can....

Pics are at: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Fuel and Injector Heater/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Fuel and Injector Heater/)

Its an easy mod to do, so barring the cost of an injector line, nuts, brass bar, a little gas and silver solder, the actual job is quite tiny... If it works well, it might just make somebody's life a bit easier....

Anyways.... Enough of my rambling....

Keep it spinning!!

Regds
Ed

PS.. I am not worried about incoming oil temp to the IP, a bit of positive head pressure does wonders there... the heater is solely to try and get better atomisation of the fuel at the injector by thinning it down with heat as much as is possible... I noticed an interesting phenomenon that put me onto this path. The injector well in the head on my Beastie is normally quite clean with little oil lying in it... without thinking, a few days back, I accidentally over oiled the rockers quite extensively... so much that the well was filled with oil... I won't mention how it happened, but suffice it to say that no squirt oil can was used.... the interesting thing I noted was with the oil present, the injector was much hotter to the touch and things seemed to be burning a bit better.... can't say if it was imagination or fact... let's see what transpires with the preheater in place....

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 29, 2015, 12:32:01 PM
Hey Guys,

Another 2 day update on "barbie for boys" ... otherwise known as dressing up a Listeroid!

Yesterday, after seeing how the beast was running on virtually straight WMO, I ran the day tank empty and filled it up with 30L of sump gunk... She ran fine, albeit just a tad smokier than usual, so all appears well... or at least as well as can be with the cr@p I am feeding her...

Today, after shutting down on WMO last night, she was quite hard to start, this was expected, as the gunk needs a bit of pre-warming before it atomises properly.... No major problem, the starter is 100% duty cycle rated and powered by utility power, or donkey screamer power.... I am trying to avoid a Dino shutdown and startup if I can at all help it... and so far it seems OK....

In an effort to get as much heat to the injector/fuel that I can, I have changed the bolt holding the brass preheater to the CS plug from MS to a brass stud, bottoming in the threaded hole in the CS plug which is around 40mm deep.. This immediadely made a felt difference to the preheat temp, I guess about 10C or so... pics can be seen here... http://WWW.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/IDI Chamber Brass Bolt and Lagging/ (http://WWW.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/IDI Chamber Brass Bolt and Lagging/)

This seems to have bettered combustion a bit, once warmed up obviously...  unfortunately, with the lagging installed, I cannot get any real temp reading on it, but suffice it to say, its HOT....

Later today I will throw some more waste oil in the processor and wind up the heater on it... that gives it around a 5kw demand resistive from the thump monster, I will let u all know how it behaves....

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 30, 2015, 08:03:14 AM
Hey Guys,

It was an interesting day yesterday indeed....(Ancient Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times.....)

Thump monster has started to ail..... I suspect that the exhaust is in need of a good decarboning, in fact I am certain of it! Monster ran reasonably well, but power was definitely down, it was only able to make 80% of the design power on the WMO while processing fuel.... I can tell by the exhaust sound that there are a few "restrictions" in the flow... Gone is the crisp sound at tail end, now a subtle thump.... Engine temps are up in the uncomfortably high areas and the output power is down. Putting this in perspective though, this is near enough 1600Hrs at last count, only major failure experienced was the head gasket which gave trouble from day one... No real decarboning has been done on the engine internals or head/exhaust, barring a minor bit of crown scraping to measure squish when the head gasket was replaced. Only other decarboning that I can remember doing on a semi regular basis has been the injector tip....

Of interest is the fact that at low head temperature, exhaust carbon buildup seemed to be able to be "flushed" with a heavy water injection run. With the higher head temps, the carbon buildup seems to be of harder and more dense nature - WI does not loosen it so easily. It may be co-incidental that the power drop off/performance loss occurred simultaneously with the use of WMO straight run, but I think not. I am under the impression that the exhaust was partially clogged pre starting the heavy WMO run, and the additional carbon/ash expelled in a higher concentration did a buildup trick way faster than expected.

Coinciding with this buildup is the fact that the "trials" are about to draw to an end. This engine has been used as a test bed, to see what I can throw at it, the mods required to keep it running, the reliability of the unit, the repair and attention required to keep it ticking over too....

Lets see what the day brings....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed

PS - Latest update... I am now processing the final batch of fuel for what looks to be the year - It consists of 90% reclaimed diesel with drum washings from the WMO drums and processing plant making up the last 10% - This last 60 to 70 L will go into the last drum of de-watered sump-gunk for the last bit of fuel I will be running it on before I decarbon the plumbing system. Interestingly, today the power is slightly up on yesterday, if anything, I would have expected the warm weather (around 27C air temp) to have caused a bit of a power drop from yesterday... Goes to show, interesting times...

The performance/power has dropped now to below 4kw - 3.9kw to be precise - The original design spec was a nominal 4-5kw targeting 5kw if possible. This power output was largely attained, with the engine and genhead in "new" condition.... Peak instantaneous power of around 7.5kw is available from inertia store, but the sustained power output of 5kw is no longer possible - in rough figures, this would equate to around 10hp at the flywheel. Currently, it is running around the 8hp mark, or just under, giving an output of 3.9kw sustained max.

To recap - the engine has been down-rated from 1000rpm to 750rpm, at best it would be able to deliver(by estimate) around 2/3 to 3/4 of the design output of 12hp - ie 8 to 9Hp... so, in all, its still not doing too badly!

The unit is able to start and run on 100% WMO - Do I think its worth it? .... Possibly.... Yes.... if you have an unlimited supply of *free* fuel - this will cost you though, in time and effort - cleaning the fuel/finding the right injection timing to suit your batch of fuel(the timing required does change depending on the make up of the fuel...)/Setting up a water injection system to hold carbon deposits at bay/setting up an injector pre-heater for more efficient burn... and above all, getting the most out of the fuel you can by reclaiming exhaust heat/radiator heat as well....

Is it a lot of work... Yes.... Is it ongoing work.... Yes .... Is it a system that you can leave to the missus to run while you are away.... probably no... (but its one hell of a conversation piece with all sorts of fun!!)

Is it a viable alternative to on-grid living? ....


My opinion.....


Wait for it...


NO.... (Not if you have all the resources at your doorstep and the costs are not exorbitant....)


Is it viable to off-grid living? ....


My opinion.....


Wait for it...


YES .... (Damn....Have I been standing to close to the exhaust and inhaling too many fumes?)


If there is no grid connection for you, if you are out in the backwoods/desert/middle of bugger all and your day consists of trying to stay alive and make yourself a little more comfy for the cold night ahead.... This could be a viable way of doing it... Cheap too if you have access to WMO/WVO that people are begging to get rid of... The actual maintenance on these units is reasonably straight forward, only basic tools are required and if you know what you are getting into and can make provision for it, this is probably a way to go about it.. As a straight genhead, not worth it - as a cogen system, definitely worth it.... as a sole source of energy.... get 2... for the day you break an arm/leg and cant go and attend to the daily running chores... If possible, run it hard for a short period and use some form of energy storage to keep you going the other 22hrs of the day.... In suburbia, retrofitting the average power-hungry household....well... only you can decide.....

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: dieselspanner on November 30, 2015, 05:57:08 PM
Hi Ed

A thread well worth following.

As Mr Prachett said "Wisdom comes from experience, experience is often a result of lack of wisdom"

Looks like I'm going to benefit from all of yours, my 6/1 cylinder head, the last bit of the refurb, got back from the machine shop in the UK today.

Thanks for sharing the results of all your efforts.

Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: Tom on November 30, 2015, 07:02:19 PM
Those are pretty much the conclusions I came to during my WMO experiments. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on November 30, 2015, 09:52:07 PM
Hey Tom and Stef,

Hope u guys had some interesting reading! It was fun writing it as I was doing it, something that I didn't get a chance to do way back when...

Stef, I have always maintained, when a person is born, they get issued with two buckets... one is labled "luck" and is full.... the other is labled "experience" and its empty... the trick is to finish your life, ending up with a full bucket of experience and just a little luck left over!

Tom, I was actually well aware, maybe well is too familiar a term, let's say I was pretty sure as to what the outcome would be, but nowhere that I saw, was there a reasonably well documented log of events that was relatively easy to read,  particularly for the newbie who knows little technically, but has the zest and gumption to want to give it a try... There are oodles of very technical articles that would scare the beginner away just from the length of words used... I hope I have put together some entertaining reading in the log that will encourage newer peeps to the diesel hobby world to  actually pull finger out of rear orifice and stop talking about it and "go do it" ... in all the playing around, unless you do something really silly, like no oil or coolant, rev the guts out of it or try and run it on nitroglycerine, these engines will be tolerant and forgiving... they will let you know (generally) well before they break by waving the smoke/rattle/boil flag.... if you keep running it while its warning you things are going awry, well, it will become an expensive mistake.....

As you might have noticed, this is not the first diesel I have played with, but it certainly is the first low revving single I have played with in many, many years...  The first single I cut my teeth on was way back in the late 60 early 70`s, I was knee high to a grasshopper then... I got a crash course from an old farm hand whose job it was to keep the green machine running ... it was pretty much his full time job... That is what originally opened my eyes to the tolerance these machines had to unskilled maintenance... The workbench was a sand floor and parts got wiped off before getting reassembled if they were lucky...

Its been good fun doing the mods, on a reactive and proactive basis, some things just need to be better, like governors, and balancing of course, and some things just need to be changed if you play around with "funny" fuels...

I am probably going to scrounge around for some more WMO to play with... so you haven't heard the last of me yet I don't think... I will keep Thump Monster running for a while yet, but not as much as I have... it has been running at least 10 to 15 hours a day so far, without a break... with the exception of one weekend in August when I went away for a hunting expedition...I will probably cut run time down to around 4 hours a day just for shits and giggles... it has become a bit of a "landmark" over the last few months and I wouldnt like to disappoint the neighbours... Lol....

As a waste oil disposal tool, I don't think you can beat it! Especially when the by products are hot water and a nice rhythmic beat... the number of mates that stop and visit, go silent, close other eyes and remark "this reminds me of......" These things are memories, long forgotten, that a simple machine brings back.... Money just can't buy.....

Anyways.... Enough of my rambling....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed


Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: mike90045 on December 01, 2015, 07:13:03 AM
Quote
I suspect that the exhaust is in need of a good decarboning

So, I know how to open the head, scrape carbon off and such.  But the exhaust  ?  A long bottle brush ?   Take it a part, bang the carbon out ?  I do see "soot" building up on the ground outside the muffler, so I know it's blowing some through the system, but how to clean it out ?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: dieselspanner on December 01, 2015, 07:39:55 AM
Mike,

Have a look at 'Starfire's posts, theres a bit in one of them about cleaning the exhaust system out with oxy / acetylene, honest!

Cheers Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 01, 2015, 11:22:50 AM
Hi Mike and Stef,

There's 2 ways I have cleaned out carbon successfully, both are really dirty jobs.... wear lotsa old clothes and put plastic sheet down to catch the debris for the first....

1) Use a boiler fire-tube brush and rod - you can get them quite easily, if you like, I can post pics of what they look like... They come in specific sizes for the tubes you want to clean... They are basically "long bottle brushes" made of steel.... They work very well on straight sections of tubes, but they wont tolerate any elbows or bends.... Also, if you have a lot of gummy/sticky/slimy residue (think badly running 2-stroke) they are a pain in the ass to use.... They work best on "dry" carbon deposits...

2) This will clean out the tube regardless of type of carbon... but.... it is a very smokey and not so healthy way to do it.... stand upwind, at least 10000000km away from any EPA agent and do as follows while wearing safety mask, hazmat suit, breathing apparatus, safety goggles, and any other safety equipment you can buy....

Warm up the end of the exhaust with a burner till the carbon starts glowing.... inject oxygen and the carbon will ignite in an annular ring on the inside of the pipe, too much oxygen and it starts backfiring, too much oxygen and it burns too hot and burns through the exhaust walls, too little and the ring cools down, you will see the exhaust starting to glow as the ring travels along the inside, keep feeding just enough oxygen to keep it going, but not so much that it starts to get too hot... Lots of flames, fumes, smoke, and metal oxides exit the other end of the pipe while you are doing it...... Not good stuff for the environment or living creatures in general.... but, it is fun and very spectacular.....

Also...

Come to think of it, there is a third way.... build a big fire, throw the exhaust into it, get it nice and hot, all carbon turns to ash...... blow the ash out the next day once its cooled down..... or next month if you had a really big fire going..... This is probably the most "clean" way of doing it that I have come across.... no solvents like carbon-tet are used that have to be disposed of later.... also, if the fire is hot enough, very little carbon is airborne relatively speaking...

Bonus feature - once made red hot and cooled down, a light brushing with a wire brush is all thats needed to get it ready for its Xmas paint job!!

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed

PS - use anything I say with caution, at your own risk!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 02, 2015, 06:45:31 PM
Hi guys....

A moment of silence please.......

.

.

.

Thump Monster died of terminal big end knockology today... I have laid him to rest in the morgue.... his organs will probably be harvested to customize Son of Thump Monster, or he may be reincarnated as ThumpMonsterV2...

The evening run yesterday was fine, power was a little down, but nothing to be alarmed about...  Power has been a bit on the low side since the 30th... 2 days ago.. I ascribed it to an exhaust carbon issue, how wrong I was! It was more than likely the start of the big end failure, interestingly enough, there was little to no unusual sounds from the beast while the failure was in progress... But then again, I am half deaf anyway, so maybe it was there but I did not hear it... whatever......

What actually happened...
This afternoon at 16h00 I started the beast to do the evening's cogen, all was reasonably OK, no major things were noted... I gave it the usual few minutes to get the thermo syphon rolling then switched to load... this was around 2.5kw, nothing major ... there was a little smokiness, as usual, as the top end was not fully warmed up as yet....  within about 15 minutes, there was what sounded like a bit of a diesel knock, but nothing major...  I went and consulted the great spinning oracle to see what was ailing, and while I was in his presence, the bearing collapsed fully.. there was instantly large volumes of smoke from the CC breather, the motor started to labour, and I removed the load... on shutdown, I did the usual checks, close injector pump, listen for knocking... nothing heard..... bring back to rev unloaded, nothing unusual heard, but revs slow to pick up... (at this stage I was still expecting the carbon exhaust clogging) .... close throttle and hit compression relief... nothing major heard, very little difference between compression and non compression spool down... When I checked the crankcase temperature, it was so hot you could not hold your hand on it... and this was after 15 to 30 mins or so of running.... Warning bells...  I popped the CC door off and did a quick visual... All seemed OK, oil level was good.... just lots a smoke and vapours... I spun the beast over on the starter motor with the door off, plenty oil pumping and splashing about... just bloody hot! ... I put on the compression relief and turned the motor over to 90° on the compression stroke and then dropped the relief.... (this gives you a bit of piston resistance to look for play by rocking the crankshaft back and forth) ... On rocking the crankshaft by the flywheel, I saw a LARGE amount of play on the big end bushing.... An alarmingly large amount, guestimatons of .5mm or maybe more....

At that point, I replaced the cover.... cursed the friction gods.... flew the flag at half mast ....  and fetched the surgical tools to extricate the monster from its chassis.... 15min later, or slightly longer... 8 bolts and 3 hose clamps later, TM was on a portable gibbet in route to the morgue for forensic analasys...  (or organ donation.... or the glue factory... oh wait... no hooves... cancel that last one...)

Tomorrow if all goes well, I will set up a theatre to do a post mortem.... possibly even start with the teardown to see what actually happened...

Keep it spinning.... (While I can't...)

Regds
Ed

PS... of all the things I expected to fail... the big end was probably one of the last items on the list.... Rings, cylinder walls, valves were much more likely because of fuel type run... ? Go figure...

Oh... and the exhaust by the way... a light carbon coating, probs no more than 1/2mm thich at entrance from exhaust port... relatively speaking, very little carbon evident at all.... Way different to what I was expecting...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: cujet on December 02, 2015, 09:20:22 PM
Interesting description of the bearing failure. If injection timing is too advanced or unstable, bearing oil cavitation will occur and result in bearing damage. Can you estimate the number of hours on this bearing?

I also have to wonder about oil contamination due to water, or fuel used.

I hope you can simply polish the crank, install a new bearing, change the oil and go on your way.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 02, 2015, 11:58:18 PM
Hey Chris,

Injection was fine, timing wise anyway... got 1600 hrs plus some small change on the bearing, water is not evident, nor is the oil degraded to any large degree.. at startup today anyway.... it was due for an oil change so I have been monitoring the oil condition quite closely...

I am suspect though that there might have been a trapped sand pocket gone unnoticed, which might have opened up and caused the damage... anything is possible, at this stage... another possibility is that a ring collapsed, blow by super heated the crankcase inner, oil thinned and broke down, bearing took a pounding.... that seems most likely at this stage because there was one hell of a lot of blow by all of a sudden... but then again, maybe the blow by has been unnoticed up till now and was only really evident once it was carrying a lot of oil vapour, making it highly visible... interestingly, there was even visible oil vapour coming from below the tappet guide clamp area... this is surely something I wold of seen had it been present previously... there has been no oil leaks which would be indicative of major blow by too...(due to excessive crankcase pressure... on these beasts, anything above about 1/2 atmosphere absolute, causes oil to gush forth... Lol... )

Anyways... enough speculating... let's see what the evidence supports...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: dieselspanner on December 03, 2015, 09:45:48 AM
On a positive note, it gives you the chance to look up Starfire's post on making your own big end bearing shells!

I did it, it's not hard, but thought my crank pin was too far tapered to try them without causing catastphoic damage, so went for a (very expensive, French) regrind.

Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: 38ac on December 03, 2015, 01:18:51 PM
There are some very good bearing failure guides on line complete with pictures. Unfortunately it is my experience that when they get to the stage yours is that barring something obvious it is very hard to determine what started it all and easy to speculate.

It has been fun reading along here with you experiment but truthfully I have been sitting by waiting for the day of reckoning. Your experience here is very similar to what a person can read and what I have experienced with customer engines in the shop. And that is an Indian engine not taken down and thoroughly cleaned and corrected is a 1000-1500 hour engine. Some have gotten lucky and got more hours, most get less, a few lots less. 

For work engines  the economics  largely favor fixing the known problems prior to running them. Yes, it makes for a very expensive engine if you dont do the work yourself but proven over and over again to be a cheaper route than running them as shipped and the very real possibility of having a pile of scrap on your hands at 1000 hours.

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 03, 2015, 03:15:28 PM
Hi Stef,

Been there... even made and recast linear slides for windmill heads in my dim, distant youth.... prefer doing big ends sized and matched by credit card weight now....

I might just, maybe, pull myself out of my metallic years (Gold in the teeth, silver in the hair....and lead in the ass) and make a set for myself.... They are fun to make if you have the time....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 03, 2015, 03:43:50 PM
Hi 38AC,

Agreed, on pretty much all counts... Lets see what the teardown brings to light... I have just been to busy today to play with spanners... Had a stack of "other peoples toys" to fix up and get out of the workshop....

There are a few things that are ringing warning bells in my ears... or is that tinitis... but more on that later...

I am really keen to see what failed and to what extent - not with a feeling of dread, but one of extreme interest - I am familiar with the wear patterns on bearings and bushings .... done quite a few forensics on them things in the past...

Right now I have to go and attend to my batch of baby boa constrictors... the stork arrived late last night....

Cheers for now...

Regds
Ed

Right... between Boas, visitors and supper, not much got done this eve.... Strange how things crop up when there are fun things to do... At least the new boa pups are doing well, 13 more than healthy, 1 weakish and 1 that looks like its going to join my big end bearing... shame, but that's life....

Hopefully tomorrow evening I will get the thumpmonster onto the slab and get the forensics stared...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 04, 2015, 11:05:45 AM
Hi Guys,

Whats better than a Lister(oid).....Simple answer...... 2!

Thumpmonster 2 arrives tomorrow(hopefully) .... I will be putting it straight to COGEN work after the briefest of teardowns and inspections... This will be the interesting part though... The teardown and inspection will be based on the TM1's forensics.... Lets see what happens and what is found.

My previous post remarked on a warning bell I had ringing and I think I know the answer.... Whilst a good hot run does not do these babies any bad, running in the 100 to 110C mark on these engines is in my opinion just a little too hot for full loading. Possibly I am wrong, if anybody can give me information regarding wear as related to prolonged loading at these higher temperatures, it would put my mind at ease...

My reason for these thoughts is that the bulk of the wear and sudden failure seemed to occur over the last while when the engine was running at the higher temperature - my logic tells me that whilst an upper boundary top end temperature is better to good for running less than premium fuels, the lubrication system on the lower end of the motor is not really suited to this. Engine wear around the 85 to 90C mark was progressive, or seemed so, and in line with normal limits. Once temperatures were elevated, combustion seemed better, but lower end and particularly blowby wear increased suddenly... a matter for concern. (Again, possibly I am incorrect - this is just surmising at this stage.)

Methinks a rethink will be in order - a trade off, so as to speak - These are my plans for TM2: Keep head and cylinder in the mid 80-90C temp range, but preheat the injector and fuel to around the 95 to 105C mark to get reasonable combustion. Push the injector pop to around the 2500PSI mark (Was around 2000PSI standard) to aid in atomisation too. Keep a thumb on the diesel knock and monitor(A tuned ear will have to do here, I have no way of measuring this currently). Keep the WI system in place, this has done nothing but good things, the carbon buildups are very low considering the fuels run.

The interesting thing to see, will be the "personality" of TM2 in comparison to TM1 whilst running on the same chassis and setup - could be interesting, very interesting indeed.

On a really nice note for you Lister-Heads out there - It looks like I can get these babies over the counter so as to speak without much problem at all(Today's price is USD1277.27 pre shipping etc for a 12Hp Single CBW 127Bore 139.7Stroke 1000RPM 550KG Engine)... The suppliers I am dealing with seem quite pleasant and helpful... If anybody would like to try and get a unit or two I can put you in touch with the guys (please note: I have no vested interest in the transaction whatsoever)

Anyways... Enough of my rambling....yet again....!

Time to go back to do some work.... work=money=Listers and all things good!!

Keep it spinning....(While I cant!)

Regds
Ed

PS - Here are some pics of what the stork brought for Jez and Leo (mommy and daddy boa) http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Baby Boa Pics 20151204 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Baby Boa Pics 20151204)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: carlb23 on December 04, 2015, 11:51:27 AM
Ed,

While i dont run my 6/1 on a regular basis as it is just for backup. I did have an issue with mine overheating when a cooling fan failed.  The engine seized up at around 225F.  Normally it runs 190 degrees F.  After the engine cooled for about 15 minutes it again spun over freely.  The piston/cylinder clearance had gotten too tight as i could see the rod try to push and pull the piston when moving the flywheels. I started the engine once it had cooled some and fixed the cooling fan.  It ran fine but since it had not been apart since 2007 I figured I would just go through it. Out of an abundance of caution I tore the engine down. After careful inspection everything looked fine.  There was a little wear on the big end bearing but nothing to be concerned about, but, i replaced them anyway since i had several spears. I polished the crank pin and gave the cylinder a quick honing, put it back together and it is running fine.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 04, 2015, 03:44:10 PM
Hi Carl,

That was a close call.... Converting to C that brings seize point to about 107C... TM1 is well worn, at one stage I had it operating around the 105C mark as part of the trials - The top end, once well worn in, or almost worn out depending on how you look at it, could handle the 105 mark, albeit with an increased wear rate... At 87C(190F) they seem quite happy to run... At 90C(195F) they seem to run better still...At 95C they handle grease and peanut fuel better(well almost peanut butter ... Lol) ... As you step up the temps in increments as I did, they run better and better, but wear faster and faster...

The elevated EGT combined with WI made this baby a champion around the 100C mark... It performed very, very well, ingesting most things I threw at it with ease, minimum carbon buildups too... The problem with these temps though, is being able to regulate them accurately with minimal electronic control - It is easy to put a PLC onto the beast and control temps accurately, but that is not always within the means of the average DIY user... Hence the playing around with the temp switches as mentioned previously... Also, with the elevated running temps, there is very little room for error, as running at the higher temp range, with 100% glycol, boil off does not give as dramatic a "temperature control" as you would get with water, or with a water based unpressurised cooling system.... It is one thing to have a beast ticking over at a high temperature on minimal or part loading - it is a completely different creature when the temps are high and it is pulling full or near full load... That was the demise of TM1 I reckon... High load and high temps for extended time periods... The lube system on these monsters are not really designed for these conditions - Anything from an external oil cooler/filter through to thicker oil would have assisted with keeping the big end in shape, but that was not the object of the exercise either(not for me anyway)...

In your instance, although overheated, I surmise it happened quite quickly and the upper engine bound up....Lubricants would have been over temp, but not to the degree that they broke down... In the case of TM1, I am surmising that the final run(combined with the last bit of the previous days running) caused the lower section of the engine to heat up dramatically, breaking down the lube properties of the oil to a degree that the big end bearing failed... Teardown still has to happen though, so all of this is "pie in the sky" at this stage, but there have been some votes cast, so lets see what or if I can accurately determine to be the root cause of the failure is. (Incidentally, I recorded the external crankcase, main bearing carriers and crankcase cover at around the 102C mark... This was just after shutting down...The inside temp was quite a few degrees above that, but the oil was not at boiling point as yet... It was difficult to determine if the oil vapor that was being expelled from the CC breather was blow-by related or from the splashed lube contacting the piston/liner ....)

Hold thumbs - not everybody is prepared to run a beast like this on a "lets break it" basis to see how far it can be pushed...Lol

Keep it Spinning....(While I cant!)

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: BruceM on December 04, 2015, 05:10:04 PM
Very interesting thread, Ed, thanks very much for the fun reading.

I have doubts that oil overheating was the primary cause here, as the sump oil in these beasts is notoriously low temperature.

Since you describe the crankcase as very hot, friction is the more likely source, and I would suspect main bearing failure (edit- I meant connecting rod big end bearing) as a primary cause.  This could have been precipitated by sand damage, as you wisely suggested, as the upper main bearing surface is particularly vulnerable to sand dripping down from the piston and conrod since this is it's normal lube path.  (I've had this problem myself due to sabotage via black hard grease filled with casting sand stuck up under the piston crown where it could not be seen without removing conrod from piston.)  Checking the upper bearing surface regularly is my best advice for catching sand damage before it goes critical.  The lower surface typically does not show this, which is annoying since it is much easier to check.

Other likely suspects for your TM1 are defective connecting rod large end bearings (I had several sets that spalled very badly with very few running hours), and poor machining of the connecting rod, such that you have either highly variable clearance along the bearing or with a bit of break in,  wildly out of spec bearing clearance (I've had this also.)  Machining of connecting rods seems to be a problem, among others, in Rajkot. I've gotten two that were defective.

I'll be very interested in your forensic analysis on TM1.  After my experience on my 6/1 Listeroid, I would never put one of these into service without a full tear down and crankcase strip/blast/grind.  I do understand for your experimental purposes why you'd want to omit that, as it is very time consuming, but it could also taint your research results.  I hope you will find a clear cut cause in your forensic analysis.

Best Wishes,
Bruce



Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 04, 2015, 09:23:26 PM
Hi Bruce,

Possibly not the primary cause, as you say, but I have been doing a lot of thinking and supposing... What about this scenario, it certainly fits the symptoms:

Compression ring(s) collapse, engine output power drops, rack opens to try and compensate... blow by worsens, and large volumes of combustion bypass at high temp slips past the piston, heating the internals and lube oil... oil thins accordingly, starts to break down, friction increases with the thinned oil, more heat is generated, the situation worsens.....

The main bearings were still turning smoothly after the beast was shut down, so I don't think there was any failure on he TRB side of things... normally you can feel or hear a rumble from them when they are shot. I have also been doing a bit of what if, regarding sand in the big end... I do not think it likely at this stage(but I could be wrong) ... Here is the reasons for my reversal of opinion ... I have installed a fairly fine pickup filter on the pump inlet... way larger in surface area than the original, it occupies most of the sump apron just below the weir.... the entire sieve  is below oil level  when running so oil starvation is unlikely... the oil pump picks up the oil and delivers it to the main TRB's as well as to a centrifugal ring on the far side of the crankshaft... If I observed correctly when I did the initial brief check over on this machine, this centrifugal ring feeds oil under pressure to the big end journal... if I remember correctly, the splash lube was only for the cam , gears and followers as well as the cylinder walls and piston skirt etc... maybe I am wrong, but I will check...

If this is the case, casting sand would be well tolerated by this beast from a big end perspective...little or no sand could make its way into the journal from the splash lubing against the pressure lubing...

As to defective bearing shells or machining, of this I am also not too sure as this beast has over 1600  hrs on it... but hey, anything is possible... You said that you have had failures after very few running hours... approximately how many if I might ask... I would like to compare experience please...

In general, TM was fairly well put together, nothing glaringly obvious was bad, my opinion of the failure at this stage of running is pretty much that I pushed it a bit far... particularly with the high temp trials... that's when things seemed to start going downhill quickly.... but as said before, let's pull it apart and see what made it go skew!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: BruceM on December 05, 2015, 05:04:03 AM
" If I observed correctly when I did the initial brief check over on this machine, this centrifugal ring feeds oil under pressure to the big end journal... if I remember correctly, the splash lube was only for the cam , gears and followers as well as the cylinder walls and piston skirt etc... maybe I am wrong, but I will check..."

Not if your TM1 machine is any of the common Listeroids- the big end journal is oiled by splash and drip down from above, making it a dandy sand catcher, and making the upper bearing surface where sand damage shows first.

The Listeroid TRBs seem to eat a lot of sand with no problems, my originals are still going strong despite the sand/grease sabotage under my piston crown.  TRB's, the 4 (big) bolt head, and splash only lube are all Rajkot "improvements" you won't hear me complaining about; I think they are all perfectly OK, though I don't mind the original (Rajkot clone) configuration either.  (Having worked on both.)

 Sorry I confused things- I didn't think your failure had anything to do with crankshaft TRBs or Bush bearings, I meant the connecting rod big end bearing shells.  Mine showed spalling (white metal flaking off at center of top surface) in just 100 hrs. I switched to hollow dipper and a special order of solid upper bearing (no grooves, no oil entry hole on top) and this problem was solved.  I suspect just poor quality bearings, as Lister ran those same design bearings for a long, long time.

Looking forward to your inspection results!  A listeroid murder mystery...









Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 05, 2015, 11:22:22 PM
Hi Guys, you too Bruce...

TM is defs a TRB clone with a centrifugal big end oil feed... Tesrdown pics are at http://WWW.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Teardown 20151205 TM1 (http://WWW.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Teardown 20151205 TM1)

I found the cause of the failure.... a badly brazed oil feed pipe and an unbrazed joint that feeds it... take a look at pic number 577 to see the assembly as it should be... pic 583 is similar... pic 584 is what it looked like when I opened the door now that TM is out of its chassis... the horizontal feed pipe was pushed into the end mounting by about 4mm, not press fitted, simply a push fit... this should probe have been brazed in place to prevent it vibrating out... what is not shown is that this pipe is fed from the opposite side fitting, and it can slip back into the fitting as well, blocking or at least obscuring the feed to the LHS bearing too... if there is a bit of splash, the TRBs can handle it, but not the big end by the looks of it... pics 578 to 582 show how the bad brazing of the vertical pipe has allowed it to drop against the rhs TRB cage... this ground off a small amount of the end cap which has a horizontal hole in it to feed the bearing and the thrower ring, the rhs hole was closed by the bearing cage contact, all filings were pushed out the lhs hole and into the thrower ring... this fed all the filings into the big end journal probably, if not a good part of them anyway... the filings had their way with the big end, there was a bit of a bearing knock that developed, and with just that little extra vibration, the cross feed pipe probably detached.... good bye bearing halves and big end...  all of this probably transpired in less than 15 mins of running....

Pic 592 onwards show the big end damage, it is difficult to judge by the pics the extent of the scoring... suffice it to say that a quick polish is NOT going to sort it out... pic 596 and 597 clearly show the entry point for the abrasive particles, if they were from splashed sand, they would be in 2 rows concentrated either side of center feed, the feed holes are present on this conrod too.

The fines pickup filter I have in place on the pump pickup has done a stirling job of preventing the metal from entering the lube system.. not that it helped though... the metal contamination was introduced at probably the worst point possible... into the centri feeder just before the big end...  really shitty luck!

Incidentally, there is no sand to be seen in the  sump apron, the thick red gunk the sump has been painted with is probably holding it at bay...Lol...

There is a little wear on the rings and cylinder, but thet are smooth, with no scoring as such... there is a ridge on the liner, this I was expecting, but it is not too bad (haven't measured it yet), certainly not the worst I have seen... of concern though, is the top ring groove, it has worn substantially, probs about .1mm slack in it, I might have to open it up and put a shim in above the ring....

The walls of the piston look good so far, a couple of tiny, very tiny spots that have been galled by metal debris, but nothing that can't be polished out...

The top end seems excellent, with only a very tiny amount of carbon evident.... strange... I expected more...

Cam gears look good, followers and cam are fine, minimal backlash or wear... Main bearing are excellent, no rumble or roughness evident... looks like the big end did a great job of catching the crap!

Small end bushing is clean and well fitting, just don't like the idea of it being a split bush though...

Gudgeon pin is loose in the piston, not tight, but no real slack either... no hesitation in reusing it...

Oil pump and feeds are perfect, excepting the bad standpipe and last feed joint...

Incidentally, pic 563 shows the level of the oil is up to the weir... so defs plenty was splashing round and available...

Pic 569 clearly shows the stand pipe resting against the bearing cage pre cleaning and blowing out with paraffin...

Well, beside the big end, everything has held up very well....

If anybody can or has spotted anything that i might have missed, or messed up with my deductions, please chip in and give me another perspective....

Goes to show... pie in the sky is pie in the sky.... all of my votes I cast previously were not even close!

Keep it spinning.... mine can't!

Regds
Ed

PS... cmon lads.... gimme your viewpoint on the debacle...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: BruceM on December 06, 2015, 01:36:19 AM
That's a new one for me, Ed.  I've never seen or read of a Listeroid with big end bearing oil feed through a hollow crank, and I've been following both forums for about 10+ years now.  Has anyone else seen this before???

Alas, your photo link didn't work for me, even copied and pasted as the url. 

So sad that besides some expected ring wear from your WMO use, everything else was looking good until the oil feed pipe slipped against the TRB and provided "grist for the mill".  So to speak. 

Sorry about your crank scoring, that really sucks.

I think I like my older Metro 6/1 with TRBs, only splash/hollow dipper lube more and more; simple is good.

I also wanted to thank you, Ed,  for your writing on water injection.  I've had a recent loss of power, and after reading Mr X's thread on water injection and reading of your success with it even for WMO, I grabbed a spray bottle and after getting her warmed up and under a decent load, I started spraying into the intake.  My helper said there was a BIG cloud of black soot shooting out the exhaust when I first started spraying.  It worked, and now she will carry my normal full load again, saving me a tear down for decarbonizing. 

At about 3000 engine hrs total this winter, I'm getting a bit more gray in the  exhaust and more black smoke under heavy load.  Burns 3/4 quart of oil in 200 hrs.  So I guess it's about time for a tear down; I'm still on the original rings despite the early sand trouble.  It's a liner design so I may just do a new liner as well as new rings and valves since they are fairly cheap.  I want to get her up to snuff for the next decade of running.










Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: 38ac on December 06, 2015, 01:54:42 AM
For some reason I cannot open the pictures but seems to me that the  centrifugal ring system of oiling the rod is a trait of the GM90 type engines?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: tiger on December 06, 2015, 02:45:57 AM
on the pics go back to the python pics top of page hit directory then pics dated 12/5
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: cujet on December 06, 2015, 03:18:00 AM
Bad link for pics
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: BruceM on December 06, 2015, 03:55:02 AM
I was able to navigate the filesystem and find the photos... the crank big end journal sure is well grooved now.   :(

Is TM1 a GM90 then?  Weren't the GM90's also direct injection?

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 06, 2015, 10:20:10 AM
Hi Guys'

Just corrected the link ... damn spelling corrector... you should be able to get into it now...

Pleasure Bruce... there has been so much BS about WI on the forums, I felt it was about time to put it to bed with a practical recount... hope it helps u guys out there... it certainly did for me... it was very impressive to see mid to long term ongoing results...

As to ThumpMonster1 being a GM90, I can't say... the labels on mine read Opex ... I think there was a reference to  another brand that was on the instruction manual that I downloaded for it when I was looking for clearance specs.. I will see it I can scratch it out and will give u a link to it... EDIT... Found it... here it is...http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Manual/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Manual/) The first page has a ghost image of the cover of the manual from when it was scanned... Mercury ... it is visible in reverse print... It seems to match most of TM1 barring the misprints...

Thumpmonster2 should be here later today, just got word that its en route here now ...

Take a look at the pics if u can and see if you think its worth approaching importer for a warranty claim... 4 months on a crank is a bit short I would say... especially because it failed in the way it did...

Keep it spinning..

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 06, 2015, 11:54:35 AM
Hi guys

ThumpMonster2  has just arrived, gonna pull it apart quickly and check the innards, then transfer the bulk of the external mods to him and see if I can get him spinning...

Before anybody shouts at me, .... yes, I will scope for sand etc, but from 4 months of hard running on TM1, the internal coatings seem to hold pretty much everything at bay... let's see how he behaves...

(I will of course give that oil line a really close looking at before starting!)

Regds
Ed

Part ii

Right, so 4 hrs of playing around later, this is what has been accomplished...

TM2 has been prepped in his most basic form... all innards have been checked out, bearing clearances are in order, head and all other bolts have been torqued down, mods have been transfered from TM1 and fitted, oil has been filled, oil pump and circulation has been checked and is working fine, IP side flywheel has been moved out by about 20mm to allow for easy governor link access, GiB keys have been checked tight, GiB key puller has been made... and it works too... tappets set and checked, injector checked and torqued down, injector pipe replaced as the original was a little shabby and out of shape, inlet and exhaust manifold studs cleaned up, coolant flanges removed and one port needs to be opened a little because of flash, crank runout has been checked and is in spec, ......

Then, for fun, I pulled the flywheels off TM1,.... this took most of the time actually....prepping TM2 only took about an hour or so... on the whole, these units seem pretty much OK, very little sand, in fact nothing found at all, mostly dust... the innards seem to have a very tough epoxy coat that seals it very well.... unfortunately due to time constraints, there were no pictures taken during the check over, but suffice it to say, there was nothing spectacular... the most spectacular items were possible transport damage... the governor arm and injector line were slightly bent, probs from tying down on an ldv for the 400km trip home... nothing serious.... a quick bit of cold blacksmithing got them smooth again...Lol...

Sometime a little later, I pulled the compression rings from TM1 and stuck them in the bore to check gaps... the top ring is well worn with about a 1/4" gap... the second is a bit less worn with about 1/8" gap, the third has about 1/16" gap, top oil ring has collapsed and barely clears the piston outer perimeter, possibly it is carbon jammed... the bottom oil control ring looks perfect and is in good shape... the progressive wear is what has been expected, what I was not expecting though is the large wear on the ring groove on the top... this should be quite easy to work round with a spacer shim inserted above the ring....

One thing I noticed is that the top oil control ring is spring assisted and ported, the bottom oil ring is just ported... anybody have similar?

Another thing noted was that TM2 has an oil dipper flat on to the oil whilst TM1 was knife edged to the oil... Comments?

I am looking at installing double flywheels on TM2 eventually, but what I am going to do is rebalance TM1 fully once the crank debacle is sorted out... it will be interesting to see how TM2 runs balance wise.. TM1 was a bit of a pain until I got it smoothed out a bit... I might just pull the wheels off TM2 just before I mount it up and see how they are... much easier to balance these beasts when the wheels are in spec...

Anyways... enough rambling yet again....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 07, 2015, 08:25:32 PM
Hey guys,

A minor update to the TM series...

Windy, dusty, then rainy.... TM and brother can have a days rest.... Tomorrow is another day!

Did speak to the suppliers though... hopefully things will be sorted... just gotta wait and see...

About all that was really accomplished was cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning... should be able to put the TM1 flywheels on a balancing stand soon to see how they look... pity someone borrowed mine, can't remember who it was... too long ago... oh well, let's just make another one...

TM2 is looking good... I am considering putting on an external oil filter, was wondering if anybody has got any info on the oil change intervals once it has been installed... has it been worth it? Has it extended the change interval required, or has it just been for peace of mind?

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 08, 2015, 09:40:44 AM
Hey Guys,

When a day starts good, and only gets better!!

Got called out this morning to sort out a problem animal on a neighboring farm.... A vicious, runaway, wild and untamed sheep that had decided it was not going to be on the lunch menu.. 75m... sorted... mutton for lunch...(for the neighbor anyway..) :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Then called the suppliers, they are sending a new crank, TRB's, Big End Bushing, Head and base gaskets, and a few other odds and ends....  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

They took a look at the pictures sent and started picking the stock from their spares warehouse.... what a pleasure to deal with these lads, awesome!!

Should have the spares here either just before or just after the weekend... <happy dance><happy dance><happy dance>

Now.... Here's the question.... What would you do? - I have a brand new engine 99% prepped to install and run on WMO.... I have the original engine, a couple of days away from being fully rebuilt to run on WMO....  ??? ??? ??? Which would you install ??? ??? ???

Keep it spinning!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: carlb23 on December 08, 2015, 11:51:39 AM
I would probably wait and rebuild TM1 and put it back to work and see how long it lasts before needing repair again.  This will give you a better idea of what to expect since the failure of TM1 appears to be the oil feed pipe.   I would have TM2 at the ready if TM1 fails again.  Did you check the bore on TM1?  I am a little surprised to see that much ring wear @ 1600 hours.

Based on what you have seen i would think a freshening up of TM1 should be wise after about 1500 hours.  Maybe the wear which seems to be excessive will get better but why take a chance.    A re-ringing and big end check at 1500 is what i would do.   I think a good WI schedule is a must in this situation.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: billswan on December 08, 2015, 01:23:40 PM
hello guys

I looked through the pix of the failure and have to say the engine is built with the same oil feed ring that my old 10/1 had. I believe that engine was built in about 2007. So there is someone over in india building listeroids with drilled cranks for crank pin  oiling. It is to bad listerenginegallery is dead as there were some pix there of my old engine and that oiling ring on it's crankshaft.

Billswan
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 08, 2015, 03:12:38 PM
Hey Carl,

You are thinking the same way I am... but.... I want to try something that they used to do way back when, when fuels were not the greatest quality....

The bore hasn't been mic'd yet, this time I that I have stripped it, I will probably do that and check over the topside when I have done the bottom end up... All depends on the beer level on the day I grab the spanner set...Lol..

What I am interested in trying, is cutting and double ringing the top and maybe second groove, the top groove is well worn from the sump gunk I am burning..... I would rate that, at the previous head off gasket on swop-over that i did, I checked the bore quickly whilst in place, and there was a bit of wear at the top end(I expected this), a ring set would last about 1500hrs on average based on the wear that i see on the top rings now...What I am keen to try is to see how the double ring scenario copes with the wear and how it affects the cylinder wear too... Do you recall if anybody has tried the double-top and second route yet?

One engine that was like this with 2 rings per groove, was the Paisley, if I remember correctly.... They were low revving engines, even by Lister standards, I think they topped off around 300rpm... not sure though....

At the very least I will have to install a ring shim on 1 and 2, there is just too much play in the groove for my liking....

Having looked at the crank and supports up close, I have a gut feel that these thumpers have more than enough strength in the crank department for a speed downgrade yet further from the 750 I am running to 500 and then a double up in the wheels department... I really gotta get a second set of wheels.... no, make that a third set... I don't wanna strip TM2's turny bits, he is still way too handsome... (the reason for the speed downgrade - harder to burn oils can be coped with.... and singles sound oh so nice running down low!)

Again I ramble on.....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 08, 2015, 04:18:22 PM
Hey Bill,

I am trying to think where I first saw a splash lube engine with an oil collector/feeder for the big end... it was around 1970 or so, and the engine was quite second hand by then.... I think it was a 'JAP' engine, not Japanese, but tradename... I was sorting and building up a few engines of various types and makes at the time so don't take it as gospel that it was... What I do remember though was the absence of oil pump and the splash catch disk was a disk that fitted the crank quite closely...as opposed to the ring in the roids we have...

If u can post me a couple of pics of your one's innards, I would be interested to see the similarities....

I am not convinced of the ring feed versus the disk feed, the chances of the pump feed actually hitting the ring and not over or undershooting it are quite good.... might be worthwhile to do a bit of investigation in this department to see if matters can be improved... possibly fabricate and add a hollow dipper at the very least too...I doubt that too much oil would be a problem, way better than too little.... Nowhere have I come across information regarding standpipe position relative to the bearing/ring... too close or far and it will miss the target.... It would also be interesting to see how and if the ring picks up much oil from the splashing.... It obviously does work, as can be seen in my bearing failure pics, filings did a good job in line with the lube hole in the big end... They must have been carried in there by the pulses from the oil pump....

This is the great thing about these engines... so much to play with, without breaking the bank... (too badly)

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 10, 2015, 08:52:19 PM
Hey guys,

I think I found my big end bearing! ... Its coated my oil strainer!

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Bearing Deposits on Oil Strainer/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Bearing Deposits on Oil Strainer/)

I Reckon I could almost make a new one out of the recovered debris! The strainer you see in the picture is about 1/4 the mesh size of the original POS... I think it did a good job of clearing out the chaff in the dying minutes of running... there was no debris found in either main bearing found... The filter originates from a hydraulic power pack I had lying around, in fact the tank of which has been repurposed as a day tank for TM1....The strainer only just fits into the apron, and gets screwed onto the pickup from the inside... once in place, it has about an inch of oil above it and with the corrugated sides, oil flowing over the top, catches any debris before it hits the lower reaches of the sump... when you drain oil, the debris can be clearly seen, giving an indicator of the extent of the cleanup and mopping that is required...

For you gents who are not familiar with the centrifugal oil feed for the big end, here are a few pics to show its placing and basic construction in relation to the journal end.. http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Crank Oil Catcher/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Crank Oil Catcher/) ... Simple, but effective...

Now... I should be running the TM... but I am awaiting the replacement spares... this is a dangerous thing... the devil makes work for idle hands... and minds!

Has anybody out there played with synchronized generators before.... I did it way back and I am considering doing it again... I have 3 basic choices to play with... picture this.... 2 identical 12hp roids... 2 gen heads that are almost Identical ... one Petter PH1 in reasonable condition.. quite a few single and 3 phase induction motors that can be driven by the Petter or one roid to act as an inductive genhead supplementing the prime mover for peaks... or,.... make up 2 primes, one as a fallback.... or.... one prime on a gen head, with the other prime down rated further as a synchro with the gen head, one prime running bulk of the load, second brought online for extra heavy loads, this second capable of overnight running on its own to sustain the household and servers to run minimal loads, with the Petter available purely as a 'booster'  inductive gen incapable of solo running, but there to boost either of the other two should the need arise...

So many choices! And..... so much fun! Wonder what I am going to blow up tomorrow........?

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: carlb23 on December 10, 2015, 10:55:00 PM
I see smoke in your future, but i hope i'm wrong.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: billswan on December 11, 2015, 01:39:54 AM
ed

You asked me to post up a pix of my old 10/1. Well after seeing your pix in the quote below i see no reason to dig for my old pictures as your crank and oil ring look identical to what was in my engine.

By the way I also run mine on WMO mixed with some diesel or gasoline and as best as i can remember i believe by some where around 1600 to 2000 hours it became so worn out compression wise it required and electric motor to spin it fast enough to get it to start. Camshaft finally  broke and i pushed it aside and began using  a larger metro to make power and heat in my shop.


For you gents who are not familiar with the centrifugal oil feed for the big end, here are a few pics to show its placing and basic construction in relation to the journal end.. http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Crank Oil Catcher/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Crank Oil Catcher/)

quote]
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 11, 2015, 08:57:22 AM
Hi Carl,

Been there, done it.... not much smoke either! The trick is to get really high tech - use a light globe between the 2 live lines coming from the primes - Not the energy saver ones, the good old incandescent's....

Here's how you do it:
Set up the alternator voltage outputs as close as you can to each other using the excitation voltage trimming - once the voltages are close, common the neutrals and then set the frequencies as close as you can with the governors, its best to put a small similar load on each of the alternators while you are doing this... around 20% of full load is normally ok... for this you use the really high tech kit, the light bulb.... It will pulse while the frequencies are not similar... as soon as the frequencies get close, the bulb starts pulsing slower and slower. With mech governing, you will never get them 100% matched, but that is not a problem, but get them as close as you can (as much black time on the bulb as possible). Once that is done, go back to your voltage settings and set them as close as you can once again(Leave the governor alone now)...

Do a final test on low independent load and check for frequency mismatch using your hi-tech kit, if all is ok, you can then shutdown the system and connect the live's together AFTER a safety breaker on each head. Your syncro bulb must be connected BEFORE this breaker...

To start the system, open both breakers first - then start the engines. once they are stable, bring the first onto load by closing its breaker. As the second will be running unloaded, the frequency variation will show by the pulsing of the light, the better your governor setup, the slower the pulsing.... As soon as the light goes black, close the breaker...

Your gens are now running your load together and sharing it... (Oh yes, don't believe all the BS out there that the gens have to be 100% identical to do this - as long as they are on very similar voltage and frequency settings, it will work...) You must be careful however if you are using a VERY slow turning prime - Too much pulsing will mess you around....

As a demo to show someone a few months back, I coupled my 900Va screamer to TM1(5KVa) using some jumper leads.... Worked fine....

As a side note - I have not sync'd head units with AVR's in them, but I don't see any reason why they shouldn't perform the same way....probs be easier to set up voltages too, as the voltage output is semi-independent of the frequency... ... ...

Keep it smoking.....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 11, 2015, 09:46:32 AM
Hi Bill,

Cool stuff... Thanks for coming back to me... How many hours before the cam broke on the 10, and about how many on the Metro now?

Looks like the 1750hr mark is about the time to do rings on WMO - I run mine on WMO/Dino mix, most of the hard starting I put down to gummy rings from standing and cooling overnight, might be wrong though... I preferred the electric motor start, not just because of ease, but allowing it to wind over for a couple of minutes unloaded on electric got everything nicely oiled up.... besides the big end and ring groove on the top end, I wouldn't have much hesitation putting TM1 back together as it is now, the end gaps on the rings are a "bit" large, but there wasn't much blow by at all... Just gonna do all the bits while its apart....

Oh yes, my CI is well above the 400 mark, probably closer to 6 or 700 actually, haven't really counted them before.... Lol...That should get you thinking!!

Regds
Ed

PS... A bit of an afterthought.... What were the major wear areas you picked up on the 10/1 that were attributable to the nasty fuel you were using... Piston/Rings/Liner maybe? Or other things too?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: carlb23 on December 11, 2015, 12:22:03 PM
Ed,

While i understand the light bulb method i have never done it because i have never had the need since i have my m 6/1 metro and a 10kw Natural gas gen if i need more power.  It appears that you have done the many times before so I defer to you knowledge and experience on this matter.   When i read the first post about you hooking the two generators together I thought you were going to try it for the first time.

Carl

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 11, 2015, 02:05:13 PM
No prob Carl!!

The first time I hooked a couple together, there was definitely a bit of smoke involved, actually quite a lot of smoke if I remember correctly, quite spectacular too.... "School fees" I believe it is called... Even at the time, my dad told me I was nuts.... then I asked a very simple question.... "How do the power stations do it?" .... A lot of thought then ensued and we came up with a few ideas... Tested a few, broke a few things(school fees), got it right, broke some more things(more school fees), got it right again, then chatted about what we had actually done and what to look out for.... It was quite interesting at the time, we actually set up some old DC motors to drive some make shift alternators at various speeds and had loads of fun while experimenting... It was only much later that I actually got a chance to put the practical stuff to worthwhile use with diesel and petrol gensets.....

Keep it smoking!!

Regds
Ed

PS - just saw this link.... https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi424LZhNTJAhWFWBQKHXQCBBwQtwIILDAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DpdKAM2Xrtjc&usg=AFQjCNE0ky3KEzga15Yn2S4Xf63p82F52g&sig2=W1tkcEoEq4pBwbXcD7vlhA  ... pretty much what I have in mind... Damn, wish I had the internet when I was a youngster.... far less smoke would have been involved....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 12, 2015, 08:51:18 AM
Hi Guys,

Another not so update...

Picture the scene... Lovely summer's day, no wind, no rain, a perfect day to go and tinker with the beasts.....

And here I am.... sitting in the house, watching a bunch of labourers chopping out window frames.... We are replacing old steel frames with modern aluminium ones... lounge and kitchen.... in the words of Droopy Dog..... "Oh wow.......Hold me back" (said in the most monotone, boring voice imaginable)

Oh well.... gotta be done I suppose...

I just realised the true difference between civil engineers and mech engineers...... mech guys build weapons... civ's build targets.... oops... sorry civs!

I did a little more stripping of TM1 yesterday... still waiting for parts to arrive.. on taking a quick balance check of the crank/big end assy, it looks like it is undebalanced slightly... the CBW's don't quite make up the balance at first look over... they look between 200 to 300g short, will do a full balance check when everything is ready and renewed... if possible, I want to try and get the balance spot on by working out the required mass and installing it at throw radius on the flywheels...(after the wheels are balanced of course) ... once done, I will then attempt to get half the piston and upper rod mass  onto the flywheel at the same radius... this should give me a fairly uniform balance throughout the rev range... Hold thumbs!

The advantage of external balancing for me is that, should I have screwed up my calcs and working out, it can be easily reversed by removing or adding weight at the flywheels, which is easy to do at a later stage... Fortunately, as this beasty seems under balanced at this stage, only one point on the flywheel need attention...

But hey, again I ramble... keep the comments coming in... I enjoy the banter....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 13, 2015, 08:52:49 PM
Hi Guys,

Another somewhat boring update from a wet and rainy S of A!

Finally found some time between cleaning up after builders and the rest of life to knock together a miniature and easily portable as well as easy "fit in a toolboxable" balancing apparatus for the roids wheels with a spindle to suit.. you can view it here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Wheel Balancer (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Wheel Balancer) ... It is quite basic, works quite well, and helped me determine that one wheel was 125g at 5 o clock and the other was 165g at 7 o clock out of balance... that amounts to a whopping 290g on the opposite side of the keyway that things were a bit awry... no wonder the Lister waltz was a common dance around these parts of the world... there were some rev areas between 500 and 850 that were reasonable, but on the whole it was quite bad...  With the balancing jig setup, I have been able to get the static balance to within around 5g....

My next plan is to install CBW's at about crank throw radius, first to make up for the existing CBW's  which are a bit undersize, and a second pair to match piston/rings/gudgeon/Conrod top end half weight to give me a 50% balanced  oscillating mass... if I can fit them at this radius, TM should be about as smooth as it can get across the entire rev range.... Please gents, chip in now and let me know what your opinion is of this method....... if you think I am about to screw up, SHOUT!

I have also done a bit of thinking and scratching around.... particularly regarding the setting up and synchronising of 2 gen heads, and have decided, rather than run 2  synchronous heads at the moment, I will get more benefit from a second, inductive generator as an addition... I have an old induction motor lying around and whilst it is of no use to me as a motor, it could certainly help out as an additional generating source and it will be fun to play with too... I had a quick look at the plate, 1400rpm 7Kw 380v ... I think I might be able to delta it and come out with 220v across 2 of the phases... worth a try I think....

Anyways...

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: billswan on December 14, 2015, 01:00:31 PM
ed

I looked back through some of my old posts and noticed an hour mark of 1775 as the point in time on my old 10/1 Omega brand listeroid that the camshaft broke. As best as I can remember the shaft twisted off. It was probably my fault as I had pushed the injector pressure very high to try to get the WMO to atomize better.

By the way I have long since pushed aside my 16/1 metro in favor of a very expensive WMO fired boiler to heat my shop. I use a little over a 1000 gallons of used oil a year in it. It can get quite cold in Minnesota USA. The old 10/1 had to run round the clock to keep up but the 16/1 could take some time off in a day. The shop is 54X75 feet. So far this year the temps have been better and usage of oil is down.

Billswan

By the way I looked at your balancing jig and am a little at a loss to understand how it works???????????
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 14, 2015, 03:53:37 PM
Hi Bill,

Thanks for the info! I have also played around with the injector pressures a bit, mine were standard at around 2k PSI mark, I pushed them up to 2500PSI and ran them down at 1500PSI - I didn't notice a very big difference in performance on both ends of the scale with WMO in tow... What pressure did you bump yours up to before things broke?

I agree re the single use of WMO  - just as heating, or just as electric, it can be a bit heavy $$ on the machinery for a single task, but my playing is a little different - I am generating heat and power as I mentioned before, as well as removing some nasty black goop from our immediate environment... and probably most of all, I am having a bit of fun doing it!!

The balancing jig is pretty straightforward, insert spindle into hub, place on the 2 roller sets and let the heavy side of the wheel pendulum it down... Add weights etc on opposite side and give it a spin, open a beer, sit and wait for it to come to rest heavy side down again... repeat as often as you can, usually until the women folk start moaning or you fall over(from fatigue, of course) ....or.... until you run out of beer.... (Rather than waste a 2" x 1' bar for a spindle, I bored out two concentric heavy 2" sections and heat fitted them over a nice hard, ground and polished piece of stainless bar about 20mm dia... Seems to work fine...)

Seems to work a treat, the bearings are bolted to the wall of the angle iron and don't interfere. I put nuts either side of the angle, not for security, but to get the bearing center more or less in line with the center of the bottom of the angle, I don't need to fasten the roller stands down when using them... Keep them on the same level and as parallel and in line as you can, and the rolling resistance is quite/very low... The scale in the background was to measure the temp balancing weight made up of magnet, bolt and bunch of washers to use as an adjustment weight... Took some flat bar,  cut it to just above the weight needed, drilled a hole in the flywheel and bolted it in place... with the weight loosely in place on the flywheel, I re-balanced it, removing a tiny bit of the flat bar until I was happy, I overcooked it on one wheel and had to put 2 washers on as a make-up...... Incidentally, HSS drills on these flywheels were useless... Too much silica and slag.... Ended up using a TC masonry bit resharpened...

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 16, 2015, 09:25:30 PM
Hey Glort,

I have run RUG with the WMO, on several occasions in fact... Overall, I found that unless you mix up a large batch, more than 200L, it is not worth it... My reasons were as follows:

A small batch of WMO, when dried, can vary dramatically in burning rate from the next, this is because of the hit and miss on what you get blended in with it... At an average injection timing that is slightly advanced from Dino, these random batches work quite well, particularly if you add about 15-20% Dino to help with thinning and initial combustion... to keep the carbon down, water is the miracle tool that solves all ills, from preventing carbon buildup to rings sticking in grooves, to carbon building up on valve stems, to even carbon clogging in the exhaust pipes themselves...

When I tried a few small batches of RUG mix, carbon and associated ills were indeed less, but I was concerned about the "knockiness" while running, usually OK for mid early morning and evening to nightfall, where temps were around the 5 to 12C, but midday heat around 28+ C did make the monster quite a bit "lively" shall we say... And he voiced it quite audibly... It was hit and miss to find a timing position that would work satisfactorily, eventually I gave up on the RUG mix and went to Dino and water... Much more user friendly over a wide range of temperatures, albeit a little difficult to start.... But no problem with a mains powered starter motor.. I just wouldn't try and run it up cold by hand.

If I were located in a more even temperatured and cooler climate, I have no doubt that RUG would work well, just doesn't suit me in my area in summer....

I did find RUG mix much easier to start, a bit cleaner burning, and less smokey when cold....

While I am at basic diesel spec for the timing, I have both advanced and retarded it significantly and found little benefit of going beyond 22 degrees... as soon as you go more than this depending on your fuel makeup, you have to watch for knocking becoming bad.. less than 22 deg and knocking is within limits, and as a bonus, a wide variance in air temps can be handled...

I have now installed a fuel preheater, tapping heat from the cov plug to warm the juice up really hot just pre injector... initial tests seem positive, but a mech failure has got in the way of the final verdict, so the jury is still out on this one... as soon as I get the crank in, I will continue the testing, if it works out as planned, very little dino will be needed for the day's run...  The only problem I for see, will be the fuel filter being a bit "slow" with the thick oil... I might have to run parallel filters to use the 40-50W oils ... Unsure as yet...

One thing I will say about WMO over Dino - Smoother running with apparently more power- I way prefer it, so much so, that even a lady who works on the premises here remarks every now and then when the dino ratio is a bit higher than normal, she can pick it up by ear!

I juiced up my pop tester with WMO and compared the patterns... there is little difference to dino when the fuel is warm, and only minor difference when it is cool.. I didn't compare with refrigerated fuel, as my thinking is that the initial bit of the run is going to be sub normal temp only... once warmed up is my main concern... (and of course, it rarely, if ever, gets below 0C here anyway, I can only remember one winter  in the last 22 when it actually hit freezing point, and that was for less than a 4hr stretch)... As to injector pressures influencing spray pattern to any large degree, they definitely don't from what I saw.... but... they do affect the size of the droplets in the pattern... I cannot say for certain as to the percentage of atomisation that occurs from one pressure to the next, but it does make a mild difference on WMO between 1500 and 2500psi... not enough I don't think to be of concern for combustion, but a bit of concern when the upper pressures were on test for me to worry about the mechanical stresses involved... when I saw the small amount of difference I could perceive between upper and lower pressures, I simply went back to my original factory standard of 2000 psi as the injector was set when it arrived... There might be a much larger difference that is found on Dino, this I have not tested as yet... Methinks the heavier oils are a bit more "forgiving" if I might put it that way...

I did a bit more prepping of the beast this afternoon, I am now just waiting the crank and big end replacement to arrive so I can do a bit of fine balancing and install... At the same time I am going to install a double top ring... The reasons are twofold, one, more of a convoluted path for the residue to follow to get to the second ring, and two, a harder "seat" for the top ring to rest on, this should also slow down the groove wear I am experiencing...

I did notice that the top oil control ring was sticking somewhat, it is a spring assisted ring.. What I am thinking of doing is moving the lowest oil ring up a slot and installing the new bottom ring in place... the bottom oil control ring isnon spring assist and seems to fare a bit better with crappy fuels... interestingly, there is little to no wear on these rings, just a stuck spring was evident...

Ring wear is readily apparent on the top ring, less apparent on the second, even less on the third, hardly apparent on the forth, and almost non-existant on the fifth.... From this I surmise that the abrasive residues are not making it past the third, probably only just making it past the second.... Of blow-by there was very little, compression was reasonable to good, and all of this on over 1500 hrs of sump gunk fuel... I am sure that if the lube standpipe hadn't let go, rubbed against a bearing cage, and spat filings into the journal feed ring, I would still be running quite reasonably...

I did notice something I wasn't happy with while checking things over today... there is no stop in place to prevent the oil pump cam follower rotating... also, the follower was rough as a bears arse and had started to pit the cam... I pulled it, reground the profile, polished it and the cam, and reinstalled... the original listers had a oil priming lever which probably prevented the follower from rotating to any large degree... might be worth looking at in the future...

Another thing I noticed, from first startup in fact, was a "knock cum rattle" every now and then... I think I have found it... the covered end of the camshaft has a retaining bolt.... on my unit, the shaft is about 1/10mm below the level of the bushing... what our Indian friends did was install a spacer washer of about 1mm between the thrust washer and the end of the camshaft to allow things to turn without binding... I have now removed the washer, top-hatted the thrust washer by around 2/10 mm for a more reasonable working clearance, and zapped it all together... hope that damn rattle is now gone!

I also had a poke around the inside of the case today with a screwdriver and a hammer... there was only one piece of slag/sand that was readily found, in the one web corner of the IP side of the case... much hammering later, I dislodged it and removed the offending junk.. Overall, I would at this stage, label these castings as excellent in comparison to what others on this forum have found... maybe I am just lucky!

I can say, the red paint/loctite/cement/gunnite that the insides are coated with is TOUGH! After 1500 hrs, there is no flaking evident, all is intact...

Incidentally, the timing idler gear shows no discernable wear, on bushing or teeth... so that's a plus!

The only parts showing appreciable wear at this stage are the rings/piston grooves and the oil pump cam...(excluding the big end of course, that was an induced fault because someone in India didn't know that to braze piping, you actually need to use a brazing rod....)

Enough rambling.....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed

PS - I just did a quick calc of the imbalance on the flywheels I had... Around 290g total imbalance at a radius of 300mm or so... Running at 750rpm that gives a centrifugal force of 55kg... I wonder if that could be why I had to go to the dentist to replace my fillings every time I stood next to it for more than 5 mins.....?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 18, 2015, 12:13:27 PM
Hey Glort,

Still waiting on my crank and big end bits to arrive, the damn couriers are on and off strike and go-slow by the looks of it... Aah well.... Sit back, have a beer, don't stress....

Incidentally, I have found the perfect de-stressing routine.... Set up chair on porch... Fetch 2x Icy lagers... Drink one Icy Lager quickly for temperature reasons... Throw can over porch railing.... open next Icy lager.... Load .22 rifle.... sip icy lager.... Relax and take aim on empty can... Fire.... Sip icy lager... (Repeat as often as is required to relax).... Once done, sweep up casings, pick up Old can and dispose of, throw next can..... begin again!!

Keep it banging...

Regds
Ed

PS - Who remembers the movie "Second Hand Lions" .... I just need the boat in the pond...(and a cellar full of $$ of course...)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: Tom on December 18, 2015, 06:04:38 PM
Wow you can actually get 22lr ammo there? Been hard to find in the stores around here.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 18, 2015, 06:30:18 PM
Hey Tom,

It is getting expensive though... I am cutting into the last 20k stack and am dreading topping off the store... its gonna hurt the wallet for sure...

On another line, something I have been thinking about and finally pulled finger out of orifice and worked out... on an externally balanced 6/1... the flywheel counterweight at 650 rpm of thereabouts exerts about ... well, a hell of a lot more than 120lbs of centrifugal force on the crankshaft... so.....?....... if i installed 2 nicely balanced 120lb plus each flywheels outboard of the existing flywheels, it should be perfectly well within tolerance...

Now... I have a brand new spare roid, just waiting for the wheels to be popped off and balanced..... oh so tempting....!

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: cujet on December 19, 2015, 11:27:01 PM
I can't access any of the pictures or anything at all at Warrior paintball. Warrior paintball simply times out. That's sad, because I'd love to see the pics of the crankshaft.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 20, 2015, 03:50:28 PM
Hi Chris,

Just checked everything this side and I can access the server via my intranet... anybody else having problems getting into the pics?

Could be a DNS problem... have had some iffy access this side updating my dyndns account....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: TxBlacksmith on December 20, 2015, 06:21:56 PM
Cant access the picks here in Texas...  at home or work...  getting time out... ???
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: cujet on December 20, 2015, 07:42:13 PM
Is there any chance you can move a few pics to imgur or some other free host?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 20, 2015, 08:31:02 PM
Hi Chris,

There is always a chance, but I am lazy! ... OK so I admit it ....Lol... Try and get into http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private) and come back to me with an error message if you get one....

Regds
Ed

PS.. it looks like my dyndns updater on my router was choosing the wrong account to use for the DNS resolution... looks like its working now... give it a try Chris, I think I have got it right now... cheers... Ed...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 21, 2015, 01:41:52 PM
Hey Guys.....

As mentioned before.... The devil finds work for idle hands(and minds)..... Just had a bright(maybe) idea....

Most, or a large part of the problems that are speed/governor related, come down to worn linkages or sloppy linkages as from new... What about this:

Install a soft tension spring on the "closing" direction side of the IP - it will hold all linkages under tension, thus eliminating slop and improving governing, as well as acting as a fail safe of sorts should one of the governor pins fail ... As soon as the link train breaks, the rack closes.... To see if the spring is strong enough, disconnect the lowest link on the governor arm and ensure that the spring is powerful enough to pull the IP closed from full open position....

Hmm.... gonna try mock it up and test!

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: cujet on December 23, 2015, 03:02:56 AM
I finally got into the pics. That crank needs some work. Ugh.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 23, 2015, 08:25:40 AM
Hi Chris,

Work, no, re-purposing, yes....

Could make quite a cute lamp-stand.....

Got the replacement today, a few mins ago in fact..... I think I need to spend some quality time with my engine!!

The new crank arrived sans main bearings but with timing gear and big end bushes, but they did throw in a "sorry sir" pack of rings....  :)

Hopefully I will get a chance to pop it all together over the next day or two, might just try and do the bottom end today and machine up the piston for the additional rings tomorrow or so... Lets see how it pans out....

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 23, 2015, 11:08:35 PM
Hey guys...

What an interesting day it has been... Not in a totally pleasant way either...

I unpacked the crank at around midday, at quick glances, it appeared a tad "rough" ... nothing like the finish on the original, not that that was very good to start with....

After about 2 hours of filing and de-nubbing, this is what it looks like, http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Replacement Crank 20151223 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Replacement Crank 20151223) .... Not great, but usable.... I wish I had a larger lathe to smooth down those terrible cuts that were made... overall, everything was in basic spec, but the finish was atrocious... The big end journal was coarsely ground, way too rough for my liking, but slightly over size thank goodness... after a few hours with 1000 grit water paper and a buffing/polishing wheel, it is now almost ready for installation... A point to note is that whilst assembling and testing clearances, I kept on picking up swarf in the bearing shells, no matter how clean I made them. I eventually tracked the problem's cause... the lube hole was badly cut, with swarf chip welded to the inside of the passages... I reamed the exit hole with a sharp 7mm drill and then discovered that the entrance hole, while starting at 10mm, narrowed down to a 5mm pilot hole after about 15mm... this would have effectively negated the ring feeders action as the oil would have to flow "uphill" against centrifugal force, to exit into the big end bushing.... this might be something to check on if you have a similar oil feed system...

I have 2 x .1mm shims on one side of the conrod bearing half, and one .1mm shim on the other... with one shim in each side, when torqued to spec, the bearing locks solid in all positions... my thinking is that putting in one shim extra on one side, gives me half of .1 clearance overall, ie, .05 mm final bearing clearance... this equates to less than 3 thou, so it should be OK... What concerns me a tad, is that there is a TINY bit of ovality in both the journal and big end... at 2 points of rotation, there is a slight bind, easy to overcome with mild hand force, but a  bind nevertheless... I will take alook at it tomorrow if I have the inclination, but it its so slight that I might just leave it and run it as is.... your thoughts gentlemen?

I also noted that the removal of the old main bearings was, shall I say, somewhat tedious.... I estimate about a .10 -.15mm interference fit, judging by the effort to get them off... I definitely am going to check and mic the seat areas before I refit them to the new crank....(yes, I did keep the inner/outer bearings as matched pairs and have marked them as such to keep them so) .... That amount of interference is totally over the top for this or any application like this.....

Next step is to install the crank and set up the end float, once the mains are in place, I will be looking at around 3 thou cold float, it should be adequate and not too excessive... Previous float was....duh... none.... after 1600 hrs of runtime, it was still tight to turn, almost too tight to turn by hand without conrod  or flywheels on... So much so, that when I stripped the trumpets off, I checked them for cracks.... I see some creative scissor work in my immediate future, making additional spacers from paper....

I eventually got the sh!ts with trying to find Torque and Clearance settings in the piles of notes I have dotted around the workshops... I put together this "cheat sheet" for my own reference, help yourself if you want a copy, it is a "concentration" of all my scraps of notes that I have on this engine and a couple of others, use at your own risk etc etc etc.... If you spot something that I have cocked up or left out, don't hesitate to shout... you can find it here http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Cheat Sheet (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Cheat Sheet)

Anyways, again I ramble on, I hope u guys are getting some entertaining reading if nothing else from my mutterings and ramblings...

Keep it spinning..

Regds
Ed

PS... I also took some weight measurements of the crank, remember, this is a 12hp idi cbw engine, so if yours ain't the same, well, nuff  said...

Crank with cbw and conrod installed - rotary mass, 700g, under balanced
Oscillating masses:
Gudgeon pin and circlips - 500g
Piston, aluminium, - 1645g
Rings - 210g
Small end mass - 1000g
Top ring(additional to be installed) - 25g

So my guess at counterweights to be added would be:700+(500+1645+210+1000+25)/2= 700+3380/2=2390g at crank throw radius to give 50% balance throughout the rev range... cmon Chris, does it look about right to you from a calculation POV?(also, my flywheels have no built in balance weights...)

PPS - Cheat sheet has been updated - Copy available here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Cheat Sheet (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Cheat Sheet)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 24, 2015, 04:20:57 PM
Hey Guys,

Another brief update, or rather should I say "rambling" from my side...

The bottom end of the beast is basically together, I mic'd and compared the two crank bearing seating widths before I assembled and installed bearings on the new crank... The new crank was about .1 narrower than the old....

So there I go, install and torque to 1/4 setting the bearing carriers... lo and behold, no free play whatsoever...

Remove carrier, install 4xpaper spacers, Retorque to 1/4... Yippeeeee.... End float is here!! Now sitting with .3mm end float.... All is good, time to do some final settings... (A hint: Cut varying thickness spacers out of different coloured paper... In this case it was 2xYellow of .2mm each, 1xGreen of .18mm, 1xWhite of .08mm, this saves measuring and time when you remove them... Obviously make a brief note of the thickness per colour!!)

Torqued to final setting, 60 Ft.Lbs, there was little to no change in the end float.... Good! (Indicates no sand or dirt in the packing)

Removed the non-ip side housing, as the IP side was spaced perfectly for the cam gears, and removed the Green(.18) and the white(.08) spacers, leaving the end float after final torque at around .03mm to 04mm depending on how hard you tug and push on the crankshaft.... (Another hint: Do the end float setting with the bearings dry and unlubricated - do not hammer or bump on the crankshaft at all without any form of lubrication .... It makes the measurement much easier... As soon as you are done and torqued up, give them a good flush with SAE30 and spin the crank SLOWLY to get it into the bearings proper... Immediately, you will feel the end float diminish by what seems to be a substantial amount as the oil cushions the surfaces...)

After that, valve timing is a piece o' pee...  get the cam to hold the followers "on the rock" ... set crank to TDC... Slip in the timing gear and spindle... dead easy...(Hint: Look at the cam followers from the inside, it is dead easy to judge level by eye as one is ascending and the other is decending - as they level out, this is the equal that you are looking for... Set the crank to TDC just by looking into the top of the cylinder bore and getting it centered - If you are one tooth out in either direction it shows up very clearly and is easy to spot....)

I noticed that our Indian friends have some interesting ideas where it comes to final position of the cam gear on the crankshaft - there is about 1/4 to 1/8th of a tooth difference between the original and the new crank... on these engines though, this fortunately does not make a big difference, if any difference at all to the running and performance that I have noted so far... Obviously, for these babies, Injector timing is very important and the different gear position on the crank will alter this by a few degrees, so that will have to be set up anyway!

Next step... Rings, grooves, pistons, cylinders and ridge cutting.... It feels like Christmas... This is so much fun!!

Oh wait, it is Christmas.... Happy Christmas Everybody!!

Keep the bells chiming... (...to a steady Lister beat..... dress it up with decks of holly... Tra la la, la la, la, la!)

Lacking a suitable position and mounting point on the top of my green Lister, cast iron, Xmas tree, I have installed a fairy on the topmost portion of the genset... It involved the insertion of a radiator cap in a most impolite area... Poor fairy....  ::)

But seriously though guys... I really hope you all have a wonderful Xmas and a restful, peaceful and joyous time!

Happy Christmas,
Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: veggie on December 26, 2015, 04:33:28 PM

EdDee

It's been very interesting following your "experiments". Thanks for posting.
Looking forward to the future updates.
Happy Christmas !

veggie
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 26, 2015, 08:28:56 PM
Hey Veggie,

Hope u had as good a one as I did!

Mission accomplished! Two rings fitted to a widened top groove, two unsprung oil rings fitter in the oil grooves, ridge has been scraped, cylinder honed, cylinder with piston and rod lowered onto the bottom end, big end torqued and fitted.... I am knackered! ....

I did make an additional little change though... I have now fitted what can best be described as "The Big Dipper" ... it is a variation on the hollow dipper you find n some engines, a bit of poetic licence has been involved... I enlarged the thread in the conrod end cap and freehand turned a larger ball ended splasher... this was then cored out to 4.5 mm down its length and an intersecting funnel was mad at 90 degrees on the end by using a center drill... this will pick up oil pretty much like a standard hollow dipper, but hopefully quite a bit more... pics are to view here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Big Dipper/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Big Dipper/)

The threaded end has been smooth turned to fit the locating hole on the big end bearing, just to keep things neat and in line!

Well, that's about all I have to log for today, tomorrow is bump clearance and cylinder head day, I might even get a chance to make some counterweights for the 50-50 balancing of the wobbly and bouncy bits.....

Keep it boxing(day)...

Regds,
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: veggie on December 26, 2015, 09:07:26 PM

Mission accomplished! Two rings fitted to a widened top groove, two unsprung oil rings fitter in the oil grooves, ridge has been scraped, cylinder honed, cylinder with piston and rod lowered onto the bottom end, big end torqued and fitted.... I am knackered! ....


So....you put 2 compression rings into the upper ring groove ?
Interesting.
So the piston now has 5 rings instead of 4?
Any concern about the top ring getting adequate lubrication ?

veggie


Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 26, 2015, 11:18:03 PM
Hi Veggie,

Yep, what I did was to widen the top groove - it was worn anyway... I opened it out to double the thickness of the top ring and installed a new ring above the old ring... the gaps are staggered 180 degrees... the old ring was worn, but not unusable, just the gap was a tad large... there was little blow by when I stripped it hence the reuse of the top ring... Running straight dino might make the lubrication a bit scarce, but, as you know, I am running a high level of WMO so I am hoping that this added lubricity will make up for it.. Two top rings about 2.5 thick, 2 wide compression rings, of about 3 and a bit thick in the next 2 grooves, then 2 unsprung oil rings in the next two grooves to give a total of 6 rings instead of what my motor had, 5.... Going this route, I can give the piston another lease on life by, if needed in the future, removing the top 2 singular set and replacing them with a single wide compression ring should the groove wear badly again(There are wide compression rings I can get locally that are more than double the thickness of the top thin compression ring)....

I am hoping that the double top ring will hold back the nasties a bit better and slow down the groove wear a bit... time will tell.... ( if it works of course)...

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: quinnbrian on December 27, 2015, 01:55:22 AM
Nice post, great work!!. The water injection helps a lot! Help with the removal of carbon build up and increase cylinder pressure (steam pressure) Have you tried a little acetone in your WMO? I've been looking at waste plastic to oil converting ...also looks very interested. Any thoughts?
Cheers
Brian
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 27, 2015, 08:47:07 PM
Hey Brian,

I have considered cracking plastics back to components, but that's a little too much hassle for me at this stage, also, there is not much in the line of 'clean' waste plastic available to me, the local recyclers have that side pretty much tied up.... the water defs does work a treat, I was reminded of that again today while I was messing around with TM1 and doing some more mods and stuff... the exhaust port is basically clean, only light soot is present, this is effectively untouched, as are both inlet and exhaust valve... no need to grind or decarbon ports,they look like they have only had a brief 'factory' run.... and that's 1600+ hrs actually...

I didn't get too much done on TM today, the temp was hovering around 30+ C and as soon as I tried to do anything, my personal thermostat started to object.... all I accomplished was setting the squish to slightly above factory minimum of 1.75mm, ending up at 1.78mm... I reckon its close enough... NS squish difference is around .01 mm, so I am pretty happy with that too... the other thing I did was to rebush, accurately, the governor bell crank, and then get it lined up properly with the IP too... pics can be seen here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Governor Bellcrank (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Governor Bellcrank) .. if you look carefully, you can see that the sides of the bell crank have been accurised and the brass liner I pressed in is only just visible in the oil hole...

While I was at it, I put in a long overdue brass tappet spacer to line up the inlet rocker to the valve stem properly, and cut down the exhaust pushrod a few mm so the adjusters look a bit more even, not as lopsided as they were... purely cosmetic...

Aah... also finished the governor spring assy  off properly, also cosmetic...just needs to be painted up, Pics here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Governor Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Governor Mods)

Then, for shits and giggles, I made up another dipstick housing, the original I made up has been put on TM2, I didn't feel like draining oil just to change it back... Pic available here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Dipstick Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Dipstick Mods)

Come to think of it, maybe it wasnt such a quiet day after all! No wonder I feel buggered.....

Again I start getting verbal diarrhea.... Time to climb back in my box and shut up....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 28, 2015, 05:21:45 PM
Hey Guys,

Another short, or maybe not so short post on what's happening with TM1 while he is on the slab....

The fuel changeover valves have been neatened up and incorporated with a fixed, shake proof, timing pointer.... Changeover valves: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Fuel Changeover Assy/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Fuel Changeover Assy/)
Timing Indicator: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Timing Pointer (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Timing Pointer) (It is marginally adjustable, so it can be zeroed to the timing marks I put on the flywheel previously...)

The dipstick is completed, now I just need to mark the high and low tide marks... http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Dipstick Mods/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Dipstick Mods/)

The external CBW's are made and fitted, the engine was a total of 2400g under balanced at crank throw radius, for 50% balancing, the weights are just a tad on the high side of 600g each, 4x, fitted to BDC throw... at a radius of 70mm, or as close as I could get to it without major surgery... They are made up of stainless bar, 50mm dia, 42mm long, held in place with a 8mm cap head screw 50mm long... Should they be over or under weight, they can easily be removed for adjustment... Currently, they are a total of 70g overweight, but I don't think that this will make an enormous difference... The square weights bolted close to the rim are to get the flywheels in balance... FWIW.... http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/External CBW/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/External CBW/) ... If things work out as planned, TM should be as smooth as it can be throughout the rev range now...(or as bouncy.....Oops....)

Here if a pic of the tappet shim that I installed yesterday... 2.4mm thick to bring things a bit closer to center on the inlet side...http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Tappet Shim/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Tappet Shim/)

If all goes according to plan, tomorrow I will be able to do a final crank and fuel system flushout, mount the oil pickup and strainer, set the injection timing and get the beast ready to mount ... Hold thumbs...

I am very interested to see the result of the balance work I have done, anybody have any forecasts as to what the outcome will be?

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed

PS... any comments would be greatly appreciated...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: Tom on December 28, 2015, 08:00:43 PM
Hey EdDee, If you post your images this way the pics will show and not require people to click a couple of links to see them. You click the image tag and put the full link to the file between the tags.

Tom

(http://www.digipoint.dyndns.org:81/private/Fuel%20Changeover%20Assy/IMAG0626.jpg)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 28, 2015, 08:26:39 PM
Hey Tom,

Noted!

There is a reason for me posting a source link though... There are a couple of gents that are following this page that have a less than average link to the internet, and some that are using cellular comms with associated high costs for large picture transfers... I post the links to give the reader a choice as to whether they want to download the pics to keep costs down and speeds up.... Hence not "inlining" the images....

A further reason for posting server links is that as I take more pics and add them to the server folders, the links can remain the same but the content will change and append...

I realise that I can rescale the pics and make them smaller in physical size and data size, but I must admit, I am a bit lazy... I am snapping a few pics on my cel while I am working on the beast and as soon as I take a break, I upload them to the server without retouching them... that allows for a lot less PC/tablet button pressing for me....

If I am treading on toes by doing it this way, please slap me around the ear repeatedly until I take note and change my ways!

Keep on clicking...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 29, 2015, 06:47:58 PM
Hey guys,

Another progress update...

Crankcase has had a final washout, as clean as I can get it.... The only reason that I can find at the moment to strip the coating off the inside of the case and sump is to make mopping out a bit easier and quicker.... The coating is rough, probably a 50% gravel and 50% paint... Lol...

The oil lines have been cleaned, flushed and reinstalled, no hiccups! ... A small mod I did on the RHS feed pipe(if viewed from the large door side of the engine) was to twist the standpipe considerably... it is now sitting at about 45 degrees, aimed towards the rhs trb cage and towards the door and oil thrower ring , hitting it relatively central in its path... a worthwhile change from the original, unfortunately I didn't have a clean hand by this stage to grab the cel and take a few snaps....

The dipstick now has 3 "tide" marks, absolute max, with the oil just touching the threads of the big end bolts, low tide is when the oil is at  lowest weir level, and a second very low mark - this is when the oil level is just above the top of the oil strainer... Bear in mind, the oil strainer I am using is about 2" diameter, about an inch above the apron floor... Way oversized compared to the original.. this oil strainer is also somewhat finer than the original, around .2 to .3 mm mesh opening size... Originally it was a pickup strainer from a hydraulic tank....

The timing has now been set at a nominal 20 degrees btdc and all seems well too...(Besides a few minor leaks in the fuel pipe to be sorted)

Hopefully, if the weather holds out, I will mount the beast back in its chassis tomorrow and spin it up!

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: mike90045 on December 30, 2015, 05:50:56 AM
Here if a pic of the tappet shim that I installed yesterday... 2.4mm thick to bring things a bit closer to center on the inlet side...

I think I would call that a Rocker Arm ?  Don't the tappets ride on a cam, and lift the pushrods ?
I think I have to do that mod to my rockers, they have the same misalignment you corrected with that shim/ washer.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 30, 2015, 06:26:59 AM
Hey Mike...

Another name from another part of the world.... ie 'Tappet Cover' ... The bit that rides on the cam is the 'follower', unless its an ohc and called a 'bucket tappet' ...

Yours is probs a better term, tappet refers more to the bit at the end of the rocker arm that presses on the valve.... my bad!

As to whether its worth doing the mod, it probably is, but there have been no major wear on the guides as yet, 1600 hrs... I just did it because it was so simple and quick to do.... Probs a bit overboard to make out of brass, a steel 16 mm washer would work just as well I reckon....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 30, 2015, 07:50:32 PM
Hi guys,

A bucket of sweat later, 30 degree in the shade, working(or playing) in the direct sun..... and TM1 is back in its chassis and spinning on...

Let's see...... it sounds simple, 8 bolts, connect a few rubber hoses, fill it with water... a good few hours later it still sounds simple, just tiring...

What have I found out today? .....? .....?

50% balance is not suitable for my setup.... at 50%, the lateral movement is too much, for my liking anyway... the 'sled on wheels' developed about a 1/8 to 1/4" to and fro movement which will mess with my pipe couplings to the heat store under the building a bit too much I reckon.... I dropped it to 300g under balanced, by removing the extenal cb weights completely and the rocking disappeared completely, but TM became a little bouncy... Nowhere near what I had before I balanced the flywheels, but still a little too much for my liking..., I then installed 1200g of cbw's and things quietened down dramatically... This is how he is running now...

This machine was a jumper, thumper, I'll tempered beast that would break 8mm black chains at a whim... just because he could! Bear in mind, the entire engine, gen head, radiator, exhaust with aftercooler and cooling system, weighs in at a guestimate of around 1300 or more kg...  Now to have a 3000lb angry whirling dervish on your hands can be quite entertaining.... Especially if it breaks its restraints(4 x 8mm chains) and decide it wants to leave your premises... But, since the balance job on the flywheels, even without the cbw's, he is meek and mild mannered.... I would go so far as to say 'tame' even.... The balance job has definitely been the best thing I could have done! Now, to put it all in perspective, working from memory here, the balance tags were around 120g.... that is the best used 120g of steel on the entire setup!

With the 1200g of CBS's installed, he is only 500g balanced against oscillating mass... the crank and big end rotary masses worked out at 700 g under balanced, so only the remaining 500 g of the cbw's are going towards oscillation mass balancing, and it works a treat! At a rough guess this puts his balance % at around 20% or so.... Rpm is still at 750....

With TM now running smoother, I shortened the radiator stand by just under 300mm and cut the piping accordingly, thermo syphoning is still working well... My plan is to install the last compononent(until I think of some other dangly bit) tomorrow... It is a heat exchanger on the radiator inlet... Currently, as timed today, TM heats up the heat store of around 300l water to a usable level for baths and showers in around 2.5 hours... As I am looking at getting as much usable energy out of the fuel that I can, hopefully the heatex will speed things up just a wee bit more.... Time will tell!

The crankcase on TM is warming up faster and hotter than previously, I am running a much more vigorous splash system than before... I suspect that the oil is getting into way more hot zones than previous..... hopefully its not a friction issue that I have overlooked....

Here are some pics of TM on the gibbet and in place while I still had energy to press the shutter button...http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Reinstall 20151230 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Reinstall 20151230)

And just for the record, here are pics of the inlet and exhaust ports after1600+ hrs of running... they are as is, no decarboning or brushing has been done on them whatsoever, all thanks to the basic WI system I am using..http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Head Ports 1600hrs (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Head Ports 1600hrs)

Let's see what breaks tomorrow.... if you expect the worst, every day without a failure becomes a good day!!

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: mike90045 on December 31, 2015, 01:08:09 AM
......... hopefully its not a friction issue that I have overlooked..........

If it was friction, you likely would not be able to crank by hand, getting enough friction to heat things, So my bet is on the oil picking up heat from the cyl walls.
With the decompression off, how does it coast ?

Also, with your large oil dipper, hope it's threads stand up to the impact of hitting the oil.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on December 31, 2015, 07:41:41 AM
Hi Mike,

He coasts fine, no knocks or grinds when under compression or with the cr engaged... He is slightly harder to turn over than before, I put it down to tight rings, plus the extra one... spooling down takes about the same time as before, no major differences per se..

As to the oil dipper, I went up a size or two on the shank and retapped the big end cap to suit after enlarging it... can't remember now, but it was around 5/16 or 3/8 NF ... drill size was around 9.5 mm or thereabouts.... it should be strong enough....

At this stage the jury is still out about the extra, double stacked ring... the additional friction from the ring wil definitely take away a bit of power at the crank, as to how much, I am unsure as yet, but there is a difference at the moment.... Too early to tell, need the rings to bed in first to see what the final power out will be....

I ran it a good few hours yesterday, probs around 5 to 6 or so, will check the hour meter and log it later..... What do u reckon is a reasonable run in time?

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: 38ac on December 31, 2015, 12:00:48 PM
Correcting the top ring groove is a very important yet often overlooked repair when reusing a piston.  With economical price and easily sourced Indian pistons that is the route of choice but when a piston is not available widening and shimming is indeed a good fix. Some suggestions for next time. I would not double the original ring width if worn that bad  and piston is available but that is just me. If an unavailable piston was worn so bad as to need that kind of machine work I would use a ring that was  undersized or make a ring that hugged the piston instead of running the extra on the cylinder wall.  For lessor wear conditions we often machine the groove and use the scraper rings from three piece oil rings for shims or they are available from stock from Hastings ( the shim always goes on top by the way ;)) In severe cases we have stacked top rings but of narrower cross section than OEM thus not doubling the groove width.

Run in time varies a lot, depending on the condition of the resused parts, the quality of rings and type, cylinder surface prep, engine loading,oil type and likely others that didnt come to mind. Everything being in good order run in time is very brief. Personally I have never run into an engine that took more than a few hours to run in and ended up EVER being exactly right. Good enough maybe,but not right. Others have experainced different.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: 38ac on December 31, 2015, 12:02:15 PM
goof up, sorry
Title: Re: The Listeroid Journey - Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO and the consequences..
Post by: EdDee on January 01, 2016, 12:52:45 AM
Hi 38ac (and the rest of the clan too!)

I did indeed think and consider just top shimming the top piston ring, but I am trying something a little different... This baby burns WMO almost exclusively, one major wear aspect related to this is the top ring and groove... I am using the old top that was quite widely gapped as a sacrificial cleaner ring, with the new top ring inserted just below it in the same widened groove as the actual compression ring... just an experiment to see how it affects the wear et al.... the gaps are 180 apart to keep the abrasives above if possible....

There is also the possibility of cutting a new groove on these pistons about 1/4" above the existing top ring groove, I think there is enough meat there to do it...

A bit of what I got up to today:

Went to the workshop  around 9am... and didn't quite get there.... ended up fighting bush fires till after lunch...35C in the shade, and there I was chasing 300m of flame front to keep it away from the house and the paintball range... was definitely arson, but in my part of the world the local populace feel nothing for setting grass fires whenever they feel like it, and nothing if anything at all, happens to them if they are reported for doing it.... Even phoned the fire brigade, after 5 hours we managed to get it out, still no fire brigade.... wonderful place this...

Then, after a nice cold shower under the hose pipe I got a chance to install the heat exchanger I made up a few months back... and got a chance to plumb it into the hot water system.... pics here(please excuse the unpainted and partially primed finish, I was kinda busy today) http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Coolant Heatex 20151231 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Coolant Heatex 20151231)

It seems to work quite well, input vs output temp is about 3 to 4 degrees up, maybe a little less, this might not seem much, but it is at 2 bar full flow from a .37 kw electrical pump, so the water is whipping through there quite fast to say the least...  the temp of the coolant is also buffered somewhat too....

It looks like I am going to have to pop the head off and do a quick valve job... the exhaust valve isn't sealing properly for some reason, no major pains, its 700 hrs overdue for a head service anyway....

Enough rambling, yet again....

And, of course, the mandatory and heartiest "Happy New Year"...... to all ye learned fellows out there!

Keep the goodwill flowing...

Regds
Ed

PS...It will be interesting to see how quickly the heat reservoir warms up now...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO
Post by: EdDee on January 01, 2016, 06:55:22 PM
Hi Guys,

Another update to the TM scene....

Popped the lid off the beast today, was expecting the worst regarding the valves and wasn't disappointed...Lol...

Here are some pics of the valve seats before and after... This should have been an easter job, it was a resurrection, not a repair...

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Valves and Seats 1700hrs 20160101 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Valves and Seats 1700hrs 20160101)

The inlet valve was fine, no pitting, no major leak spots evident, no corrosion, justnot quite seating 100%, a quick lap with fine valve grinding paste and a nice even contact surface presented itself... The contact area is a tad wide for my liking,around the 3mm mark, I would have preferred a little under 2mm but I wasn't prepared to recut the valve face at this stage...

The exhaust valve and seat on the other hand, was, euphemistically speaking, 'a little worse for wear' .... I am surprised that TM was putting out power, let alone running!

The seat had pitting in excess of .5mm deep, the valve face was pitted likewise...

I refaced the valve at 55/45/35 angles, the 45 being the mating surface.... the valve face is so soft, I simply cut it in the lathe with a HSS tool bit, and not a very sharp one at that.... It appears from the line up of the head face of the valve(around .5mm runout) that our Indian friends had a bent valve and ground it straight... this excessive face grinding has gone right through the case hardening of the valve, or, if it was an induction hardened head, the machining/face grinding has been done sans coolant and caused the sealing face of the valve to soften dramatically.... not a good thing indeed... on my next trip to the specialists, I see a cut and reseat with a decent quality valve coming up....

I expected seat and face damage from the fuel being run, particularly on the exhaust side of things, but not to this degree...(More on this later)

I have managed to do a 'farm style' resurrection, here is how you can do it if you are in a bind:

True up the face of the valve using a lathe or whatever means you have at your disposal... When really stuck, in an emergency, I have used a large drill mounted in a vice or clamp to turn the valve by its stem. Support the top end of the valve stem between two wooden bearing blocks to get it to run as true as possible... while the valve is turning, CAREFULLY use a dremel tool or small grinder to recut the face... Not an ideal way to do the job,but it can be done... In this instance, the soft head was an easy thing to recut in the lathe...

Once you have trued up the valve head as best you can, insert it into the cylinder head and use it, with lots of grinding paste, to recut the seat to match....

After you have a reasonably clean face in the head to work with, you need to recut the valve face again... Try to take as little off the cylinder head as is possible, less is more!

Recut the valve with a slightly steeper angle, 2 or 3 degrees is fine, and relap the valve with fine paste in the head until you have around 2mm of contact width all the way round.... Again, less is more! Too wide a seat, and the chances of carbon deposits fouling the faces increase, too narrow, and the valve can overheat as there is insufficient contact area to draw away the heat to the cylinder head... Be careful of too much paste, you don't want any getting between the stem and the valve guide....

Once all  is lapped in, a good wash with parrafin and you are ready to go!

Now, regarding the erosion that is evident, here is what I surmise.....

The inlet valve and seat is in good clean condition, this leads me to believe that the air entering the inlet is clean and of reasonable quality. The water entering along with the air, is having little impact if any either, as there is no corrosion evident, so whatever is occurring is post ignition, or compression...

The exhaust valve is showing effectively all of the beating, so my logic tells me that this is either temperature, combustion by product or steam erosion. I think we can discount stem and temperature by and large, there is not enough of either present I don't think to do this level of damage... This leaves combustion by products... (it cannot be fuel in its liquid or atomised state that is causing it, as there is little to no wear evident on the IP or injector...)

The cylinder upper sections support this theory by and large, but the variables are slightly different, the common factor being combustion residue.

I am guessing, by the wear evident, that the erosion on the exhaust valve face and seat is due to a 'sandblasting' type effect by the residue travelling at high speed as it exits through the valve opening... there is little difference in wear around the entire seat and valve face either, it is fairly even in damage. Deeper into the port, on the botton of the valve guide, there is little to no damage either from a 'blasting' effect, the guide bottom is still nice and square, little bevelling evident either.

This again, leads me to surmise that the particles doing the wear, have to be extremely small, and travelling at an extremely high speed, such as when the pressure is at maximum for a valve open event... ie as the valve open event occurs... as soon as these particles slow down, they lose sufficient of their kinetic energy to do damage, hence the lack of damage on the face of the valve stem guide.., the gas has already started to slow at this point, and is no longer 'jetting' through a narrow opening.... If somebody has a better idea or explanation, feel free to express it, any theories are interesting to me! (Of course, it could also just be a crappy exhaust valve that is so soft it is being impregnated by clamped particles and wearing the faces out...)

If I think of any other bits and bobs I noticed, I will edit this post and update it....

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO
Post by: carlb23 on January 01, 2016, 08:24:08 PM
I am surprised that you didn't go trough the head when you had it apart since you had to wait for the new crank anyway.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO
Post by: EdDee on January 01, 2016, 10:48:14 PM
Hi Carl,

I am running tests, and trials, mostly for fun, but also for the general how long will it last inquisitiveness on my part.. To have done the head whilst the crank was en route would have skewed my timeline somewhat...I am trying to set up a typical(for me anyway) timeline for how long to go before part/item x needs major attention,,,, Granted, the workmanship quality on these units leaves a lot to be desired, with the result that I am reworking a lot of bits along the way, but they are fun to work on because they are relatively simple machines.... had this been a 6cyl Deutz engine, my approach would be somewhat different... But where you can start taking a cyl head off, have a few coffee breaks, recut valves and lap them in, and then still have the engine back together in well under 2 hours, it seems to me that for my purposes, it is the easiest way to go... not really easiest, I suppose, but hey, I am having fun!

Had this unit been a critical part of my daily existence, I can assure you, this unit would probably not even be on my site, there are far more reliable and cheaper out of the box, ready to run solutions than this....But, then again, you either love slow speed lister style singles or you hate them... I just really enjoy working on them from a hobby point of view!

If I was doing this as a commercial venture, as I did many years ago, I would also not think twice of checking and reworking all parts en route to the reported problem as well as all known wear points whilst servicing, and doing these tasks whilst waiting for spares to arrive... but, since this is a toy for me, I am doing running repairs whilst I dabble with sometimes unrelated bits and 'upgrades' ...

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-Modifying a Listeroid to Burn WMO
Post by: EdDee on January 04, 2016, 04:50:01 PM
Hi Guys,

Not much more to be done on TM1 anymore, the coolant heatex is on and running, the vibration and balance issues have been dealt with, the injector preheater is working quite well too... so much so that I have actually got the last few paint touchups done... http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Paint Touchup 20160104/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Paint Touchup 20160104/)

The last thing I will be adding to this one will be an oil filter with 100kpa built in bypass on the return line to the trb's... there is not much more that I wish to add at this stage, maybe an auto shutoff or out of spec warning alarm later, but not on the immediate plans by any means...

Once the oil filter is up and running, the only thing that has an immediate need, unless somebody else can come up with a better suggestion, will be the prettyfying of the wall and shelf above TM......

But, here I go again... drifting off at a tangent... I have been thinking of an easily adjustable advance/retard mechanism for the IP... Its such a pain to set and get to as it stands... with wmo/dino mixing, I would like to fine trim it on the run if I could... Anybody out there ever tried it yet?

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 05, 2016, 02:13:06 PM
Hi Guys,

FWIW - Here are the scans of the manuals I got with the 2 "Opex" Branded Listeroids... They are different manuals, one seems more into the "running" side of things whilst the other has some nice exploded views of the different assemblies with parts descriptions as well... Could be handy for "newbies" as well as the more experienced...  Too much info is never a bad thing!!

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Opex Manuals - Scanned PDF (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Opex Manuals - Scanned PDF)

Hope this helps someone, somewhere, in a land far away....

That reminds me..... Once, long, long ago, in a land far away.... There was a woman who didn't complain... But it was only once, and very long ago!!

Keep it smiling!!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 06, 2016, 08:56:34 PM
Hi Guys,

Tis a strange world we live in.... Interesting times et al...

My words have hardly circled the globe.... and...(see the post from 2 days ago, regarding IP fine tuning...)

TM1 decided that it didn't like the timing it was set at.... So it adjusted itself... Lol... all the way retarded, until it quietly coasted to a stop... The timing lock nut somehow came undone and the timing bolt wandered its way inwards, no harm done, just a bit off-pissing as the braai (SA version of barbecue, just more meat and more beer compared to the rest of the world...) was 99% done and the ales were starting to warm... I flounced around for a lead light and set it by ear and good luck to a reasonable semblance of 20 degrees and then dashed off to devour the vittles...

Tomorrow's another day, timing can wait... I have finished making the spin on filter mounting, when I fit it tomorrow, I will set the timing to what it should be... But, here's a question, 20 degrees at max governor opening, or 20 degrees at max rack travel? Up to now, I have been setting at max rack opening, this is taking up the slack in the linkages by pushing the rack to the left... What I am going to try tomorrow, is setting it at 20 degrees when the governor pulls the rack to max of its travel... this might just make a bit of a difference,considering that on this beast, when the governor pulls the rack as far as it can, there is still a good few mm of rack travel the the governor cannot reach into...

Let's see how it works out... Any forecasts anybody?

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 07, 2016, 12:16:12 PM
Hi Girls...... (let's see if anybody responds to the jibe  :) )

Its pee-ing with rain today, so nothing much is gonna happen if I can help it!(A welcome respite from 30C weather!!)

So..... The devil did make for some entertainment for idle hands!

Last night, when the timing did its thing, I was .... well let's just say "rushed" to get TM1 up and going again.... A close approximation is really just not good enough in my books, particularly where it comes to timing on this beast... So, how could I make my life easier or quicker or more accurate where it comes to setting the timing...?

A bit of head scratching occurred and I came up with a quick and easy...

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Timing Tube 20160107 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Timing Tube 20160107)

The Black plastic tube and clear tube are from a Bic ballpoint pen.... the rest is out of the scrap tray with a bit of lathery to make it all hang together.... Incidentally, the thread on the top of the IP non return valve is close enough to 14mm x 1.5mm pitch if you are looking to tap out an old collar like I did....

My Idea is as follows... With this small diameter tube, a small amount of fuel will travel a considerable distance up the tube, making timing just that little bit (or maybe a lottle bit) more accurate than trying to watch for meniscus change on the top of the IP non return valve fitting with the injector pipe disconnected....

Now, my second part of my idea is as follows.....

1) Back off the timing bolt by a good few flats on the spanner, maybe 2 or 3...
2)Advance the engine through at least 1 full rev to 20 degrees BTDC...(don't move it backward or forward after this...)
3)If the timing tube is in place, wipe the mark on the ceiling where it squirted....Empty the clear pipe on the timing tube so that there is no fuel visible...
4)start advancing the timing by adjusting the bolt, slowly...
5)as soon as fuel appears in the timing tube, lock the bolt down with the lock nut....

Will it work to do this.... stuffed if I know.... but if it does work, it should be about the most accurate way of doing it....(Assuming your TDC mark is spot on and you don't have a majorly worn pump element)

Any thoughts?

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on January 07, 2016, 01:05:43 PM
You have built a basic "capillary tube" which is exactly what Lister service training calls for. Apart from a few minor changes in how you approach the timing mark with your crankshaft/camshaft you seem to be right on with the method.
A person can also use a plain old fuel injector line for the purpose, but in that case you cannot see the fuel movement except when it exits the top of the tube. In that case you would roll the engine backwards through the timing point and watch for the precise point where fuel STOPS flowing. Of course one will need a properly marked flywheel for the timing point... that is another topic.

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 07, 2016, 01:37:57 PM
Hi GMan,

Yep...had one of these a long time ago... was lent out and never came home probably.... Don't you just hate it when that happens....

Personally I don't like the spill timing method, its messy! (and fumbling around with little bits and bobs ie the non return valve, at night in the dark isnt too good for me these days... A 5 minute timing job ends up being a 1 hour "where the @#%$ did that go" job...LOL...Signs of age I suppose...)

As to the bolt advance method to advance the timing spot on, it works..... if you can get the spanner to the head of the timing bolt... In the end though, practicality prevailed and I rocked the engine back and forth about 180 degrees to set and verify the timing.... The capillary tube works a treat - its around 1.5mm ID, easy to see and easy to fit....(Now, bear in mind that there's nothing wrong with my eyesight, its just that my arms are too short.... So, as part of the test, I set the timing pretty much by feeling for the timing mark on the flywheel and watching the blurred stripe of the fuel level in the capillary change... Me without glasses for anything less than 4ft focal point is about the same as wearing a badly folded blindfold for anybody else.... This should make my life easier in the future, even at night!!)

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on January 07, 2016, 01:59:04 PM
Sure is nice when I am working on an old original that has the timing window in the side of the pump and all one has to do is align the marks.
 I dont like spill timing either so when timing up a windowless Indian pump I use a specially bent fuel line and and injector to squirt fuel in the face of the flywheel. This works best for me.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 07, 2016, 10:14:54 PM
Hi 38ac,

I like the injector squirt method too... I did try it and it worked well. What I found with it, was an inherrently more accurate way due to the fact that it allowed for the slight delay in popping the injector.. When I set mine up using that method, there was a consistent 2 or so degree lag between the static timing and the dynamic way... I put it down to the little bit of "stretch" that was in the piping as the fuel system rose to pop pressure... What I found out eventually though, was that as the IP element wore, the slower the engine was turned over, the more retarded the timing appeared due to a bit of slip on the start of the injection stroke on the IP... Ultimately, this low speed slip caused me to consistently set the injection event too advanced, causing a fair amount of diesel knock while running... Luckily, I am fairly well versed with the amount of knock that should be present, so I am able, by and large, to set the motor by "ear" so as to speak... Setting it by spill or capillary, at zero pressure, works best for another reason for me too... The pump is slightly worn, depending on fuel viscosity, the injection event also changes a bit too... Likewise with pop pressure as well... An interesting thing I noted, was when pushing up the pop pressure a bit, the timing retarded slightly, but with a bit better atomisation, it seemed to balance out... the same thing occurred when I dropped the pop pressure... timing advanced slightly, lower atomisaton rate, similar or very close ignition characteristics... When I timed it dynamically, with a high pop pressure, it was a bit knocky, similarly when I timed it with a low pressure, it was sluggish and a wee bit underpowered..

I played around with a super long injection line, about 1m or so, it was quite interesting to note the difference in performance when you ran it on test, then swopped lines and ran a similar test again on a short line... Something definitely does change.... One would think that the non return valve would cater for this change in line length, possibly it does, but there is definitely a difference in the injection event, you can even hear it as a different tone creak as the injector pops off... Possibly it alters injection needle bouce frequency? Who knows? But I can tell you, it wasn't for the better... Keep the lines as short as possible....

The static method does definitely give a more accurate setting, for me anyway, particularly if the element has a good few hours on it... I am still trying to fathom a simple, reliable and easy way of making up a mechanism to advance or retard the injection from a nominally correct setting, whilst the engine is running... That would be the bees knees as far as I am concerned.... Any suggestions?


On another note... Eventually pulled my finger out of rear orifice and fitted the Micro In Line Filter..... let's not abbreviate that one, shall we... seems to be OK, ran the beast to temperature and then swopped the straight line out with the return filtered one when it was nice and warm... it would be interesting to see what garbage it collects over its lifetime....

Right, enough rambling from my side...

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 08, 2016, 09:22:13 AM
Hi Guys,

Some interesting thoughts....(Well to me anyway...)

When I installed TM1 and was running him just about full time, one thing I noticed was that the crankcase temperature seldom got above about 45C or so(This is after a good couple of hours running too).... I played with Cyl head temps, water jacket temps, restricted cooling to radiator and or entire machine... It warmed up a little in the crankcase department, but not dramatically...I had a constant concern that the bottom end was not reaching true/correct operating temperature...

Then the big end went bang.....

When I reassembled and rebuilt the bottom end of TM1, about the only things that were different between the old and new crank setup wise, were:
1)Seating of the lower end of the cylinder was reduced by removing all spacers/gaskets and installing a bond paper spacer in place thereof
2)Main TRB's were shimmed to the correct clearance/endplay as opposed to around .4mm interference if I remember correctly ... (Caused run-out on the flywheels it was so bad)
3)An extra large and long, as well as ported dipper was installed on the conrod cap....

Now... Item 1 might cause the crankcase to warm up a little, but not by too much I dont think... Item 2 would cause the bearing trumpets to run cooler...

Item 3 - This has had the greatest effect on the temp distribution - I would go so far as to say that if your cylinder is not roughly the same temp as your crankcase, maybe within 5 or 10 degrees difference, that there is insufficient splash lubing from the dipper... thinking back, many years ago, I always remember the crankcase of these engines, the Lister's that is, being hot to the touch... Not so hot that you burnt yourself, but hot enough that it was a bit uncomfortable to hold your hand on the CC main door... Bear in mind, ambient temp around this part of the world is around 25-35C depending on your location, so around 25 to 35 degrees or more above ambient for the crankcase after extended running(just an estimate, if anybody wants an accurate i will IR shoot it)....

This might be an easy way to determine if you have enough splash going on inside to cool and flush the turny bits.... The actual lube side of things needs very little splash to do its job, but the oil in an engine has another job too - cooling and flushing.....

The dipper I have made is way "over the top" ... it clears sump bottom by about 10mm and with the weir full, it dips way below the surface, it is about 25 to 30% wider in section as it enters the oil too... I have found no increase in oil consumption or smoking compared to previous, also I have found no excessive leaks from the additional splashing happening...(barring a very tiny little seep between the cylinder and CC deck...There might be a burr on the deck that is messing around with my super thin bond paper shim...)

As to the holes on the top of the big end bearing, I am not so sure that these are oil entrance holes.... more exit holes.... but that is another discussion for another time..... :laugh:

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on January 08, 2016, 11:30:35 AM
There is most definitely a growth in the high pressure line during the injection event, it can be felt with the fingers when the engine is running. A longer line would indeed delay injection all other things being equal this is why multi cylinder engines must have equal length lines to have equal cylinder timing.  Worn parts also delay timing as you have correctly summized.  The local Amish, to whom nothing is worn out until it is actully worn out times 2 will run the pumps until more fuel is leaking out from under it than is going to the injector, how they get the engines started is beyond me? I keep telling them there is a price to pay for running junk fuel, it aint a freebie ;) We install a new element, lap the delivery valves, wipe up the tears after we pry some cash away from them and send them on their merry way ;D.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 08, 2016, 01:18:57 PM
Hi 38,

Kinda sounds like it is around this part of the world too.... Just not the Amish and engines I deal with.... Kinda strange if you look at the big picture, major inconvenience to get the piece of apparatus running, it pees fuel or chews electricity because it is worn out, costs 3x as much to run ongoing in current condition from a time/resource/effort point of view, yet can be repaired/reworked at a cost about equivalent to a days running... which will be recouped in a short space of time by savings/overhead reduction.... Yet.... ... ... .. .. . .

Hmm.... I know somebody like that only too well.... Me.... I would rather spend an hour or 2 of my time repairing, let's say... a mousetrap...... rather than buying a new one....Lol...(but it is a better mousetrap when I am finished!!)...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on January 08, 2016, 07:57:49 PM
About the time they are peeing fuel, they do it 24/7, unless the fuel is shut off at the tank. Then you lose prime. Ask me how I know. My first IP pump rebuild is running like a champ.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 08, 2016, 10:04:25 PM
Hey Tom,

How old was your pump in engine hours before rebuild was needed, and how many hours since the rebuild?

I stuffed up my IP element withing the first few hours of running, thanks to some badly water contam'd pump bought diesel... thank goodness it was into a can and not into the Ford... a pump rebuild on the pickup coulda hurt bad....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on January 08, 2016, 10:24:55 PM
It was around 2100 hours, now at 2330 hours. There is not a Racor water separating fuel filter in the system. Apparently it was caused by water in the fuel, but it had a lot of different crap run thru the crappy paper filter that came with it. I need to get me a barrel heater to deal with wet fuel if/when that happens again.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Hugh Conway on January 08, 2016, 10:57:50 PM
RE: Correlation between longer dipper and higher crankcase temp:

I have noticed same thing. My JKSON 6/1 daily driver has a shorter length dipper than my Dursley 6/1. Both dippers are solid and installed as designed with the edge cutting the oil rather than flat side. The Dursley dipper has about 1/4" clearance from the bottom of the sump. I can't say if there is a difference in oil consumption, as the Dursley is still being broken in, while the JKSON does not need oil added between changes and has just about 1000 hours on it. Of course, one has TRBs  and the other has sleeve bearings, otherwise much the same. The Dursley crankcase temp is significantly warmer after an equal running time.
The dipper in my Dursley was purchased from SEP and was too long to clear the crankcase, so I cut it down to clear. Maybe someone knows the actual correct length of a stock OEM dipper.
Cheers,
Hugh
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 09, 2016, 09:51:01 PM
Hey Tom/Hugh,

Tom, after the first stuff up with the watery dino, I now bring pretty much all fuel to the boil before I use it, but then again, I am a cheapskate and am using reclaimed oils only... since the first IP problem that is...

Hugh, I took a good look into the crankcase in both of my engines, and after much thinking and scratching my head, I can't see any real benefit to running the dipper in any other orientation other than crossways.... the more splashing around, the better I would think... if you start spewing oil from seals etc, crank vacuum is dodgy and needs attention... either in the rings department or in the vent department... but I cannot honestly see any benefit to less splash lube... if there is a valid reason to limit or lessen it, I certainly cannot see it...

The only reason I can see for shortening the dipper would be to allow a greater oil clearance below it in the sump/weir area to allow for more metal particles to slip into the apron, but, I don't think that a difference in dipper length would influence this greatly, maybe I am wrong though... anybody who has a better idea is welcome to correct me....

As far as I am concerned, when rings are bedded in, I am almost certain that you would need way more oil on the cylinder walls than what the max is that the dipper can put, to cause a problem... but maybe I am wrong.... What I can say though, TM1 is splashing oil around like a kiddy in a paddling pool, so far so good... There is certainly a logic to the angled dipper, throwing oil onto/into a less lubricated area, but with the dipper X ways, there is more than enough oil drenching everything... I just cannot wrap my head around the knife edge approach......

TM1 has a very bad seal between jacket and deck, even with the amount of oil being thrashed around, at full load, with the maximum gas being vented from the cc breather, there is less than a few droplets after a few hours running....

I have seen some long explanations regarding the dippers, but logic still tells me that the more oil flushing around, the better..

Your thoughts?

Regds
Ed

PS.... keep it spinning!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Hugh Conway on January 09, 2016, 10:47:42 PM
Re dipper orientation:
I'm no engineering whiz, just use my engines to produce power for my off grid homestead. I set my dippers up as per the original design, figuring they would know best at the factory, especially after all those years of manufacturing. That said, we have seen it done both ways by many on the forum with apparently no ill effects either way. Probably makes little difference, even if the dipper was just cylindrical in shape. If one opens the access door when running, even with the dipper "cutting the oil", I can assure you that there is plenty of oil going to everywhere.....and I do mean everywhere! Ask me how I know ;D
Cheers,
Hugh
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on January 09, 2016, 11:01:29 PM
With the flat of the dipper facing the oil the oil may foam.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 10, 2016, 07:35:41 AM
Hi Guys,

I ran the dipper both ways.... knife on was defs less splash hitting the crank, cam etc, with a much colder crankcase... Flat ways was quite a bit more, crankcase slightly warmer, more splashing obviously... Then made up a longer tube dipper that penetrates the oil and clears weir bottom by about 1/2 inch or so.... That's a real splasher, crankcase gets hot now... I don't think the heat is from threshing the oil either, but rather wicking the heat away by conduction because its hitting everywhere.... it might be a bit excessive, but no ill effects so far... also not enough to foam as yet..

Keep it spinning...

Regs
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on January 10, 2016, 02:45:50 PM
When the original Lister CS was designed the lubricating oil technology was quite different than today. I am pretty sure that our modern diesel lube oils include a good anti-foaming additive among other things. The purist would most likely prefer the knife-edge approach to dipper installation, but as long as you are not forcing oil out through any seals, rings or gaskets, then not likely any problems either way. These engines do not typically have any heating issues with their lower ends.

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 11, 2016, 08:37:59 AM
Hi DMan,

Agreed re the anti foaming, and about the dipper too... If this were an original "Show" engine, I would stick to authenticity above non-documented OEM improvements/changes for sure... As to the leakages, the oil penetration from velocity on the seams and gaskets doesn't seem to be a problem at this stage... the oil is defs hitting places it never got to before, so in my opinion, this is a good thing... I do notice, that there is a small amount of seepage on the sliding assemblies, ie cam followers and injector plunger, so far the injector plunger is the only one that has enough oil seepage to cause a few drops to be wiped up at the end of a 5 hour run...no oil out of main seals etc....

On another note - I have a spreadsheet of fuel consumption/power generation/maintenance/downtime/etc that I have been keeping up to date since TM1 went into service(and before) .... would anybody like to download it to see what the numbers are in a real world situation? (for your own info of course...as they are for mine...)

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 11, 2016, 12:15:33 PM
Hi Guys,

Here's some interesting things I picked up about the flywheels on TM2...

I am busy giving him a cursory going over, checking things I specifically had problems with on TM1, as well as any other little bits I notice on the way...

Flywheel balance was a big problem on TM1, so I have started with that and found the following on TM2:


Flywheel 2: 170g or so out of balance - casting flaws on a large section of rim and bad casting flaws in the center boss... up to 10-15mm deep by the looks of it.. See pics:

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 Bad Flywheel Casting 20160111 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 Bad Flywheel Casting 20160111)


Flywheel 1: 310g out of balance at rim - Rim thickness relatively even - Spoke thickness relatively even... My concern is with a balance error of 310g, this means to me that, there is a 310g or equivalent, void in the material on the "light side" of the flywheel.... This is kinda scary, because this equates to a rather large sand pocket, or somewhat smaller, but not much, porous/missing/void area in the rather heavy, projectile capable, turny bits.....

(Note: TM1 and TM2 are both CBW units, so there is no "cast-in" counter balance weight in the flywheel proper..)

To you gents out there.... Opinions please!!

Keep it spinning....(safely)....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on January 11, 2016, 12:36:35 PM
310G is a little less than 3 cubic inches of cast iron, 1 1/2 C.I missing on one side and 1 1/2 C.I. too much on the other side.  Internal voids are of course a possibility but it also doesnt take much variance in thickness one side to the other to make that 3 cubic inches if it is spread out over a large area. Just  a bit thin on one side and a bit thick on the other could easily be it.  The first operation after casting is the center hole, then the rim is machined, it would not take much of a miss calculation on the center hole to cause your situation.  I have seen enough holes drilled in flywheel rims to easily make 3 C.I of iron.  Safe or not depends on if the problem is due to core shift, machining error or internal flaws in critical area, There no way for me to make that determination from where I sit.  
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 11, 2016, 01:25:20 PM
Hi 38Ac,

Well put!! I think you are right about the minor dimensional differences, must admit, I didn't think flywheel one through clearly... Forgot about the 50/50 spread of mass due to a bit of off-center machining/casting....

And the other wheel with the bad voids around the boss and cold pour on the section of rim?

Your comments are appreciated!!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 11, 2016, 04:00:13 PM
The photos of voids in hub and rim do give me pause and also make one wonder what's in the same casting that's NOT visible.  I don't know cast iron flywheel safety issues well enough...

I hope 38AC and/or Gary (dieselgman) will comment on the relative safety of running these.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 11, 2016, 07:48:40 PM
Hi Bruce,

Let's just say that I have been around something about the size of a lister flywheel and only slightly lighter that has let go from an over speed.. Fortunately it was in a controlled test environment, we were speed testing a rather large billet grinding wheel in a dedicated testing machine... that beast only weighed in at about half the weight of a flywheel... damn... my ears start ringing just thinking about it!

I hope 38ac and Gary pop in with their .02 worth.... on the mental exchange rate of experience, their .02 is worth $1000 to me!

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on January 11, 2016, 07:50:49 PM
.......On another note - I have a spreadsheet of fuel consumption/power generation/maintenance/downtime/etc that I have been keeping up to date since TM1 went into service(and before) .... would anybody like to download it to see what the numbers are in a real world situation? (for your own info of course...as they are for mine...)....

I'd like a copy, is it something you can host on a server, or email to folks ?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 11, 2016, 07:59:15 PM
Hi Mike,

If I don't get too snowed under tomorrow,  I will pop it on my server and give a link on this page... I need to clean out some private data from the file first, then its a for away....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on January 11, 2016, 09:17:04 PM
Edee ,
I couldn't view those photos earlier when I commented. That flywheel  with that big defect in the rim is very troublesome, I think I would have troubles running that one and most certainly would not ship it to a customer.  You could fashion up a rig to spin it up to ??? RPM maybe 1500 or so??  and if it doesn't KAboom you might get away with it at 800 RPM,, I don't know?? Be sure to set up a video because if it does go the effects will be dramatic! 
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on January 12, 2016, 03:44:18 AM
Find a friendly tire shop and try their wheel balancer. Somebody should be doing the big rig truck tires. Their balance machine should have variable RPMs. 

Or a roll of filament tape ?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on January 12, 2016, 05:23:57 AM
The flywheel in question appears to have a number of troubling issues. The porous area around the hub could indicate some weakness there, and of course the balance issue with the rim voids is obvious enough. I would swap out that piece, anyone reputable with a concern for safety and reliability would do the same. We have seen many instances of the Indians burying such issues under their "finishing" bondo layers, eventually we hope to see someone truly enforce some QC standards. That is likely to require some serious investment due to the entrenched disregard for such things in the current overall business model. A lot of their cast work should be rejected back to the furnaces.

Lister/Petter was (and is currently) sourcing their engine blocks and other major castings directly from India, the reject rate in their Olathe Kansas plant was reportedly quite high for casting flaws and other defects. The price of doing business in the third world...
At the same time, I have seen a lot of very excellent iron and aluminum castings from the exact same sources.

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 12, 2016, 06:42:05 AM
Hi Mike,

Here is the spreadsheet with the info.... Have fun!!
http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Number Crunching (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Number Crunching)

Re the filament tape.... Hmm.... I think I will go cross-ply 10 Layer first with about 100 wraps of radial just in case.... Lol... Also, have a flywheel blow up on a balancer.... the "friendly" shop wont be friendly any longer.... This is a small town, I see tar and feathers in my future.....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on January 12, 2016, 06:55:55 AM
Wow, that's a spreadsheet !   thanks for sharing

So, was that the flywheel off the old engine, that had been running, or the replacement - i'd guess it's good for 600rpm ?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 12, 2016, 07:14:51 AM
Hi 38/Gman,

You guys pretty much mirror my sentiment - with the boss area weakened in the gib key area, this WILL give problems from a fixing perspective later on - it is not a dangerous flaw as such, but it will not hold the gib key in place with sustained running/pulsing long term. The porous CI will collapse over a period of time and the flywheel will loosen.

The rim on the other hand, is or could be dangerous - the section of cold pour/inclusion is fairly well bounded and can be visually discerned - up to around 5-600 RPM going by basic experience here, this rim should be ok. Above that and it would certainly be recc'd to speed test at the very least.  Speed testing at 2-2.5x the rated rpm would be sufficient. Herein lies a problem - There is nobody that I know that will be able to do this locally, and precious few that would do it nationally. I have been involved with destructive rotary speed testing(in the abrasives industry) in the past, and am familiar with the forces and impacts involved when turny bits go bang... I can assure you, it is loud, spectacular, frightening, scary.... bear in mind I repair guns for a living... they don't scare me.... those other things do!!!!

Speed testing of an item like this.... well lets just say that I worked out the energy involved with what would happen if one of my balance weights de-bussed from the flywheel - 170g traveling at 100km/hr... approx 15 grain to the gram ... balance weight of 2550 grain  .... 100km/hr approx 28 m/s .... now a 9mm para is around say 1000ft/s with a 120grn head... /3 to give approx m/s is 333m/s... around 10x faster than the weight... but the weight is 2550/12 ie 21x heavier than the 9mm head.... so roughly, very roughly speaking, the 170g weight will be leaving the wheel at about double the energy of a 9mm para.... and thats only 170g.... now.... the mind starts boggling when you envisage a 10 000g chunk of ci flying .... artillery school anybody?

Kinda scary huh....

I have dropped pics to the supplier, lets see what he says....

Keep it flying...

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 12, 2016, 07:16:02 AM
Hi Mike,

That pic was the flywheel off the new engine, TM2, I havent run it yet....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on January 12, 2016, 12:54:39 PM
Ed,
I knew from reading your posts that you are very much smart enough to not spin that flywheel up inside the shop or even near anything that could be damaged so I didnt make that comment so as to not insult your intelligence ;)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 12, 2016, 03:27:25 PM
Hi 38Ac,

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Not to worry... no harm done.... was just a tad worried someone, somewhere, sometime.... You know how the story goes!! (Everything read on the internet is 100% true isn't it?)

I agree though, it would be something to see in slo-mo.... Picture the scene.... 1/2 a flywheel doing a boomerang looping flight at 100km/hr slowly disappearing over the horizon.... The camera pans back to a 550kg lump of wildly gyrating Indian cast iron with 1 1/2 flywheels as it does a foxtrot cum tango across the property after breaking loose from its mountings..... and in the background a quiet voice says....."Bugger.......I woznt expectin' dat to appen!!"

But..... On another note.... Just got word from the supplier, a replacement flywheel will be with me as soon as they can freight it!  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Keep it smiling....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 14, 2016, 10:11:54 AM
Hi Guys,

Couldn't resist it.... No CC Door should be without a bit of custom "bling"....

http://www/warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 CC Door Bling 20160114 (http://www/warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 CC Door Bling 20160114)

Yep, hand tight is good enough.... did a short run and no oil was seeping, lets see how it does on this evenings' cogen run....

Keep it blinging!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 14, 2016, 03:13:24 PM
Hey Guys,

Can never have too much bling.... After making the bling-nuts, I couldn't resist getting my son to paint the inner of TM1's house.... If he's gonna look like Mr T, he deserves a nicer looking pad!

About all that I wanted to play with has now been played! I think TM1 will get a final touch-up of paint, and then be relegated to "cart-horse" status.... he is about to become a draft animal now, his son, TM2 will be the next toy on the bench.... Cant decide the route to take though, would like TM2 to be a more "portable" unit, lower RPM, say around the 500 or so, double flywheels maybe.... just cant decide.... possibly run him as a slave genset, coupling him in phase to TM1, or as an inductive, assisting, non-phase sensitive gen unit.... Suggestions?

The final paint-job on TM1's house - http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Closure Painted Inside 20160114 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Closure Painted Inside 20160114)

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 15, 2016, 02:21:51 PM
Ed

there was a guy on this forum years ago that used to work in the oil industry as a chemist If memory serves me correctly.

And his comments on the distillation of any oil was that it is a very dangerous undertaking. And you would eventually have an explosion of you still.
The cracking of oil is fraught with unseen dangers. But I also have considered trying to do it. Just saying watch your self or you could find yourself in a situation like you talked of with the broken flywheel or grind stone flying through the air only this time the propulsion will be from exploding petrol. and the debris will be the lines or tanks the oil is being boiled in.

Bill swan

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your concerns, its great to know that other people are looking out for you!!

I am aware of the dangers and concerns regarding the distillation and fractionalisation of liquids, it was, whilst working in a lab, that I got "a bit of" (yeah, I know, a bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing... but at 50+ I still have most of my body parts and intend to keep it that way!!) practical experience with it... It is certainly not something that can be taken lightly and frivolously, 300C and above kinda makes living things die.... especially if coated thoroughly.... the quantities involved do not make much difference to the dangers involved either, something that is often overlooked. But, if you look at it closely, approach the problems cautiously, and take note of the dangers and risks involved, it can be done..... I would rather personally be working on an oil still than let some people loose with a chip fryer.... ::) ::) ....

While on the note of oil distillation, I might have come up with a dandy little self feeding, continuously operational oil still design, powered by a mini heat exchanger at the first exhaust bend.... I will run a few temperature tests this weekend probably and see if it will be a viable undertaking.... Key aspects must be: Safety, Safety, Production Rate, Safety, Ease of Cleaning, Safety, Convenience, Safety, Ease of Startup, Safety, and of course....Safety!

I am not looking at fractionalisation at this stage, simply boiling off and condensing to see tar and solid removal will be a success, and what quantities can be processed on the micro scale.......

Of course, there is always an ulterior motive, I need to replace the first exhaust bend with a "T" joiner plugged on one end anyway to facilitate inspection and decarboning should it be required..... Kinda suits the need for the place to put an EGT probe in too....

Keep it Spinning.....

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on January 15, 2016, 04:16:10 PM
Going to loose a lot of btu 's if the light ends are vented to atmosphere instead of into the engine's air intake. Of course run away protection will be required.
   
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 15, 2016, 05:26:03 PM
Hi B&D,

Plenty losses indeed, I am expecting that by and large... I am just keen to see what ratio gets broken down to gas/liquid/solid at STP ... If too much of the light ends can't be condensed at STP and too much goes off into the wide blue yonder, the process will be a bust as far as fuel processing goes.... I am also not keen at all to catch and compress LPG or similar, the rate of production of gaseous product, I am hoping, will be pretty low once condensed... Also, this entire process will be performed in a very well vented and open area (relatively speaking), so heavier than or lighter than air byproducts will not accumulate at all.... I am also defs gonna make sure that TM doesn't snort it in... Last thing I want is a runaway situation....

As to energy losses for the heating of the goop, I will be pulling that from the first foot or so of hi temp exhaust gas, so it won't cost me anything in the grand scheme of things I don't think... particularly as there is still a fair amount of residual heat lost from the last 4m of stack anyways, and that is after I have reclaimed as much heat as I can currently use with the existing heat exchangers.... if the goop doesn't process nicely, there are two paths open to me, either scrap the distillation bits completely and plug the T piece or, possibly better, remake the mini boiler from stainless(its a small length of pipe, so no big thing) and process and distill good old H2O... Distilled water is always handy, from an aspect of long term storage for drinking, to use in battery cells....

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 16, 2016, 11:36:43 PM
Hi Guys,

Part one of mini still is now in place...

I pulled off the first exhaust elbow today and replaced it with a 2 1/2" T piece... Took a bit of fancy guestimations in the length department to get it all back together... actually it was no real biggie, just had to thread some custom length pipe nipples to keep exhaust in the right place... there was not too much room for error as the pipes we were mating to have plumbed in heat exchangers for the house... just took a bit more time than I wanted, measure thrice, cut once!

At the end of it all, all I have to show for it is an itchy and scratchy body after unwrapping the fibreglass lagging which is well cooked and brittle by now... its amazing the places you develope itches when that fine stuff blows around.... :o

After we got the T in place, I installed a reducing bush in the top end, at 90 degrees to the exhaust flow, and stuck the pyrometer in to get a feel for the EGT we would be playing with under normal conditions.... At 50% load(10A@220V), the EGT hovers between 350 and 390 C... at near full to full load(20A@220V) we end up at around 550 to 600C.... These measurements were taken at about 10" from the exhaust flange, right where we will position the boiler bottom probably.... The thermocouple was encased in a 6mm steel line and lowered into the gas stream, readings were taken after the temperature stabilised....

While I had the pyrometer going, I looked at the effect of WI on EGT and head temperature... Quite interesting...

Under normal running, 4L per hour or so WI, the above temps were taken. Start heavy flush, 3-400 ml per minute, and a sudden spike in EGT is noted, probably due to better heat conduction and transferring heat from the combustion chamber into the exhaust system. Maintain the hi flow, and EGT starts dropping rapidly as the heat is carried away from the motor internals to the exhaust proper... After going back to 4 to 5 L / hr, the EGT is about 5 to 10 degrees hotter than previous, once stabilised.... After an hour or so, the EGT has declined to the original measurements taken... I surmise that this is due to a small soot boundary layer that forms under normal running conditions... The WI boost is not really long enough to influence the head and coolant temps to any great degree... if I run a medium amount of water through the system, around 8L/hr, sustained for 2 to 3hrs, the head and coolant temp drops by about 10 to 15 degrees and maintains... this is around 125ml per minute if I calculated it out right... EGT climbs initially, then drops down and holds at around 250-300C... This tells me that there is little to no water in the exhaust stream, all is converted to steam in the cleaning process.... (Daytime air temps were around the 20 to 22C for all you purists that want to work out the exhaust energy capacity...)

Another interesting thing I noted, little to zero carbon buildup in the exhaust proper, in that first stage of heat exchanger that I really expected to clog up.... Note: 1700hrs plus, of questionable fuel and varied load conditions.... interestingly, barring the dark colour, the texture of the internal galvanising on the pipes can clearly be seen in the longitudinal weld area... this tells me that there is less than .2mm or so of buildup ... absolutely awesome! With this performance, it is actually a waste of time to make the exhaust that brushes may be inserted for cleaning.... why bother?

Tomorrow I will be doing the itchy and scratchy thing again.... re-lag the header pipe with fibreglass tape..... I wonder if my son is coming to visit.... I am sure I could play waiter and ferry the ales while he lags it..... I wonder if he will catch on to my sly trickery...

Right... enough said....

Keep on scratching....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on January 17, 2016, 12:47:58 AM
Just watch out for breathing in any of that itchy scratchy stuff... known to cause lung cancer for sure. A close-fitting respirator mask would be well advised.

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: broncodriver99 on January 17, 2016, 06:04:42 AM
Tomorrow I will be doing the itchy and scratchy thing again.... re-lag the header pipe with fibreglass tape..... I wonder if my son is coming to visit.... I am sure I could play waiter and ferry the ales while he lags it..... I wonder if he will catch on to my sly trickery...

I insulated my attic today. 2 showers later I think I finally got all of the fiberglass out. I feel your impending pain.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: George A on January 17, 2016, 01:35:36 PM

"..... I wonder if my son is coming to visit.... I am sure I could play waiter and ferry the ales while he lags it..... I wonder if he will catch on to my sly trickery..."[/quote]

"Youth and skill will never overcome old age and treachery"........my personal mantra  ;D.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 17, 2016, 09:04:24 PM
Hi Guys,

Well, it was itchy and scratchy full time for me today! ....

Actually, I am making a rather large mountain out of a very tiny spoon of sand... the lagging was only about 2 feet's worth of pipe, triple and quadruple lagged in places, but the close confines of the closure means you actually have the exhaust just about up your nought to do it... Let's say it was unpleasant, but not intolerable....

More about the experiment currently on the go....

I installed a small steel 'cup' I'm the path of the exhaust gas flow, it is around 35mm dia, about 100mm long.... It is stepped about 1/2 way up and extends for about another 80mm or so with an OD of 42mm ... This is ring clamped using a split ferrule, so its height/exhaust restriction can be adjusted in the gas path... It is fitted entering into the top of the T piece I installed yesterday, the RHS of the T comes from the exhaust header, the bottom of the T feeds the start of the first water heat exchanger with the exhaust gas...

Temps as measured today, under normal load, 50% or so, ie 2.4kw, heated the oil in the cup to around 250C, it was starting to bubble and smoke, but not enough to class it as a full boil... There was just too much heat loss to allow it to get to temp fully... Also, the gas impingement area is just not enough to draw off enough heat to do the job properly... Unfortunately, because of the design of the exhaust system at header, there is no real easy way to improve matters to any large degree that I can see at this stage... If I make the heating cup longer and thinner and extend it into the inner of the heat exchanger tube, there is a chance that at the reduced diameter I will have to use, coupled with the additional length, there will be a vapour lock occurring and expulsion of hot oil under this vapour pressure... Not a good thing!

Possibly I might be able to install a brass rod to act as a heat wick, extending 100 mm or so below the base of the cup, going through the base of the cup and extending 20mm or so into the inside... This might just give me enough heat collection to get the bugger to boil, but of this I am not really sure.... The heat collected, easily boils off water, so all is not lost... As it now stands, the unit is way capable of being used for water distillation... All tests so far have been carried out with new lubricating oil, this is probably the most difficult for me to work with, as there are anti-boil inhibitors I am sure... correct me if I am wrong.... Also, if I remember correctly, the target temp for boiling the gunk off is around 300 to 350C, so I am about a third short on the temperature scale.....

I can make the mini heatex much more efficient at collecting the gas heat, but with doing that, cleaning will be a nightmare... If anybody has any simple and easily-cleanable ideas, now is your time to holler loudly!

Keep it cooking'

Regds
Ed

PS - Just read some of the balancing threads on this site.... interesting and informative... can't say I agree with everything, but I can video a very slow run up through the rev range to show what is possible.... Anybody interested?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on January 18, 2016, 04:00:09 AM
Of course we're interested! I like to think that all here are mechanical junkies. Speaking only for myself, yes, I am jonesing for slo-mo video.
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 18, 2016, 10:22:55 AM
Hey Guys/Ron,

I am busy prepping the vid now... Will have to edit and resize it a bit, I reckon 230+ Mb is a bit big.... The final output should be around 120Mb, still a bit big, but it is a 3 1/2 min file with sound....

I start TM1, and then hold it at a very slow idle, (something I don't like doing, I don't think the big end was designed for this sort of hammering), I then bring it slowly up to speed, holding it at the resonant frequency of the frame for a few secs (again, something I try not to do normally), then up to full speed and back down slowly again. After that, from the low speed, I allow it to climb to speed normally and turn on load, this is the normal rev pickup for him.... 

Notes:
1) The chassis is on steel wheels, resting on rubber pads to lessen ground thumping(This actually gives it a bit of bounce).
2) There are no restraints on the chassis to prevent it rocking backwards and forwards.(Little to no braking effect, it can be rolled by hand, just a bit of axle friction.)
3) Take note of the oil can balanced on the tappet cover for an idea of vibration, bounce and slide.
4) Watch for "Radiator Sway" when the whole unit hits the right frequency.
5) The wall plug, High Left, that I reach across to, controls the 220v "starter motor with rubber tyred wheel" on off... Out of frame, at the bottom of the chassis is a pedal that I depress to engage the rubber tyre/motor with the flywheel.(Motor is 0.75kw, 1400 RPM with a single pulley reduction)
6) On the Genhead, there is a trip switch I engage to power the house, I built an auto-cutover circuit that swops utility/gen when there is output power from the genhead.
7) Yeah, I know, there is still a bit of paintwork to be done...particularly on the blue day-tank and inlet manifold, I will get around to it soon....I promise!
8 ) The video ends with a shot of the load and voltage, around 2 1/2KVa....
9)Between the radiator stand and engine, there is a pressure gauge on the pipe on the wall... As I turn on output power from the genhead, the hot water cogen pump brings the system up to pressure, the coiled cable with a yellow plug is just a temp install to check a temperature reading, normally its not there!!
10) The black Cable going to the inlet manifold is linked to a shutdown handle in the house from the shutoff lever....."Old School"...
11)Its a Ruger .357 Stainless "Service Six" .... ::)

Enjoy the vid and post some comments!!

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Videos/TM1 Slow Startup and Vibration Demo(0).avi (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Videos/TM1 Slow Startup and Vibration Demo(0).avi)

Keep it spinning!!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on January 18, 2016, 05:38:18 PM
How about uploading that vid to youtube? The server it's on is really slow right now.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 18, 2016, 09:22:52 PM
Hey Tom,

How about this https://youtu.be/-eAtQRzR4PI (https://youtu.be/-eAtQRzR4PI)

Dunno if it will work.... hope it does...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on January 18, 2016, 09:43:16 PM
That looks pretty darn smooth to me.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on January 19, 2016, 12:20:28 AM
Sweet machine!   ;)

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on January 19, 2016, 12:35:34 AM
Very nice!
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 22, 2016, 09:35:06 AM
Thanx Guys!!

Your comments and advice are appreciated!!BIG TIME!!

I am pretty much happy as all things stand now with TM1 - his final coat of paint has been applied - About the only thing to do is to neaten up all the dangly bits and maybe put on an overheat sensor/alarm.....

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Final Paint 20160122/IMAG0673.jpg (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Final Paint 20160122/IMAG0673.jpg)

and

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Final Paint 20160122/IMAG0674.jpg (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Final Paint 20160122/IMAG0674.jpg)

He is in pretty much daily service now, about the only thing left unanswered is the top ring life now that a double top ring has been installed....Time will tell!

You learned gents out there: I have procured a goodly number of 2mic sock filters (absolute according to supplier) and ran via gravity, about 20-30L of WMO through one as a test.... There wasn't much, if any major filling restriction when I poured it through... Your comments please? (The oil was a regular mix of gunk out of a diesel tractor sump, no coolant, a bit of paraffin/diesel, was left to settle for a few days in the hot sun...40C or so....poured through at around 25C.......no sediment was poured.... Your experience with WMO/WVO and sox would be appreciated.... I have used sox before, but only in the water treatment line with di-earth and gravel....

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed

PS - Wow...OMG... WTF... Unreal....

I have just sat down after a filter, fill and start of TM1....

The last of my really bad sump gunk has been used. We got hold of around 150L of "fresh" gunk in 5L containers yesterday and I left it for basic settling for a 24hr period. This was then sock filtered only(its dry and no coolant....and I am lazy...) and 30L put into the thumper... No diesel to thin, no other preparation done... TM1 is running awesome, revs are up about 10%, I had to turn down the governor.... There is little smoke at about 90% load, very little diesel knock relatively speaking.... The difference is like night and day compared to the other stuff.... This is really food for thought. All I can say regarding this batch compared to the other content-wise, is that this is all in 5L containers, roughly matched to the vehicles they came out of. This lot of sump stuff is pretty much from petrol engines only.... Now, this coming week, I start using the rest of the batch that is in diesel oil 5L containers....Any forecasts on what the results will be?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on January 22, 2016, 03:59:59 PM
I don't see how the fuel, could require re-adjusting the governor ?  At so many RPM, the weights move, and adjust the throttle. 
 Was any de-burr or spring tuning done in the governor circuit at all?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 23, 2016, 07:08:35 AM
Hi Mike,

Makes no sense to me either... A change in fuel should only cause very minor changes, almost imperceptible, enough to make the rack close a little more than usual... maybe a couple of rpm difference allowing for mechanical tolerances vs spring tension...but, there was a marked difference...

I actually think there is something else on the go... late yesterday, the timing started to retard quite badly, I advanced it a bit to keep going and found that the IP was just about bottoming out.... Possibly the element is a bit dodgy, I will replace it today, might as well check the pop pressure while I am at it too...

I have noticed before, that when changing fuels, deposits tend to loosen and flush... maybe this is what happened and caused a bit of scoring on the element... who knows? Let's strip it and see...

Have no clue as to where a lump o shite hard enough would originate from... the filter/line/IP/injector hasn't been opened since the last time the tank was flushed and cleaned, maybe a piece of grit was lying in the low area of the fuel pipe and got shifted with me bleeding the system... school fees...

I will strip, clean and report!

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 23, 2016, 06:14:07 PM
Hi Guys,

Another day in Listerland, another dollar........(spent)....

Pulled the IP earlier today and swopped out the element... Performance was terrible.... at 20A........, let's just say it never got there.....

So..... enough of this bs...... pulled off the entire pump and put the pump on from TM2..... performance is reasonable, smoking less, doing 20A again, running slightly cooler......(and running straight unthinned sump gunk again....)

What have I learnt...... larger IP element gives more initial fuel to the burn, gives better combustion overall.... the previous element, and the one before, were 8mm .... the original is a 10mm bore element... it looks like the 10mm gives a more substantial initial crack on the injector, causing the overall burn to be a bit better in toto....  With WMO anyway... When running dino, or thinner oils than straight WMO, there seems to be little difference overall....

Side remarks: the injector crack pressure is still at 2200psi, the timing is dead on 20BTDC, same engine and setup, no changes per se... After changing the IP, I had to drop the governor tension slightly, there is probably a small mechanical difference between the two IP's...

I am still puzzling over the speed variance yesterday when changing fuels.... I cannot duplicate it, so it might have been an anomaly due to contamination and the subsequent mech  failure of the element itself... (BTW Mike, no deburring, no tension change, no nothing... just mystery...)

On the note of IP element change, diameter wise anyway, it definitely affects the fuel burn characteristics, these are more pronounced with the less ideal fuels... A good initial dump at 20BTDC in a 12/1 cs engine seems way better than the lower initial dump and longer subsequent injection stroke to come up to equivalent injection volume that occurs with a smaller diameter element... I have been running 8mm elements in TM1 for quite a while, only today I swopped back to a 10mm element.... Comparatively speaking, this is about a 30% difference in area, so I guess its around about the same percentile difference in initial injection volume... Interesting....

One thing I noticed, to recap, the difference in realised output differed little between the two size elements when running decent fuels... obviously, the 10mm element yielded a slightly higher final/max output power, with more smoke etc, but in the 'clean running' range, there was little between them... remember, TM1 is down rated from 1000 to 750 rpm, so final power is arount the 8 to 9 HP range.... the 8mm IP element is what is recommended for the 8 to 10 HP engines if I remember correctly, but don't quote me....

Have any of you gents played with injection rates by changing IP element diameters? If you have, what experiences did you come up with?

Well, again I ramble on.....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on January 23, 2016, 06:47:36 PM
Just from memory, in the smaller air-cooled Listers the i.p. element size increments in one-half millimeter sizes from about 6mm to 8.5mm (and fitted to 3hp per cylinder up to 10hp per cylinder also in about 1 to 1 1/2 hp increments). To my knowledge this is dialed in to the engine's displacement and power-band (maximum output in the specific designed speed range). Most of them are typically designed for min 1200 and 2500 max rpm. I know from experience that dropping a smaller element into a larger displacement engine is acceptable as long as you are able to keep the total power demands below the overload stop on the pump (and de-rate accordingly for the smaller fuel delivery). Going the other way would likely produce unacceptable results regarding efficiency - the fuel burn rate and total combustion. Of course the CS operating at 750 rpm is a slightly different animal.

Your experiments are interesting and do test the original assumptions about fuel mixtures and burn characteristics... to really apply across many engines, there would need to be a lot of instrumentation and precise measurements included because there are so many variables involved.

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 24, 2016, 12:53:44 PM
Hi Gman,

Thanks for that info... Much appreciated!

This Beastie of mine has no overload stop, the governor 'pull' maxes out and the pump doesn't quite make it all the way open when pulled to the max... In fact it stops about 1/8 to 1/4" shy of max opening... while I had it stripped down, I took a look at what could be done to go into overfuel mode to make starting a bit easier, and it looked like the governor travel had been limited internally, probably by shitty assembly and alignment.... It is on plan to clean up the innards a bit and make things able to hit the max, but that will be done on the next rebuild I reckon... I will of course, put a limiter on it for normal running.

Incidentally, Mike, I am running a barrel of diesel engine sump gunk again, the revs have dropped off a bit, the governor seems a bit lazy so as to speak with this stuff. The previous stuff I was running was petrol sump gunk, it burns much easier by the looks of it... I think the rev increase I was picking up might be a governor deficiency, while it regulates satisfactorily for my purposes, the burn rate defs seems to affect the, or be affected by, the governor setup. Under normal condition, I have about 5%variance in speed/volts output, up or down. The better the fuel, the lower the variance seems to be. Probably had a fair amount of dissolved petrol in the last batch, giving a higher cetaine, hence a more responsive/sensitive governor... I actually don't know, just guessing... I can say, this batch that I am running on is very difficult to start, but maybe there is is another gremlin that's crept in that I am not aware of. I do know that my temp exhaust valve job is not going to hold forever, possibly I should just swop heads and see if there is any change, I am sure TM2 wouldn't complain, he is still waiting on the replacement flywheel anyway(and as of yesterday, a replacement 10mm IP element)....

Oh well, should I take the afternoon off, or should I tidy up the workshop, or should I change cylinder heads.....? So many decisions.... so few ales....

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 24, 2016, 05:37:23 PM
Hey guys,

No workshop got tidied, no cylinder head change, no afternoon off either...but... I did make up a small 500ml fuel tank... why?

Well, its not so much a fuel tank as a fuel funnel... I knocked it up out of a cooldrimk bottle, some plumbing bits and other bitsoshit I had lying around in the workshop....

I am really keen on playing around a bit more accurately with fuel mixes.... This mini funnel-tank allows me to make up a sample mix and run it through the machine to see how it performs... With the wide variance there is with WMO, this is about the only way I can think of in practical terms to test the fuel...

TM1 has a T in his food pipe with a ball valve on each end... one side is permanently plumbed into the day tank, the other was used as a port for the onboard original tank, now removed....

I ran some dino through the system testing the joints, all is well.....

Now, a question to ask... in practical terms, what colour exhaust smoke is acceptable? (How much obviously depends on engine capacity and revs).. let's say running at 1/2 to 3/4 rated load. I am keen to hear, and even possibly see, what other members find acceptable from a smoke point of view... I am choosing a 1/2 load point as this seems to me to be about the average load I have seen run from my set, obviously it ranges quite a bit, but it seems a good starting point.... Also, what fuel are you running, and with or without WI?

Keep on spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on January 25, 2016, 02:10:06 AM
About the only way to know is to plot fuel flow vs generator output. Find the point where increasing  % of fuel shows less % gain in power.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 26, 2016, 09:49:55 AM
Hi B&D,

Not overly interested in a power/consumption plot at this stage.... I am looking more at what everybody considers a reasonable exhaust gas colour - ie mild grey at 1/2 load or dark grey at 3/4 load or black tinge at 3/4 load....

Its a very lax/inaccurate thing, I am aware of this, and my "dark grey" could be your "black tinge"....Lol... just trying to get a feel for it...

For instance, at mid load, TM1 gives a very light grey, this dissipates within about 2m of the outlet....

It is NOT meant to turn into a "mine burns better than yours" fight.... it is just to get an indicator of what everybody's expectations and level of exhaust smoke are acceptable to each person individually... I, for one, think I am too critical of my exhaust emission clarity....(Oh, and to really throw a nice variable into it, when i turn on the water, on a cold day I get plenty of grey steam....same water rate on a hot day is only slightly visible....)

Keep on smoking....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on January 26, 2016, 03:10:20 PM
color of smoke
 I try to run as clear as possible, I manually adjust the battery charging load for about a 10 min warming period, gradually raising the load to 2700watts, which still gives me clear exhaust.  The IR thermometer on the the ex pipe reads 370F and quickly drops if I reduce the load.

I find at 2700w, the exhaust is nearly odorless, unlike my other diesel, 3600 rpm genset, which, while clear, stinks at any load
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on January 26, 2016, 03:19:56 PM
I was trying to say that stack colour is not a particularly accurate method to eyeball engine efficiency. Plotting fuel to output graphs to find the point of diminishing returns as fuel increases . Is the way to find the engine's "sweet spot". Compression ratio, injector spray pressure, fuel manufacture, injection timing , air temperature , coolant temperature , lube oil brand/viscosity and rpm will all vary smoke colour.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on January 26, 2016, 05:10:30 PM
A CS engine tested at the factory was required to pull a full load with clear exhaust, that was of course on #2 diesel, not that goop you run :D
  An interesting little fuel system piece that the Indian's choose not to worry about is the rack limiter.  The 8/1, 6/1 and 5/1 engines were never meant to be run at full rack with the standard 7MM element, not even close to it. Full rack was used only as an aide to starting, 'twas called the over fuel position. It was achieved by flipping the fuel stop over. Once the engine started and came up to speed the rack limiter came back into play and limited (severely) the rack moment and thus fuel available for work. 

As B&D suggested there is a point of little return then on to no return when adding fuel and the point of diminishing returns starts before visible smoke.  Instrumentation would not  be all that hard to set up and run I dont think? Certainly educational for a person who is into such?

You had asked earlier if anyone had played around with larger diameter fuel pump elements?  I have I kept my trap shut because its one of those things that a person must think through thoroughly prior to the attempt because bad things, very bad can happen if he does not.  I will say that my experiments are based around the need for a good and repeatable fix for the laziness in the CS governor, not increased power.   I reasoned that a large element would require less rack travel  to achieve an increase in torque when called for.  I am not going to list particulars here because i don't want people going out and ordering an element that will destroy their camshaft lobe in 15 minutes if they dont do all the needed work.  I will say that my experiments with large elements for engine driving alternators are VERY promising. What has not been worked out is the required rack limit stops in the manner of a production quality salable piece. The element I am running in my 8/1 KOEL engine is,, uh let us say VERY large.  Governor response is as good as any modern set. More o nthis once the shop is back up running and details are worked out, I promise.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 26, 2016, 08:37:53 PM
Mike:

Thanks for the info, much appreciated, interesting to note your warm up period.... I am not quite so gentle with my beast... I slow run for about 20 to 30 secs, allowing the lube to splash around a bit then put it straight onto working load once its up to working revs....

B&D:

Agreed re the accuracy point, but it does give an indication of potential carbon buildup in upper cyl and exhaust... as well as the most basic indication of burn... surely, lube oil, ring condition etc come into it, but on a reasonably sound motor, well...... enough said!

38ac:

Noted re the lister spec... Them injuns have a built in rack limit on mine.... the governor hasn't got a hope in hell of pulling further than its max point!

I have seen, when running on gunk, a large element makes a difference to power output/smoke emission, not because of more fuel, but because of more fuel earlier in the injection stroke... a small element, although giving sufficient power over the entire rack to max position, was very smokey at exhaust... the larger element, giving a bigger portion of fuel earlier in the injection event.... although final power output was largely similar, larger gives a cleaner exhaust, or seems to anyway... my thinking is more efficient, but only marginally to slightly more.. The downside is that because of the greater volume injected earlier in the injection event, is that the motor running becomes more prone to knocking.(Getting tongue tied here, but I think you will get my drift)

Agreed re running out and getting a bigger element just to try and get more power.... something will break.... for sure! But, by the same token, a larger element seems to be more tolerant to lower fuel quality by the looks of it, but again, take care, bad things can happen quickly! By and large, I am willing to risk TM1 by trying an even bigger element still, do you know offhand if there are 11, 12, or 13mm elements available? My local guys get a glazed look when I ask for anything even remotely out of the ordinary...they swore blind that a 10mm element didn't exist, even when I dangled it in front of their probosci....

By and large, so far, my playing leads me to the following relationship, albeit very general and maybe over simplified:
Lower revs - you can go down in element size
Better fuel, or fuel with a higher cetane - go down in size
Lower quality fuel, or fuel with a lower cetane - go up in size.
Higher revs than rated....... don't go there....
But, if you go down in revs and down in cetane/fuel quality, element will probably be OK as standard!

In playing with the bigger bore elements, do you recall if there were any cam differences specd as far as travel etc?

Keep it pumping....

Regds
Ed

PS - I will admit, governor response does seem better with the larger element, so maybe its not my imagination....Lol...

PPS - design spec for me was 4 to 5 kw average - 4.4kw on diesel sump gunk yields medium volumes of black smoke, the same on petrol sump gunk yields grey to dark grey smoke, the same again on pure dino yields a light grey to clearish... but.... the sump gunks burn with less knocking and don't smell as bad as dino.... then.... the phase of the moon changes with the next batch of gunk, and everything is the other way round and upside down! Gotta love them listers......
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on January 29, 2016, 05:33:53 AM
  When rebuilding the injection pump in my PHW1 Krisler Petteroid. A 8mm pump element and nozzle from a PJW1 was used. The idea is to inject the same amount of fuel but shorten the injection event duration. To have all the fuel in the combustion chamber with less piston travel down the bore than a 7mm element would.
  Sadly the project is under the bench. Just spent enough $$$ on a snowmobile today to have rebuilt, balanced and blueprinted the Petteroid.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 29, 2016, 09:07:45 AM
Hi B&D,

Agreed, the larger bore pump will give a greater percentage of fuel injection sooner in the power stroke - This will improve the usable burn due to a slower burning fuel, ie higher viscosity etc - the danger is getting too much of a knock developing when running on the more "approved" fuels. The listers are pretty forgiving in this area due to the low bearing loading on the big end, but too much is too much.... I am trying to find an 11 or 12mm element, but the locals just dont really know too much or are unwilling to look beyond the spoonfed catalog... Really frustrating!

It would be interesting to see a graph of injection volume vs piston displacement or iv vs crank rotation for the two IP bores.... now if we could tie that up to a prony brake with some accoustic/optical/thermal measurement devices and do some practical playing to work out a relationship between exhaust clarity/knock/power/temperature output measurement with varying grades of fuel.......hmmmmm...... oops.... one thing missing from the equation.... time to do it all... :(

Keep it spinning.....

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on February 01, 2016, 04:17:00 PM


 do you know offhand if there are 11, 12, or 13mm elements available? My local guys get a glazed look when I ask for anything even remotely out of the ordinary...they swore blind that a 10mm element didn't exist, even when I dangled it in front of their probosci....

By and large, so far, my playing leads me to the following relationship, albeit very general and maybe over simplified:
Lower revs - you can go down in element size
Better fuel, or fuel with a higher cetane - go down in size
Lower quality fuel, or fuel with a lower cetane - go up in size.
Higher revs than rated....... don't go there....
But, if you go down in revs and down in cetane/fuel quality, element will probably be OK as standard!

In playing with the bigger bore elements, do you recall if there were any cam differences specd as far as travel etc?

Keep it pumping....

Regds
Ed

PS - I will admit, governor response does seem better with the larger element, so maybe its not my imagination....Lol...

PPS - design spec for me was 4 to 5 kw average - 4.4kw on diesel sump gunk yields medium volumes of black smoke, the same on petrol sump gunk yields grey to dark grey smoke, the same again on pure dino yields a light grey to clearish... but.... the sump gunks burn with less knocking and don't smell as bad as dino.... then.... the phase of the moon changes with the next batch of gunk, and everything is the other way round and upside down! Gotta love them listers......


Ed,
as far as I know the elements range from 6 to 10MM in .5mm inncriments.
Butch
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 01, 2016, 10:24:02 PM
Hi Butch,

Thanks for the info, by my searching and blank stares received down this part of the world, I kinda guessed it may be the case.... Would be nice to go up one size and see what the beast does....

I have been playing heatex games the last couple of days, I am finding that my heat store gets up to almost cylinder head temp and my cooling system starts to work overtime to try and keep the temp down. I have made up a bypass thermostat for the coolant heatex so that once the store gets to temp, the coolant heatex will be bypassed and isolated from the store to stop the store from back feeding heat into the coolant system...  hopefully I will get a chance to fit it tomorrow... the day temps have been 35 to 40C in the shade here, lately... and we are not even into the hottest part of the year supposedly for this area... certainly a crash course in cooling system design and beta testing... if it works now, it should work throughout the year.

Interestingly, I have found a soapy deposit forming on the inside of the coolant pipe works, it appears to be due to a too high concentration of PEG possibly.... I found it while I was re-plumbing the head coolant exit, I removed the outgoing elbow and installed a T... the end of the T now holds a temperature switch from a radiator so the electric fan responds way quicker than before, previously the temp switch was used on the top of the radiator, that one now controls a small upper fan on the radiator, it only kicks in when the radiator itself hits 80C... seems to work quite well...

Anyways, again I ramble...

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on February 01, 2016, 11:42:49 PM
There were some very informative pages on smokestack or somewhere with all the various Lister, petter and numerous other engine's injector body , injector tip, pump body and pump element info.
   I'll look for it if I don't forget.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 02, 2016, 09:40:19 AM
Thanx B&D, Much appreciated!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on February 02, 2016, 12:59:30 PM
Lots of information on Peter Forbes pages,
 http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/front.htm (http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/front.htm)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 03, 2016, 01:44:58 PM
100 000 + hour engine anybody? http://www.wcaeaps.com/machining/ (http://www.wcaeaps.com/machining/) .... Enough said...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 32 coupe on February 03, 2016, 08:42:33 PM

You missed all the fun with that guy !


Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 03, 2016, 09:21:13 PM
Hey 32,

Don't worry... its a small world... word gets round...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 04, 2016, 10:25:56 AM
Hi Guys,

Right, so some time ago, I installed a fuel line pre-heater wicking off heat from the CS plug to a brass bar, the injector line flowed into the bar and has a short stub connecting it to the injector inlet....

At the time, the "jury was deliberating" regarding the effectiveness of the heating of the fuel in the injector just prior to injection. The injector temp rose by some 20 to 30 degrees from previous with this thingus installed. Performance was found to vary... Effectivity has found to vary... Carbon and smoking after/during running has found to vary... Fuel consumption has been similar with little variance...

Now, bear in mind, the fuel I am using varies... does the pre-heater help? Possibly...? Does it make a marked difference and is it worthwhile for everybody? ... Probably not! (But it was a fun idea to play with!)

What I have found is that for general running, I semi disconnect it from its heat source and things work ok for me. If I get a difficult batch of gunk, sometimes, but not every time, if I reconnect the heat source it improves matters marginally.... Connecting and disconnecting the heat source is the difference between clamping the bar tightly to the CS plug or loosening it... Quick and easy...

It does add a variable to the box of tricks with burning sump gunk, so for me it is marginally worthwhile and sometimes does allow me to get through a difficult tankful without having to drain and re-blend...

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on February 04, 2016, 06:55:45 PM
http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/Bryce/Bryce4.htm
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 05, 2016, 10:13:33 AM
Thanks B&D,

Stuck away in your treasure trove of info, you don't perhaps have Bosch/Mico info too?

Cheerz
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 05, 2016, 12:17:38 PM
Hey Guys,

Here's an interesting one for you...well, it was a minor problem on my side anyway, and how I got around it....

On my cogen setup, the circ pump for hot water is powered by the engine itself, this is not coolant for the engine, but water heated by the exhaust exchangers mainly. The pump is electrical, running direct off the genhead. When the gen is shut down, the water stops circulating, and, hence, hot water pressure is minimal... Enough for a slow running sink, but not for showers etc.

To sort out this minor dilemma, I re-purposed a microwave timer - the el-cheapo "analogue twisty turny" one... This controls a relay to the hot water pump from within the house now.... If you want a shower and there is enough heat in the heat store, but the gen is off.... set to timer to 10 minutes and hit the showers, it switches the pump across to utility (or inverter) power for a short duration...

(A side benefit, if you connect your work light at the engine to the pump circuit, when you need to go outside in the dead of night to go start the beast or investigate a problem, no torches are needed!)

Keep it flowing....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 05, 2016, 08:42:40 PM
Hi Guys,

More of 'The devil makes work for idle hands'.....

I haven't been too happy with the cc breather valve of late, possibly its my imagination, but I have seen a few minor oil seeps here and there since I cooked the big end bushing... Maybe they were there before, or maybe I am getting tired of shining the paintwork, but it pretty much boils down to me actually having a fun time trying to top off the oil every now and then... Since the starter motor was installed, the geography between engine and gen head has become a little over populated... The previous breather and extension tube was probably working OK, but it was a little short and just a tad small in diameter for easy pouring into... As usual, the old saying, 'go big or don't go' kicked in and I quickly knocked this filler/breather up out of some bitso shitso I had lying around... it is all pretty much repurposed, so don't laugh too loudly (I have sensitive hearing and can hear across oceans) .... The upright is 1.5" gate pipe, the valve is an old 1.5" non return valve with the spring return removed, the cover is an old brass basin outlet that has been looking for a useful purpose in life since retirement.... http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 CC Breather Mk2 20160205 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 CC Breather Mk2 20160205)

Interestingly, the pipe length, coupled with the weight of the stopper in the valve, coupled with the resilience of the valve seat, coupled with the pipe diameter, coupled with the phase of the moon,Venus and the sun, added up to spot on the resonant frequency of the whole shebang... It is the first time I have heard an engine run with the breather pipe resonating and making more noise than the whole rest of the engine, exhaust included.... To stop this resonance, I first added a spring back into the valve, to no avail... I then threaded the guide on the valve inner and added a M6 nut to limit the opening of the aperture, this can be adjusted to hold the valve closed, or  adjusted to allow it to travel to wide open. At 750rpm, when the phase of the moon is just right of course, all I need is about 3 to 5 mm of opening to keep the crankcase nice and empty of air.... Resonance now gone! This is the first time in history that I have had to tune a crank breather... Exhaust and inlet manifolds... done plenty.... breather...just one!

Keep it tuning....

Regds
Ed

PS.... TM2's replacement flywheel arrives tomorrow... this will be interesting....

PPS... on another subject... way off track from the current train of thought... I recall seeing on my injector pump(Botch unit, 034) ...on the riveted on nameplate, it is marked  "9 deg BTDC"... Has anybody noticed this before? And if you have, what does this timing pertain to... any guesses? (Incidentally, TM2 has an identical pump, exact same markings....)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on February 07, 2016, 05:53:49 PM
  I was under the impression that a lot of injection systems while built by different companies. They tend to build under license a same/similar known proven design instead of re-inventing the wheel.
  I'll do some more research.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 07, 2016, 09:31:57 PM
Thanks B&D,

Much appreciated!

What an interesting weekend it has been... (You do remember the ancient Chinese curse, of course) .....

TM2's replacement flywheel arrived yesterday, carefully stowed in the boot of a car, on soft mats, luxury transport for a large, almost 100kg lump of cast iron... It was shrink wrapped and I unsealed it myself, after personally unloading it... The outer surface looked beautiful, one of the best castings I have seen on the roids, way better than TM1's and way better than TM2's original flywheel. I strung it up on the hoist and put it onto the balancing axle... What a letdown it was.... The flywheel was transported and lying on its inner face when I unloaded it, hidden between Terra transport/firma was evidence of less than skilled removal from the donor roid.... It looks like someone has used a 4lb hammer and smacked the inner face of the flywheel to try and shift it from the crank... Pics here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 Replacement Flywheel 20160207 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 Replacement Flywheel 20160207)

Now the dilemma... It still rings like a bell when tapped, although the rim is chipped and distorted in places by the hammer blows... It seems to be in reasonably good balance, there is little in the way of surface filler that is readily visible... but... should I accept it as is, dents and chips etc, or do I request a replacement that hasn't been abused by careless and negligent dismounting? (Or maybe I am just full of sh!t and I should just turn a blind eye)

Let's see what tomorrow brings, maybe my mood will improve and it will look better in the light of a new day...Lol...

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on February 07, 2016, 10:14:07 PM
Maddening situation, Ed.  I'd be ticked off, myself.  It would seem they had a gorilla with a hand sledge removing the flywheels.  Hopefully Gary or Butch can address the potential safety issue.



Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: TxBlacksmith on February 07, 2016, 10:53:18 PM
Is it just me, I cant access the pics again...timeouts or bad DNS for http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private  >:(
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 08, 2016, 08:12:40 AM
Hi Guys,

Internet went down for a few hours this side.... Hence my servers off line... They are back up and running, but the lines are a bit dodgy at the mo' .... Apologies...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 08, 2016, 09:47:42 AM
Hey Guys,

If kept, the minimum that would be required would be skimming of all rim faces, removal of outer coating, ultrasounding and magnaflux inspection. Way out of the budget....

Or.....

I have a 6000rpm electric motor here somewhere..... This could be a good one for Mythbusters....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on February 08, 2016, 04:37:16 PM
I concur... due to the unknown character of Indian cast-iron and the hammering and cracking/spalling damages caused around that rim I would reject that one for safety concerns. Ringing the item is a very good test for cracks in a forging like a crankshaft, perhaps less so in that cast flywheel.

I would not trust it.

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on February 08, 2016, 05:03:12 PM
It's junk in my book,,,
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on February 08, 2016, 05:08:01 PM
  I was under the impression that a lot of injection systems while built by different companies. They tend to build under license a same/similar known proven design instead of re-inventing the wheel.
 

They are,, and they did.
I use Bosch elements, racks and delivery valves to repair C.A.V., Bryce, MICO and of coarse OEM Bosch pumps and injectors.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 12, 2016, 05:24:09 PM
Hey Guys....

Alright, I confess... I am lazy.... but you all knew that anyway...

How to get away from oiling the valve train V1.....

I have a tiny bit of blow by on TM1, nothing serious, but enough to give a light oiling to the side of the engine block, enough to feel oily, darken the paintwork slightly after a 8 hr run, but that's about it...  Not having any old socks to use productively, I have cobbled a manifold together out of an old petrol filler neck from a VW beetle to redirect the few vapours there are into the opening for the injector in the rocker cover... May as well get the last bit of use out of them before they end up in the atmosphere .....

How's that for being a stingy bugger... Too mean to spend a teaspoon full of oil to keep things from squeaking.... Lol...

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 15, 2016, 09:35:18 AM
Hi Guys,

A minor report back for those interested....

Oil pyroliser/boiler...

I installed a mini oil still on the first bend of TM1's exhaust - It consists of a mini "steel flask" with about 100-200ml capacity and a 10mm dia x 100mm long brass "wick" traveling down the center of the down section of exhaust, in the main exhaust gas flow. By and large, regardless of how deep it is lowered into the exhaust flow, there is just not quite enough heat to be collected by the primitive exchanger design. A better, more efficient exchanger would work, but not in the space confines I have available. The "hassle factor" for cleaning exhaust carbon off the outside and residue from the inside means that the unit has to be very simple and easy to strip/clean - this unfortunately also lends itself to inefficiencies as the wick and outer has to be smooth with no finning...

It does come quite close to vaporizing the oils, lighter fractions up to about top level diesel are boiled off after a while and have been collected en masse with parrafins and the like, but the slightly heavier oils fail to vaporize fully (efficiently?)... Temperature maxes out at about 250C or so, maybe 300 (so there are possibilities).... I will I think, relegate this little toy to "later on when I have more time" status for further playing... (Or until I brew up a batch of rotgut.... hmmm.... 2 tots of Ole Lister with a dash of soda please......)

Keep it cooking!!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on February 15, 2016, 05:30:02 PM
A vacuum will lower the temps needed.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: billswan on February 15, 2016, 06:43:31 PM
great thinking TOM!!

If eddee had a vacuum pump hooked to the roid and also upped the load on the alternator so as to maximize exhaust temps it just might work.

Maybe use some of the power to preheat the oil.

The cleanup is going to be messy though.

Billswan
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 16, 2016, 05:55:09 AM
Hey Tom, Bill and Glort,

I have a vac pump or 3 plus etc but don't want to use them for this app... My main interest was to see if I could still or crack the oil on a "micro" basis using the simplest means possible... Exhaust gas is exiting at about 350 to 500C depending on load, but the setup I am trying out just doesn't have the balls to collect and scavenge quite enough of the available temp to boil the oil. I can go to a more elaborate exchanger, but the problems with cleaning fins etc become an issue that I don't want to get involved in.

It was worth a try, if for nothing else, an indicator of what is required should I decide to take it further...

Glort, I agree pretty much entirely with your summation and opinions, but I also do think that the exhaust gas heat scavenging could be useful on a micro basis for oil cracking.... It would be nice to throw gunk into the monster and know that the gunk is being turned into champagne while it runs... To clean out a small crock of crap after every run or three is a lot better than tearing down to do rings etc because of the wear... I would only be looking to still off about 2 to 3L per hour, at most about 5... This will take care of the running with a little extra for reserve... Viewed in that light, it might change your opinion of the process I am investigating...

For me, a WMO/WVO burner would be overkill presently, even a really small one... the only reason I would look at a burner now, would be to use on my oil cooking machine which is electrically operated and heated... I am, however, currently doing trials on fuel that is not de-watered and boiled pre storage... so far it looks reasonable, the only process I am using is cold filtering with a sock filter on one pass, with 24hr minimum settling pre usage.....This is a much lazier and less messy way for me, should the lifespan of the IP element etc match previous or come close to it, I would tend to stick to it... Time will tell though, I am keeping full records to make a comparison.... Of interest though, when diesel WMO or Petrol WMO is hot dewatered, they burn very similarly as fuel... When cold processed, ie filtered, settled and used, there seems to be a marked difference in performance between the two as a fuel from a carbon as well as a power POV...

Regarding fuel preheating - If it was arctic conditions, I think it would make a difference, but here where I am, the difference is minimal and probably more psychological than actual...

Glort, I like your burners, particularly the simplicity and ease of construction....one of the things I noticed on a few of your vids was the amount of back flame you were getting on the open tubes close to the burner nozzle and the "buzz bomb" rattle as it lights off... Have you tried a conical inlet to the burner tube? Kind of like the cup on a rocket engine... Just thinking out loud....

Cheerz
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on February 16, 2016, 03:09:34 PM
The NG, propane , butane etc liberated from the distillation process posses a explosion hazard.  It would be. Shame to loose all the btu
'S from those clean burning gasses.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on February 16, 2016, 05:24:47 PM
True on the explosion issue, but it can be burned as it is produced too. Perhaps some insulation or refractory cement would raise temps enough.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 17, 2016, 08:35:48 AM
Hi Guys,

B&D: Very much agreed regarding the gas generation - Not a problem in this instance though - the area is WELL ventilated, no sumps or similar for accumulation of heavy gasses nor is there eave areas for the lighter gasses either, so it is pretty much impossible.... While the area is "enclosed", it has about 25% opening all round on 3 sides with plenty of turbulence created by some big spinning wheels....

Tom: The entire "crucible" is pretty much in the exhaust, with just the top bit with delivery pipe outside of the exhaust casing... I tried insulating the top with some fiber insulation - it did raise the temp a bit, but not enough.... The setup just doesn't have quite enough surface area to collect enough energy from the exhaust gas flow vs losses vs the volume of oil being processed in the bowl. I can make the bowl smaller, but it is already pretty minuscule at present, so that is not worthwhile. To increase the efficiency of energy collection I would have to increase the surface area of the outer of the bowl by adding fins, also not an option because carbon buildup would be a problem.... Kinda snookered!

As soon as I have finished doing the mods to TM2, I think I might just go the "GlortBurner" route to crack the gunk... Lets see what pans out... The mini-still, meanwhile, is about to be re-designed in stainless steel for distilled water production... There is plenty enough heat for that and DW is always handy to have around, particularly with my track record of projects.... If I don't stick a screwdriver through my hand or similar on each project, the thing wont work... It seems as if the level of blood loss is directly related to success of project.... Kinda surprised I still have all my appendages attached....  :embarassed:

Keep it cooking...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 17, 2016, 02:27:27 PM
Hey Glort,

You are not far wrong, I want to be able to crack just a little in excess of what I am using - The numbers do add up, even when I take the downstream exhaust gas energy and capture that(or part thereof) in the hot water exchanger. The problem I have, which is not insurmountable on a new build, but very difficult on a retrofit, is that of lack of space on the system as it now stands. A larger and more spacey exchanger looks like the way to go, I will look at allowing this space on the TM2 build when I get round to doing it....

Hot process for me is raising the temp to around 120C, cold is at STP, around 25C - with Petrol WMO and cold processing, there seems to be possibly a few more volatiles remaining, this allows the oil to burn a bit easier by the looks of it. When hot processed, these volatiles(Probably mostly RUG) get boiled off (around 90 to 95C if I remember correctly) leaving just the heavier oils behind....

Yep, it was the spray burners I was looking at... Take a trip to the local scrappies and see if you can find an old 4 into 1 from a big bike or 2-stroke exhaust from a small bike - They both have similar entry angles, 13 degrees seems to spring to mind... Might make an interesting 4-nozzle burner out of the big one.... 4 heat settings too!! Another thing that just struck me.... A nozzle off an old fire hose would make a nifty end for the burner "injector"... The angle in the inside lends itself to laminar flow and acceleration... Would reduce your "irregular feathering" of the fuel mix on the spray and might just give a marked improvement... Worth a try I reckon, would certainly be interesting... The nozzle size might be a bit problematic, but if it works big, you could always make a downsized version....(Or a flame thrower if you turned the air down a bit)....


Anyways...Enough rambling from my side... Time to do some more work...

Cheerz
Ed



Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 18, 2016, 08:26:33 AM
Hey Glort,

The vapour capture wont be an easy one for my boiling tank as it stands, there are just too many vents to take care of...Maybe mark II later on perhaps? The lighter volatiles arent really a problem for me, I can always zap it up with an additive like RUG or similar should I need... The water has been my main concern in the past...

I am looking at stilling the oil and condensing to try and remove as many non liquid contaminants as I can - Filters/IP elements and the like cost in the long run... Water can be separated quite easily after boiling off. One of the main reasons I want to still the gunk off is to see if the product still is high in ash content, I think it would reduce dramatically.... Being the lazy ass that I am, the fewer bits I can do to the oil, the better for me!...

Aha! 2 volt Light globe.... Lead Acid cell is 2 volts isn't it? That puts you in your metallic years..(Silver in the hair, gold in the teeth and lead in the ass..) ... Now, that also leads me to believe you were from the 60's.... A good bit of acid around then...Lol

We got one mother of a thunderstorm approaching here now, I better get offline and unplug network cables....

Keep it sparking!!

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 20, 2016, 07:01:19 AM
Hi Guys,

On another note....

I have been taking note of a peculiarity lately... Maybe its just imagination, maybe it is happening to others as well..

I run TM1 for between 3 and 7 hour shifts on a daily basis, what I have noticed is that for the first 2 or slightly more hours, he makes good power and holds voltages well.... anytime thereafter, he gets a bit lazy and needs a bit of water down the snout to clean up the rings and clear up a bit of blow by/smokey exhaust... after that, away he goes for the rest of the run, generally with no problems regardless of whether its another 4 to 5 or more hours even...

Now, here's the interesting bit... if I run him for short runs during the day, up to 2 or so hours at a stretch, the carboning doesnt seem to be a problem....

Ideas? Anybody else have similar?


Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on February 20, 2016, 08:37:09 PM
  if old bessy is carboning up that quick. There is something fundamentally amiss.
  The fuel injection should be a finer mist via higher pressure, maybe advanced sooner and using warmer fuel. The combustion chamber temperature at the time of injection should be hotter. All the metal surfaces exposed to combustion should be hotter. 
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 20, 2016, 09:10:09 PM
Hi B&D,

I think you have hit the nail on the head with the atomisation remark... the tip on this injector is a tad suspect, pressure is OK, but I am sure the hole is a bit on the worn side... Not surprising, its got quite a few hours on sump gunk through it... I have got another tip, I will pop it in when I get a chance and see if it improves matters.... Also, this batch of oil has not been heated above 100C, so it might, in fact will, have a bit of water in it in suspension... That just complicates matters of course...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 21, 2016, 10:08:55 PM
Hey Glort,

I am pretty sure that the bulk of the cleanup from the WI takes place at precombustion chamber/injector tip level, as you have pointed out.. there is however, and I stand by it, a significant decrease in visible blow by after a water dose. Possibly the blow by is similar in volume after the cleanup to before, but the visible element changes. I suppose it could be a case of similar quantities of gas are making it past the rings, but in a better burnt state, hence a lower opacity, and giving the appearance of less blow by....?... Who knows?

Another factor to add to the equation is the possibility that, after a steam clean of the injector tip, better atomisation occurs, the burn is more efficient, the engine produced a bit more power for a given rack opening, the rack closes somewhat, less blow by due to the engine not working as hard possibly? Although, to produce the same amount of power for the given circumstance, there should be about the same amount of blow by evident, in volume certainly, but at a lower opacity.... so the first supposition kicks in as above... again... who knows?

I am running pretty much a constant water supply... It is plumbed in and only requires a stopcock be turned on to enable it. It has been put together in a manner that prevents the engine from being filled with water should it shutdown without shutting the tap first. I have a float bowl that has a constant water level below the centerline of the inlet manifold, where the water inlet nozzle resides, just outside of the valve stem per se... The engine draws in a coarse stream of water on each induction stroke, the amount of water inhaled is governed by the height of the level in the float bowl. To do a water "flood and flush" I simply choke off the inlet to the air cleaner with the palm of my hand. This causes an almost solid 1/8" dia stream to spray or be drawn into the inlet. As all of the piping is 1/8" dia from the float to the inlet, there is enough restriction of the water flow so that at full choke, other is little to no chance of hydro locking, this can only really happen at less than about 60 rpm, or maybe a bit less...

The air cleaner is an 'updraft' unit, so should there by any error, be water flow whilst stationery, the water will reverse flow out of the inlet manifold and drain from the air cleaner onto the paving, so that aspect is covered....

I have noticed that a saturated with water fuel burns with plenty of associated problems, as to why, I am not entirely sure, but my guess would be possible emulsification under high pressure. This would make it way difficult to light off, as the water changing state in close association with the fuel would drain heat required for ignition of the oil. Water inhaled separately through WI does not cause the same problems, as by my reckoning, there is more of a 'distance' between the fuel and the water/steam particles... possibly just my over simplistic view and reasoning, if you can give me a better explanation, I would love to hear it!

Water suspended in WMO is quite common, the worst I have seen is around 40%, yep, that right 20L out of 50L was boiled off to reclaim the base oil. Had I not done it myself, I would not have thought it possible. Fair enough, the oil in question looked like very milky coffee, but, nevertheless, it was something I witnessed myself. The oil was reclaimed from the RHS final drive of my Komatsu D62 dozer. Of a 50L total capacity, it required a ball hair under 20l to top it off once I boiled the water out. The oil in use was a straight 40w oil if I remember correctly... I could hardly believe it myself... Granted, the fuel oils I am using are nowhere near their saturation point, I would estimate, at max, around 500ml per 50l of oil, which is around 1% or probably less of water... not the end of the world as far as burning it goes, but plenty wet enough to allow acids in solution to start attacking IP innards and the like...

Anyways, again I ramble....

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on February 22, 2016, 08:23:43 AM
Ever blown a head gasket on a water-cooled vehicle? That milky emulsification with the lube oil happens very easily and quickly in a running engine and I have seen and caused it to happen - (quite quickly) during water injection (through the inlet port), when the engine was not sufficiently loaded and heated up enough to flash it all directly to steam. I was a bit surprised and it IS a cautionary tale. Also, the fuel pump will have some trouble mechanically passing any amounts of water emulsified or not, (I am guessing that specific gravity differences of fuel vs water and the very tight mechanical tolerances within the pump plunger and barrel have a lot to do with it). Lubrication is a big issue for these things. It is hard to count how many seized pumps I have dealt with over the years. We go to great lengths to avoid any excess water or other contamination in fuel stocks. It may also be instructive to remember that the pump delivery is a fixed volume (at any given throttle setting) and only the engine governor repositioning the plunger rotation will change delivery rates.

Thanks for all the 'food for thought' in this discussion gents!

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 22, 2016, 09:12:16 AM
Hey Glort,

Ditto, ditto and ditto, to you too Gman!

I run the WI pretty much all the time - unless I am playing around with the "what if's" - Which is quite often for me....Lol... I cant resist sticking my fingers into whirly-twirly things...LOLOLOL...

With the cogen setup, using a "constant" orifice for the WI, as it is now set up, it is quite difficult to get it to the "really nice" level of flow.... Because I dont have 100% stable loading, engine temps change, WI has to follow suit... I have set it up to a fairly good average, it is about optimum for 2.5kw electrical output as it now stands, but I am looking for a KISS way of regulating it (A carb wont work, airflow is constant) ... All I can think of is an electrical type gubbins, solenoid controlled via load, regulating a small needle valve...  Way to complex to set up and put together... (Yep, I can design and build it, even make it 8051 controlled, but that all falls outside of the KISS box!)

Regarding smoking: I can push a maximum of around 4.8Kw as it now stands - But at 4.8 we are definitely getting into the black smoke area - The power output has dropped from its original, as new condition, but it is now in spec for the max I wanted. Originally I was looking at 4-5Kw max as designed and found it could do over 6 with good rings/cyl/etc... The auto switchover trips across at around 20A/230V, TM1 can drive this, but this is at or around max... What I have found, is that WI certainly does little at low power output and works better as the power demand increases. I havent had any oil emulsification in the sump as yet, surprisingly! But here's where the snowball gathers some weight....  As soon as there is any fouling of rings/injector/whatever, the power output capability drops, TM1 starts smoking, soot and carbon start building up quickly, the rack opens more, the snowball gathers momentum - Because the target load of 20A/230V isnt met for the switchover.... At this point, I notice the lights are dimming and go and shove a good boost of water down the snout.... The snowball resets to the top of the hill, waiting for the next nudge...

I am almost at the end of this load of gunk, only about another 10L or so left to burn off... I think I will do a few days or so on dino and see how it compares...

Keep it spinning!!

Regds
Ed

Edit:
PS - The reason why I am not getting sump oil emulsification is probably because of the "different" dipper and oil pickup I have installed - The dipper only touches to about 5mm of weir depth. All water collected in the crankcase, along with 30 or 40W non additive oil, drops into the lower sump and does not accumulate to the level of the pump pickup, which in my case has been lifted by about 15mm to allow for this... I actually forgot about mentioning it earlier among the mods I have done...

PPS - RUG - I am, on the next batch of sump gunk oil I use, going to thin with 5-10% RUG as opposed to 20% Dino - What I have noticed, is that when TM1 starts to foul up, the "diesel knock" all but disappears. When there is a "normal" amount of knock, things run fine and well. This indicates to me that the injector/precomp is fouling to a degree that the burn rate is retarding.... By addition of the RUG, with a more vivescent flame front, the fouling rate might decrease quite a bit - Bear in mind this is WMO - The rug will be added for burn rate modification and not viscosity reasons. Probably, as it now stands, with lower chamber temps et al due to the slower burning WMO, the carbon is fairly soft and sooty, hence the ease it is flushed away by a good snout watering... The higher temps etc associated with RUG blending might cause the carbon to deposit at a higher temp/pressure, proving more difficult to remove.... Who knows? .... Lets suck it and see!!!

PPPS - Diesel Knock - Just put the last 10L Sump Gunk into TM1 and started him up for a long cogen run - Estimated to be around 10-12hrs for today - What I have noticed, in comparison to last night's shutdown, the diesel knock is somewhat louder - Air temp is around the same, plus or minus 5 degrees different, only thing that is different is the temp of the unit itself - The last 10L of fuel has gone in to top off the day tank, it hasn't in any way reached or made it through the fuel filter yet... Comments anybody? Cold fuel, cold engine, better ignition? ... This kinda screws up theories big time! (Also, Ali piston, CI sleeve... Clearance is most when cold....?)

PPPPS - Breather Vapor and Sound - Just popped out to check out TM1 during his run - He has been running solid since around midday, now around 4pm - I saw the cc breather was giving off a bit of vapor, so I videoed a quick before and after a water dose. The water dose consisted of choking off the air intake a bit and allowing TM1 to inhale a bit of aqua - I sustained this for about 5 secs. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to see any vapour because of the bright light, but you will notice a distinct difference in sound from the CC breather between the 2 videos. The first video has a "hollow" resonance to it and the second is way less - even though with the second video, the camera is directly in the path and facing the vent "snorkel" ... Check it out here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 CC Breather Sound Before and After 5sec Water Dose 20160222 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 CC Breather Sound Before and After 5sec Water Dose 20160222) Glort, I would love to hear your comments on this!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 22, 2016, 03:30:04 PM
Thanks for the comeback Glort,

Much appreciated!!

Take a look at my PPPPS on my previous post... a bit of a strange one, as I agree with you that WI is beneficial more on a long term basis than short term iro ring groove carbon buildup...

I previously stopped using RUG blending because of the weather temp variances we experience and also due to the variances (and the associated knockiness) I was getting with the WMO. It looks like I will be going back to a RUG blend to modify timing, whilst staying with the WI to keep things clean...

I am going to, after today or tomorrow, go back to a straight DINO for a while to get another, current, base line to work from. Because of all the weird and wonderfuls I am putting thru the beast on such a regular basis while looking for the "magic bullet" I lose track of origin, which is not a good thing... Its difficult to go better if you dont know where you were at!!

Back to the PPPPS - was quite an interesting one, there was miniscule, if any, difference in rack opening between the before and after, also miniscule temperature difference in the workings too.... Also, because the squirt of aqua I delivered was not particularly lengthy, the before and after loads were pretty much identical. Not often I get a clean result and only one variable in a test... Was a nice change!!

Keep it slurping....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 22, 2016, 05:11:34 PM
Hey guys,

I think I have found an excellent way to decarbon an exhaust and am thinking of patenting it...

The patent title would be "Ferro Resonant Carbon Removal - Long Cylinders"

It entails the resonating at the frequency of the length of exhaust involved. I have found, that when resonated at its empirical frequency, a large part, in the region of 90%, if not more, of the carbon is separated from the inner surface of the cylindrical curve due to the differing resonant frequencies of the carbon deposits and the base metal it is adhering to.

Whilst longer cylindrical sections resonate at lower frequencies, lengths of up to 3m have been resonated successfully and the carbon has been dislodged, to be removed easily by introduction of high to medium velocity gasses as a method for dispelling this troublesome solid.

Methods employed should be based on a variable amplitude method. Start at a low amplitude and increase until the required results are attained. Starting at too low an amplitude has little structural effect on the carbon and cylinder, but starting with too high an amplitude can cause failure of structural integrity, particularly to the cylinder and especially to its couplings and mounting points.

Highly sophisticated resonators can be employed with excellent results.... They will, of course, be required to deliver sufficient energy to cause resonance of sufficient amplitude.....

Keep it clean....

Regds
Ed

PS - The best resonator I have found so far is a 4lb hammer.... beat the snot outa the pipe while the engine is running... the exhaust gas blows all the crap out too.....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on February 22, 2016, 05:57:57 PM
......  PS - The reason why I am not getting sump oil emulsification is probably because of the "different" dipper and oil pickup I have installed - The dipper only touches to about 5mm of weir depth. All water collected in the crankcase, along with 30 or 40W non additive oil, drops into the lower sump and does not accumulate to the level of the pump pickup, which in my case has been lifted by about 15mm to allow for this... I actually forgot about mentioning it earlier among the mods I have done...........

I'm not sure how, with no/low splash, how the piston wrist pin (and the underside of the piston) an cyl walls get lube and cooling ?  I see you have an oil pump but does it get oil to all the areas needing it ?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 22, 2016, 06:20:53 PM
Hi Mike,

There is enough lube being splashed around, the inside case is dripping thoroughly after but a few secs... Also, there is evidence from crankcase temperature, that the lube is indeed getting to the hot bits, and plenty of it too.... the CC with this dipper, runs way warmer than the knife edge one... With the dipper only just breaking into the surface of the oil by a few mm, it seems not to agitate the lower reaches of oil in the upper weir too badly, hence no mixing of any condensed water droplets into the oil too any large degree (so far)... Another reason why I don't think I am getting any large quantity of water retained/mixing in with the oil is that with the higher temp that the CC is running, in conjunction with the air turbulence in the CC, the water is possibly being evaporated off at about the same rate it is being collected and expelled out the CC breather as vapours... I really can't say for sure, but thats how my twisted logic explains it... deemed true, until a better explanation comes along.... LOL....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 23, 2016, 10:46:19 AM
Hey Glort,

Right.... Some replies, I will try and put them in the order you put them down...

While administering water, there is a small increase in vapour from the CC breather, this is attributable to the higher chamber pressure I presume, caused by the steam flash-off. Once you shutdown the water, within a few revs, the breather clears... The sound you hear is the opening and closing of the breather valve on the first video. The more the cc vents, the louder the cc valve gets... Kinda like an air hammer effect as it shuts quickly... The more blow-by, the more sound is given off(Quite irritating actually, I silence it with a foam block to slow the open/close down a bit and get rid of the hammer of the column of air...) So, in actual effect, the less vapour slip, the lower the noise level... Unfortunately, due to the bright light, you cant see the vapour exit difference, but believe me, it was there...

Carbon buildup - Maybe I am over critical with the carbon buildup - Who knows? Possibly the blow by I have is well within the acceptable limits of others' operation even when I feel it is excessive. As most of the harder running of TM1 is done evening and night, the work light on the chassis faces the vent, so it is quite visible to the naked eye when running... If I recall, there have been quite a few mentions of porting the CC breather to outside the the Gen sheds in other threads... Also, I very seldom have the carbon hammer caused by chunks breaking loose and hitting the piston before being expelled.....

Water injection into exhaust - Tried it... It works... BUT.... be prepared for one hell of a mess... Better to overfeed the engine side and steam blast the exhaust, less messy but to same effect, albeit it seems to take a little longer.... It is easier to sweep up the carbon expelled than to wash the driveway down.... Water into the pipe doesn't steam off nicely and condenses quickly to give some rather nasty and messy wet spray....

My exhaust is clogging a bit, there is one section that needs a good clean, but the outlet still "pulses" quite strongly, and while there is a small amount of back pressure, very little, at the header, I don't think it is excessive as yet. I have put a 90 degree slow elbow and short exhaust on with the pepper-pot muffler to test, there was little, if any performance difference, so I am pretty sure it is still ok.... Harmonic resonance... Could be, anything is possible, but I am able to section off the exhaust in 3 different lengths... Tried all 3 with no major difference, except of course sound coming out at ground/waist/tree level....

Carbon Buildup Comment #2 - Possibly I am over critical...Small amounts could be the culprit, probs on the injector/IDI chamber side.. By the end of today I should be out of WMO, just dregs, and I will start pushing through Dino and see it the higher combustion temp/lower ash and carbon residue makes a difference... I hate running Dino, smells awful in comparison to WMO...

RUG - Daytime temps can make a bit of a difference I have found to the speed of the combustion event - Don't be mislead by the "cylinder temp is 300C vs delta Temp of 15C to 40C day temp" - My best explanation(via my twisted logic) is in a loss-less compression cycle, %difference in energy of inlet gas is same %difference of energy of compressed gas, ie air starting at 0C (273K)then compressed, contains 273/313K% of the energy of air starting at 40C then compressed to a similar volume- ie around 13%. This energy shows as a temperature increase and if I remember from the energy equations, the temperature is about the only real thing that changes and that is in about direct proportion to the energy "concentration" involved, ie higher temp of unburnt gas and hence faster flaming of fuel ... but hey, don't quote me, I am probably way off base here and thoroughly out of my comfort zone...Lol...

I am not too wild about LPG trials... LPG costs a lot more compared to WMO and that goes against my stingy nature... Call me "Scrooge" if you must!

I also don't think its a timing issue - its a fuel burn rate issue - While advancing the timing would help, slowing the rpm might help more, allowing for a more complete in-cylinder burn of the sump gunk... Wait, TM2 is gonna be a 500RPM baby with some HEAVY flywheels for the pulsing... That's gonna be interesting! .... Come to think of it, the heavy oil engines ala marine, have a WAY lower rpm count than these babies we play with... And look at what they run on! .... Hmm...now the mind starts spinning on the other side of the scale... Those little 2-stroke diesels I used to play with in R/C and control line.... Wasn't the fuel mix something like 50% Diesel fuel/25%Lighting Parrafin/25%Ether? - Way too long ago to remember accurately....

Keep it spinning!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 27, 2016, 10:03:21 PM
Hey Glort,

Couldn't resist it yesterday.... I know my silencer was getting a bit grubby on the inside, nothing serious, just a tad sooty... I could see it in the time taken to bring the heat store to temp from an exhaust heatex POV... I fashioned a drop pipe from some heavy wall irrigation pipe and attached it to the exhaust outlet which is at about 2.5m altitude, feeding it down into a 50l plastic drum... I then pulled out the plug at the first exhaust T which is around a foot from the head and installed a temp hose fitting and hooked it up to the water mains. With the engine running at about 1/2 load, I then wound the water into the exhaust. Spectacular is a bit of an understatement iro  the carbon and soot removal... I must have dislodged at least a kg of black stuff with the pulsing of the water driven by the exhaust gas... as to the overall success of the clean out....reasonable.... Any difference in performance from an engine POV.... nothing much, Any difference to the heatex efficiency... hard to tell, but seems slightly better.... The main conclusion I can draw from this escapade.... if I was married, it would have resulted in instant divorce proceedings being instituted.... even after the exhaust was fully drained, there was still enough moisture and condensate in the system to cause wind borne sticky black shite  to be cast around a radius of about 10m for the next 1/2 hour of so...

Would I recommend this as an easy way to decarbon an exhaust.... nope, not if you are married..... but if you are single, no washing is on a line nearby, you love washing down paving and anything in reach, you have a hi pressure washer and oodles of time on your hands, have plenty of water and don't mind if you just look like you've come home from work at the coal mine... go for it!

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Hugh Conway on February 27, 2016, 11:35:00 PM
Ho Ed!!!!! If only you had a video of that one!!!!!
Never mind, the thought picture is quite sufficient  to produce a good laugh.
thanks for sharing your adventure. I will not try this one at home (or anywhere else either)

Cheers,
Hugh
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on February 27, 2016, 11:38:26 PM
I needed a good laugh today... Thanks!  :laugh:

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 29, 2016, 12:10:09 PM
Hi Guys,

An update for the D.P. (Divorce Proceeding) exhaust cleaning method....

After numerous showers, cleaning the driveway of as much black shite etc that I could, I cut open my home made silencer that is just after the heat exchangers in the exhaust line. The silencer is made from about  3 to 4" galv pipe, about 600mm long. The inlet and outlet to the silencer are 1 1/2" galv pipe with the inlet extending inside to within 3" or so of the outlet. The end of the inlet is blanked off inside the silencer and 3mm wide staggered slots are cut at 45 degrees in the sides of the pipe, against the flow every 50mm or so.

The slots were mildly clogged, with about 10% of the slot blocked by residue. One band saw task later, the slotted inlet was removed, and, after welding closed, the silencer was changed into an expansion chamber. The exhaust noise difference is minimal, just a slightly deeper note when under heavy load. Power difference before and after is negligible, back pressure difference is hard to discern, but one way you can tell is by a change in heat available from the heat exchanger.... This is also hardly different at all.

Now, back to the DP method.... Did it do a thorough cleaning job? ..... No! .... It removed loose carbon, but not baked on or stubborn carbon... A further reason to NOT use this method as a "quick" way of removing the carbon from the inside of the exhaust... (And of course depositing it on the driveway, house walls, cars in the neighbors' yard and finally as black ink on your divorce summons....)

Keeping it single....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 01, 2016, 09:55:32 AM
Hey Glort,

That pretty much sums up what I have experienced this side as well.... If you can catch the buildup quite early, it seems to be much easier to clean, hence the marked difference with my setup after a few mins of water squirting down the snout. It appears that, with carbon buildup over a time, the carbon "bakes" harder and is hence harder to remove. Catch it early/quickly and it blows away quite easily too... The aqua down the snout certainly makes a difference to the ass-end too... the exhaust on TM1 has more of a soot layer than a carbon layer. Just checked the logbook and saw TM1 is just shy of 2000hrs runtime... Actually thought it was a bit more than that, but my point is, "A major teardown and decarbon" is normally required every 1000hrs or so... I can almost guarantee that there is hardly any carbon buildup(relatively speaking) in the combustion and exhaust areas on TM1 as he now stands.

I have seen stationery diesel engines that have run fine for 1000+ or so hours, when stripped, are almost totally clogged in the exhaust area. Granted, the average farmer/non tech user will only strip or get someone to strip their engine if a problem becomes evident. The carbon deposition is almost logarithmic in progress... A little deposits over a long period, then when inefficiencies develop, a lot more deposits over a relatively short time.... A short burst of water does remove the latest deposits quite quickly, but the older and more "baked on" deposits take significantly longer time to remove.... WI does eventually remove these, but it does take quite a bit of hot, hard and heavy WI and running to remove them. (In my opinion, a better way than stripping the beasts down... The engine actually "works" its way clean... Sometimes though, things are just too far gone to avoid a stripdown....)

Again I ramble.....

Keep it clean....

Regds
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 01, 2016, 02:17:16 PM
A really pissed off rant for the day....

A good friend of mine owns some property about 1/2hour drive from the city center. A brilliant place(smallholding) to set up an off grid lifestyle in years to come. He was building a house and got it livable with the basic amenities, just some internal finishing off to do. He moved in with me as a housemate(No romantic notions please gents... we are straight!) some years back in a move to cut costs as he became a bachelor again, with kids, and the traveling costs were heavy. After moving to town, he had a tenant take up occupancy to supplement his income and for security reasons...

To cut a long story short, his tenant skipped out on him owing him a bundle of cash, and worse still, because the place was unoccupied for what we estimate as a whole 2 weeks or so, was gutted by the local thieves, right down to half of the roof now missing, windows smashed, all internal dry walling gone, general vandalism and even the fencing was being cut and removed for relocation to the local scrapyard probably... All electrical fittings and copper has been torn out too....(Oh yes, all the portable equipment such as generators, pumps et al is also gone.....)

He is out there now, trying to salvage the last of the roofing and removable assets and bring it back here for safe keeping and possible sale....

It is times like these that I wonder some pretty nasty things to myself..... Its a good thing natural disasters cannot be manipulated by the mind and directed at offending trash.....

Cheers....

A very pissed off Ed....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: broncodriver99 on March 01, 2016, 03:54:16 PM
To cut a long story short, his tenant skipped out on him owing him a bundle of cash, and worse still, because the place was unoccupied for what we estimate as a whole 2 weeks or so, was gutted by the local thieves, right down to half of the roof now missing, windows smashed, all internal dry walling gone, general vandalism and even the fencing was being cut and removed for relocation to the local scrapyard probably... All electrical fittings and copper has been torn out too....(Oh yes, all the portable equipment such as generators, pumps et al is also gone.....)

That is tough for sure. I have seen my share of gutted houses. It always boggles the mind the amount of work a thief would go through for a relatively small payoff. A legitimate job would have paid more hourly.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 01, 2016, 07:13:58 PM
Hey B99,

Agreed, and the thing about it is: If it was a needy being in search of shelter or a roof, they would have appreciated the building as it stood... To vandalise and demolish 1000's of $ worth of fittings and work for the pittance that would be gained in scrap value is simply ridiculous...  The place is pretty much a write off by the looks of it... My mate managed to remove the remainder of the IBR roof sheeting and get it back here by this evening, along with a 5000L rain tank and some other bits and pieces....

The scary thing is, we know where the goods are most likely to be, but due to certain unmentionable reasons, the police will probably not act and assist in recovering the stolen items or apprehend the thieves in possession of them...
Cheers...
A still very pissed off Ed...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 13, 2016, 10:01:25 AM
Hey Glort,

All cool here, been busy on a couple if non engine projects the last while... Sorted out another 10kl if water storage and catch tanks... Started on the replacement of a whole batch of windows on the flatlet with ali frames... Almost finished rebuilding a 2m manual bending press for sheet up to about 2mm thick... Plenty of gun work came in and kept me busy during the days too... Plus, just got news last week that the replacement of the replacement flywheel has been located, just waiting for the guys to ship it 1500km so I can do the last 600 km haul...

Tm1 is running fine on a daily basis, I run him 3-4 hrs in the late afternoon on cogen work, he is using a bit of oil, about 100ml every third day or so, no leaks that I can see, so its not too bad... Its almost time to do ac brushes on the genhead, but I can't complain... they were second hand more than 2000 hours ago, so they have had a good innings...

I made up a small  burner the other day, just to play with, works well, but small isn't so small! More on that later...

I am still lurking in the background, just not much to add...

Catch u later...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 16, 2016, 01:06:22 PM
Hey Guys,

I am still here.... No missing fingers, no exploded flywheels, no blood shed due to stupidity....(for a change....No really! .... unless I stick a screwdriver into an appendage during a project, the damn thing never works properly first time round!!)

Apologies for my long absence, as I alluded to previously, I am busy/have been busy with some non-Lister type projects that I need to get out of the way in the interim. Here's an example of one that has been hanging around for the last couple of years or so, a 2m odd hand bending brake for thin plate...

Pics here:http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/20160316 Bending Brake Refurb (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/20160316 Bending Brake Refurb)...

This little baby, all 600kg of it, has been blocking up the front of my bulldozer and I finally removed digit from rectal orifice to get it functioning... Mainly because I have to make up a replacement inner panel for the back of my Ford "pickup"... In ZA we call them "Bakkies"...

The bender works well, so much so that I have immediately stacked up (or had stacked up for me), a bunch of other projects... Actually, believe it or not, even a "prettifier" for TM1 - I am, when I get a chance, going to make up a duct/cowl for the radiator fan... but hey... Rome wasn't built in a day!!

The replacement, replacement flywheel is due any day now for TM2, I am probably going to ultrasound the faulties along with magnaflux'ing them to see if I can salvage and use them for TM2 - he is destined to run at around 500rpm on heavy oil, so the stresses will be much lower too... I am probably going to bolt with CSK's a "Tyre" spanning both rim external surfaces in place - this will effectively give it the appearance of being a large width flywheel with 2 bosses locating it on the crankshaft. Only the outer wheels will have gib keys installed to hold everything in place, the inner flywheels will be driven by the "shrink-fitted" and bolted mild steel tyre. The tyre hoop will be around 200mm wide and about 6mm thick, this should more than strengthen the rim enough to hold explosions at bay, even assuming that the wheels have less than perfect integrity. (but I will test/check them thoroughly beforehand though.) These "tyres" will be bolted in a zig-zag pattern onto each wheel rim with about 8mm dia CSK screws...

Incidentally, I did some deflection measurements on the crankshaft, comparing vertical deflection between one and two flywheels weight... very little!! In fact, most of the deflection I picked up was due to the footprint area of the motor flexing the work surface slightly... I have re-run the calcs, and the additional weight/distance from bearing should not be a major problem either. (Calculate the centrifugal force imposed on a crankshaft by a flywheel with a built in rim balance weight....scary!!)

As this is a CBW engine, the flywheels are (supposed to be) in balance and the engine oscillating balance is taken care of the CBW on the crankshaft(supposedly)... I am doing a static balance on the flywheels pre installation. I will add about a 30% oscillating mass additional CBW to crank throw radius to get things really smooth throughout the rev range... This has worked VERY well on TM1...

If anybody has any bits to add or check over, please shout NOW, before I start hacking things apart and together!! Any comments, questions or concerns, no matter how small, are welcome and always add another perspective!!

Keep it spinning!!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 31, 2016, 11:53:34 AM
Hey Guys,

Another word from sunny paradise.....

Just spoke to the suppliers a few minutes ago, it looks like TM2's replacement, replacement flywheel has arrived in the next major center... Only a 7hr round trip to go and fetch it!

But... Something I noticed yesterday on TM1 - I have installed an extended crankcase breather/CC vent valve assembly a while back. As luck would have it, it tuned perfectly to the resonant frequency of the crankcase volume and rpm I run TM1 at... Result: a crankcase vent sound level that is louder than the exhaust!! To get around this "problem" I put a 1" thick foam type "filter" on the end of the breather. This detuned the length enough to make it passable in the meantime... Now, the interesting thing that I found....

After running a couple of weeks with this gizmo in place, the temp has been around the 90C (Approximate) for the cylinder head water outlet temp.... It changes with load obviously, but hovers around there by and large. I saw, yesterday, that the foam filter was getting a bit clogged up, so, not having enough time to wash it, I simply removed it, pro-tem... During the cogen run yesterday evening, I noticed that the temp of TM1 was down by about 7 to 8 degrees... The ambient temp wasn't much changed from previous...

Has anybody else perhaps noticed that a change in crankcase pressure, or restricting the cc breather influences overall engine temperature perhaps? (There is not an excess crankcase pressure that I have noticed when the foam is in place, no oil leaks/gaskets seeping etc)

I will try and do a with/without run and see if there is any influence on temperature that can be picked up, possibly there is another reason for the temp decrease that I haven't noticed...

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on March 31, 2016, 06:06:12 PM
The crankcase pumps a fair volume of air, so it may help cool the underside of the piston somewhat (and other parts).   Or not. 
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 31, 2016, 11:42:44 PM
Hey Mike,

That's a distinct possibility, not sure if it is the case though... Difficult one to actually put a finger on decisively...

I did verify that I wasn't imagining it this evening, I put the gubbins in place and the temp rose anything between 5-7C and dropped correspondingly when it was removed... Still wouldn't believe it if I hadn't done it myself... Curious indeed.

I wasn't satisfied with a simple on then off check, I had it on and off at least 9 or 10 times during the course of the evening over a space of abut 3 hours.... Various loads, from lighting and fridges only through to a fully blown 25A output at 220v from dishwasher to electric iron, so it was a pretty thorough and random yet monitored run.... Was quite fascinating (small things amuse... etc...) and definitely something to file away in the memory banks for future reference.... I am now quite keen to try routing the cc vapours to the inlet, as there is virtually no oil in liquid or droplet form that makes its way up the vent stack, so a runaway is highly unlikely... Seems a shame to waste the bit that is escaping in vapour....

On another note, my replacement flywheel is definitely waiting for my collection, now must just try and hitch a ride for it up this way...

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed

PS and by the way... long term average so far is 603ml fuel per kWh... excluding heat from coolant and exhaust that is captured... Not too bad I don't think... what do you guys say?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on April 01, 2016, 03:54:12 AM
  A 6 shaft HP diesel will have to dump about 3.5 KW of heat from the radiator.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 01, 2016, 09:32:55 AM
Hey Glort/B&D,

The crank venting temp change is simply a curiosity for me, I am going to change it, just haven't got around to it... I doubt that I will take it much further... It could also probably be something so simple as the breather pipe shadowing a small draft to the side of the cyl head outlet pipe where the thermocouple is taped on... that could cause it I suppose.....

As to a fan blowing on the crankcase, I don't think it will make a noticeable difference, the wheels stir up plenty of breeze in the small enclosure as it stands....

I went back and checked the records... From new through to today, the consumption has been worst case 610ml or so to best case 590m or so per kwh... I have fairly accurate records, granted, my maths and formulas on excel aren't so hot anymore, but I think I am about right in my calcs.

What offsets it for me, is the cogen aspect - We haven't bought LPG for bathroom water heating in months. The heat store(which is very inefficient) holds temp overnight and hot water is available till early afternoon, after which it is a bit cool for comfort. The other small plus, is that the heat store is directly below the kitchen floor, albeit cement slab, and this has made the kitchen which luckily is fairly large, the social center in the evenings... What a pleasure to have everybody pitch in and clear up after dinner on a daily basis, then sit around with coffee and talk sh!t for a while... Very social!! (There are up to 9 of us in the household when most are home, and average around 7 most of the time.)

I might have sourced a contact for some large storage cells, flooded, 2V. If all goes well I might also go to a PV type addition. What has been holding me back is the cost of the batteries and the lack of good used ones on the second hand market... Hold thumbs!! For inverters, I have already got and am using 3xAPC UPS's. they total about 7.5kw in all, more than I need, but I don't know how well they will like to run on a continuous basis...I am going to look for a decent size single inverter to do the job, around 10kw I reckon should handle it mostly. Damn, Glort, now we are both gonna get kicked off here....

As I have said before, way back in this thread if I remember correctly: If I was in the middle of nowhere, no other source of power or heat, totally off grid, the Lister cogen is the way to go... As long as you are reasonably mechanically minded and not afraid to get your hands dirty on a daily basis. As a cheap/fully viable/reliable alternative to on-grid if it is available... Look elsewhere... (Eeeek....now I am really going to get flamed!)

I have also done the sums... How the Greenies at this stage can justify the cost/payback for PV, I really dont know. Every time I do the sums, the payback time is way over the MTBF estimate for the hardware. Granted, no emissions(for using them anyway), but the manufacturing emissions overheads were pretty horrible last time I checked, so either way, the planet gets a bit screwed up, not by the user, but by the manufacturer in this case..... I feel just a little bit better when I walk out my door and know that if the beast is belching out black smoke I can do something about it!

Interesting point re the power companies... Kinda "catch 22"... We know we are being screwed... We go PV... Juice price goes up... More go PV... Prices rise more... More go PV... PV panels now popular and take over as a monopoly... PV panel prices start hiking... A never ending loop of greed...

B&D - I haven't done the calcs or checks since I installed the heatex on the top line of the radiator input, but I can say that I am getting a "more than initially expected" return in heat harvesting from it. I initially calc'd out after measuring, that I was getting around 1.6Kwh worth of energy out of the exhaust heatex. With the coolant heatex in place, I, at a guestimate, am well over double that now. My initial heat store was around 90kg of water and from the exhaust only. Now we are running around 250Kg of water store and this gets up to well over the 60C mark from around a start of 10C approximate.. It does this within 2 hours or so, so I am more than satisfied. During the evening shower cycle, putting 9 people through the wash bays, with TM1 running, there is still plenty of hot left over for most of the next day.

Again I ramble....

Keep it spinning....

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on April 01, 2016, 11:54:46 AM


As I have said before, way back in this thread if I remember correctly: If I was in the middle of nowhere, no other source of power or heat, totally off grid, the Lister cogen is the way to go... As long as you are reasonably mechanically minded and not afraid to get your hands dirty on a daily basis. As a cheap/fully viable/reliable alternative to on-grid if it is available... Look elsewhere... (Eeeek....now I am really going to get flamed!)



Ed,
As always a good read on whats going on with your system.  The portion of your post I saved in the quote is spot on in my opinion even though I have never and do not ever plan on being off grid. I do supply equipment and try to follow up on what happens with it.
Seems that the vast majority who dream of cheap energy via diesel power and re-purposed fuels get a rude awakening to real and continuing costs  and (I suspect) also they tire of the required daily routine.  The vast majority end up back on grid,,, one way or another.  My hat is off to all of those with enough brains and brawn to stick with it,, and it takes BOTH.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on April 01, 2016, 02:40:06 PM
I spent some years living off-grid on a mountain top in Alaska. That was 20 years ago and as I recall diesel fuel at $0.75 per gallon. We ran a couple small Lister plants 24/7 between two households and had fairly good luck as far as equipment maintenance costs were concerned... The reality of finding or producing cheap power is - it isn't ever cheap. You either put in the time and effort to keep up a "free" fuel supply and a maintenance program, or you put in the bucks to keep the fuel delivered and new equipment operational, or somewhere in between. The trade-offs are still there and nature will always balance itself out. I think it becomes a matter of what your particular desires and talents and resources might be that tip the scales one way or the other. What is best for social responsibility is not likely the same thing for everyone and certainly drastically differing depending on the locale in which you live. In my opinion, this is one of the major flaws in the EPA regulation that forces a "one size fits all" regulation on our possible choices. America has become a nation of sheep by and large... to even accept such idiotic intrusion and regulation on our lives. The wolves are in power obviously and the decline continues...

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 05, 2016, 03:52:01 PM
Hey Guys,

Agree wholeheartedly!

Even discounting time entirely, if there is ANY cost to your fuel, the "payback" time for investing in one of these babies runs to an eternity. (When you take running spares and maintenance material costs into it.) Cost vs return is a very slim line... you really gotta love it to justify it. As a paying hobby, it is worthwhile, if you take into account that very few hobbies will enable you to pursue other avenues while they are in progress... ie, running your engine for fun and making hot water/juice for the household while you are at it vs say, flying model heli's or the like.... Both much fun, but one is pure expense while the other benefits everybody around you.... (even the butterfly in South East Asia...Lol...) You are "disposing" of fossil/other waste oils in probably, what I would say, the most environmentally acceptable method around!

But hey, this is not my usual long ramble... I have dodged inside to type this post while I await a courier with the "hallowed replacement flywheel" .... and... yes, I know, I am an addict (in the background the rest of you addicts greet: "Hello Ed")... Along with the flywheel a few badly needed basic household appliances(well I need them and I have a strange household) and other bits and pieces... AC/DC Tig welder(Chinese probably, but it has some really cool twisty turny knobs and its .... YELLOW) ... A couple of 750Kg Chain hoists(Always running out of those)... A couple of hoist load levelers(always wanted them but never got round to getting)... An argon flow meter(where did I put that other one now)... and a beam crawl to hook the chain blocks to the new gantry(I found my other one, maybe I should have got two so I would have a spare)...

Chat laters...I am gonna wait for a courier and carry on welding up the new gantry, its almost done...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on April 05, 2016, 04:03:36 PM
In a way its little different than burning wood for heat. Those that get into it to save money usually have the stove, saws, splitter all for sale after just a couple years and spend their money on fuels while spending their  spare time complaining about how much work it was,,,  I have a hell of chunk of money invested in burning wood but wouldnt have it any other way.  ;)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 05, 2016, 04:32:10 PM
Hi 38ac,

Yep, very much the same in all walks of life... Burn bright for a short while then slowly die out till not even embers remain... More often than not, those that give up on the sustainable/recycled fuel lines usually find fleabay to be a good friend for getting rid of the now "surplus" to needs equipment... And, don't forget, there are the inevitable complaints about how little money they could recover for selling the near perfect condition (yet totally buggered), saw/splitter/listeroid etc....

Now my rant.....!

The lazy SOB couriers "lost" my goods, only to find them "just before" closing time... "Too late to deliver now, first thing tomorrow morning, should be just before or around noon..." ...They say.... What a bunch of absolute wankers.... If first thing is around just before noon, I need to check my sundial...Blerrie eedjuts!

Right, let me go pack the block and tackle away, seeing that the a$$holes wont need the pallet offloaded this eve....

Cheers....
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 06, 2016, 03:49:53 PM
Hey guys,

Woohoo...

My flywheel has arrived! It looks a "bit" different to the originals, around 70mm larger diameter(approx 670mm od) with almost kidney-shaped holes instead of the previous round holes in the web... the hole spacing seems symmetrical, so it looks like its from a CBW type 'roid....

Anybody had similar?

Keep it spinning...

Cheerz
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 14, 2016, 02:29:09 PM
Hey Guys,

Talk about putting Descartes before a horse....

Picture the scene... Double flywheels in temp position, lightly keyed into place.... Looks Awesome!! .... .... .... .... Grab overhead hoist to lift TM2 and turn him around... .... .... Then it dawns on me.... Overhead hoist is rated safely to about 750kg... TM2 was around 600kg with single flywheel set... Add another 200kg or so of flywheels... Bad Idea.... Open the household pub and proceed to drink copious amounts of brew....

Decide to finish building new hoist that is rated to safely lift 1000kg.... Tomorrow is another day!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 15, 2016, 08:34:13 AM
Hey Glort...

You know me too well!! ... I have lifted way in excess of TM2 before, but as you say, any excuse is a good one...!

The "real" reason I am running behind is that I need to get the roof on the next 80 sq m of workshop... Weather is dodgy over summer over here and outdoors work isn't pleasant because of the heat/wind/rain... Not as bad as our friends in the snowy places, I know, but unpleasant nevertheless... Winter over here is normally the time I take on the outdoors projects, its cooler, less wind, and hardly any rain. (And a further small reason is the lack of space to move around with TM2 while he is on the gallows... I am none too keen on getting close to large lumps of steel in possession of large amounts of potential energy...I have an allergy to wearing cast iron as permanent implants!!)

Yesterday evening we cleaned up 50m of lip channel with cup brush then enamel painted it. Tonight and over the next day or so I have another 170m to clean up and paint, some more for the roofing and the rest to be put one side for future projects... I managed to get a fair deal on a heap of channel yesterday, damaged stock with some minor water damage. The deal was "All or Nothing" so I now have a bit extra... Always handy for various things. To prevent it going bad, we are enameling the whole lot while we are at it....

Enough said....

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed

PS ... On another note, TM1 has run through about 150l of relatively pure diesel and is back on the sump gunk again... Stop and start on it too... What I did notice was that he was initially a slow, smokey starter before warmed up when I went on to diesel - this has cleaned up considerably now and he starts quite easy. Bear in mind, after rings etc were changed, he went onto sump gunk almost immediately. I wonder if the added lubricity of this fuel lent itself to a slower than normal bedding in of the rings. As of the last couple of tanks of gunk, there has been less blowby evident and a lower than normal build up of carbon, compared to just before the diesel run. Every evening of late, around about an hour or so into the run, there is a bit of carbon that builds up on the innards(injector tip probably) - power drops off, he starts smoking and labouring a bit, not quite making target power. A quick heavy flush with a dose of aqua, and he is up and running, "full steam ahead" literally, for the rest of the cogen evening run without any further issues... These green things certainly have a "personality" !
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 19, 2016, 10:47:51 AM
Hey Guys,

In the essence of "Push it till it breaks, then back off a bit" I have run TM1 on a low WI input on sump gunk until he is thoroughly clogged up.

As mentioned previously, about an hour into the run, I flushed him with good bit of water to clean up the deposited carbon from the initial warmup. Well, my inquiring and somewhat destructive mind got me to run him without a flush and just minimal attention for the last few days... Four, to be exact, to see how long it would take for the carbon to become a serious problem.

This is what I found:
After Day one - a bit of buildup internally, an hour into the run, instead of flushing, I reduced the load a little and running seemed to improve after about 15mins or so so he went back to full load.

After Day two - A little harder to start, carbon was building up on the valves I think, there was a bit of a "low compression" symptom, only with starting, no major cc breather venting, but passable in power.

After Day three - Still hardish to start, compression was a bit down, a little cc breather activity, but mostly evident was valve leakage.

Day Four - Sluggish start, quite a bit of cc breather activity initially, this calmed down after a few minutes of running. After about 1 1/2 hours of running, there was major cc breather venting, this developed over about 30 to 45 min, not smoke per se' but carried oil droplets were making a mess. There were no other leaks on seals or gaskets, so the improved cc vent valve was doing a reasonable job. The run was abandoned around 2 hours in, even though he was making full power.

I will tear him down and see what the gunk has done. The symptoms are of a broken compression ring or two, or possibly just that the grooves are badly carboned up and jamming the rings....

I will report back once the teardown has been done!

Any bets as to what has happened?

Keep it spinning...

Regds
Ed

PS - We are almost finished with the framing for the new gantry/workshop shed - The roof covers about 80sq m with about 70sq m usable by the gantry, lift height is around 2.4m. The gantry looks like it will develop into a double beam runner with 2 hoist blocks on one beam and a single on the other, spaced around 75-mm apart... The main load rails are 160mm H section x 2 with an additional outboard rail of 160mm I beam close to the door opening of around 9m wide. The roofing frame is made from 125 and 150mm lip channel affixed to the top of the main gantry runners. Quite a bit of work, but well worth it in the end, I reckon..
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 21, 2016, 03:31:47 PM
Hi Guys,

In the spirit of misinformation, being in a hurry, not looking or analyzing correctly.... The problem was really simple.... CC breather valve fault... Replaced spring(broken) and all is well... Back onto 100% sump gunk... TM1 is still clogged up quite nicely, compression is a bit down, but he is now running without blowing oil out of the CC vent...

This all comes from just not taking a few minutes in daylight hours, where you can actually see what the problem is! (And of course, jumping to conclusions!!)

All is well ... for now, until of course, I jump headlong into the next bad diagnosis!

It is amazing how coincidental this small failure was... The vent valve failed within a few days of 100% gunk running.... Unrelated, I am sure, but a bit off-peeing...

But seriously though, there is definitely a bit of valve "something" going on, they are not seating quite as they should be after a good few hours on the crud!

Keep it spinning.... (Again!)

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 21, 2016, 03:50:29 PM
P.S. - Here is the start of materials reclamation and erection of the new "tackle-work" to swing TM2 around while I am building him up.... If I was married, an excuse to build a bigger, better gantry and extend the workshop a tad might have been a problem.... http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/20160419 New Gantry and Roof/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/20160419 New Gantry and Roof/) (Sorry about the picture quality, my cell is on its last legs and I don't feel like hauling out the Canon...)

 ;D One can never have enough cranes, gantries and lifting kit around a household.... Now, just that small lintel to remove and doorway to open a bit and I can install the main household gantry between the kitchen and dining room.....Hmmmmmm.....  ::)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on April 23, 2016, 07:46:56 PM
Made me curious about South Africa weather .http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/climate.htm#.VxvCU8is_v4
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 25, 2016, 07:39:03 AM
Hi B&D,

By and large, the weather in our area is quite pleasant to say the least. The winters are moderate and the summers are wonderful. We have a bit of wind which makes outside work a bit of chore, but not hurricanes by any scale. The weather does change rapidly, sometimes all 15 seasons in one day, but it is nowhere near the extremes that others in the more hostile climates have to face. Being thoroughly spoilt in this regard, I reckon that when I complain about bad weather, it would be perfect weather by someone else's standards. No shoveling snow, seldom floods, seldom gale force winds... A really bad day is when there is a thunderstorm and I cant use electrical equipment such as hand drills etc outside.... As with all human nature, regardless of the climate, there will always be reason to complain about the weather ::)

Now, its an icy 20C here at the moment.... Let me find a warm patch of morning sun to bask in while I sip my coffee.... Lol

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 25, 2016, 12:21:21 PM
Hey Glort,

" " " " " " (Ditto, Ditto, Ditto....)

Now get off your lazy ass and pull them wheels off your roid!!

I shouldn't throw stones.... I am in my metallic years too... Silver in the hair, gold in the teeth.....and.....lead in the ass.......

Cheerz
E
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on April 25, 2016, 12:50:27 PM
Yeah, but what's the skiing like?

Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on April 25, 2016, 07:20:27 PM
  There is no normal "weather" here, just long term averages. three wind direction changes  here adjacent to lake Huron are not uncommon and  will cause temperature and humidity to vary.depends too of the lake is open or frozen over. More precipitation but warmer temps when the lake is open during the winter. Winters and summers rather than being typical will vary year to year from being either unusually warm or unusually cool. The intense winds off the lake tends to make even sober people walk with a lean.

http://www.farmzone.com/statistics/temperature/cl6124127/so040
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 26, 2016, 08:57:37 AM
Hey Stef...

The skiing is great... A couple of Evinrude 200's and a few largish dams in the area, sunshine, bikini's and barbecue.... AWESOME!  ;D

Cheerz
E
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 26, 2016, 09:01:32 AM
Hey B&D,

Took a look at the weather link....got as far as seeing 4 months of the year averaging at less than 0C... Quietly backed away...I am not man enough for that weather....

Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on April 27, 2016, 08:18:18 PM
Hey B&D,

Took a look at the weather link....got as far as seeing 4 months of the year averaging at less than 0C... Quietly backed away...I am not man enough for that weather....

Ed

  We pack the manly bits under lots of thermal insulation.   
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 28, 2016, 08:37:45 AM
Hey B&D,

In that weather I would definitely nedd the surgical procedure: "Strapadicktome" to maintain my gender....

Lol
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 09, 2016, 10:48:56 AM
Hey Guys....

Couldn't resist it.... Totally off track, will probs get thrown off the forum, but hey.... Laughter is the best medicine!

<Snip>
A group of Std. 1's, 2's and 3's, accompanied by two female teachers, went on a field trip to the Greyville Racecourse, to learn about thoroughbred race horses and the supporting industry, but mostly to see the horses.

When it was time to take the children to the 'bathroom', it was decided that the girls would go with one teacher and the boys would go with the other. The teacher assigned to the boys was waiting outside the men's toilet when one of the boys came out and told her that none of them could reach the urinal.

Having no choice, she went inside, helped the little boys with their pants, and began hoisting them up one by one, holding on to their 'wee-wees' to direct the flow away from their clothes.

As she lifted one, she couldn't help but notice that he was unusually well endowed. Trying not to show that she was staring the teacher said, 'You must be in standard 3?'

'No ', he replied. 'I'm riding Silver Arrow in the seventh race, but I appreciate your help.'

<UnSnip>

Cheerz
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 18, 2016, 09:44:48 PM
Hey guys...

Another day, another dollar.....spent...

Just eased myself into a semi horizontal position on the workbench.... The main workbench in the bedroom... ... Wondering to myself where the last few weeks have gone, my, time has flown.... Kinda like the old saying: "Time flies like knives... Fruit flies like bananas..."

Been hard at it planning the forthcoming roid project, a double wheeled behemoth to tick over at around 500rpm... I have managed to get the wheels checked over by an old gent who really knows his stuff. He assures me that as long as we don't go above around 850rpm or so, things should hold together quite fine. He did a bit of a speed test on the suspect wheels and ran them up to rated speed - beyond a bit of bounce due to one being a bit out of balance, all was fine. He reckons at a lowered speed of up to 850 or so, they should last quite well, nothing to be concerned about, this is good news indeed, especially since 500 is the target! (I wasn't around when he tested them, in fact, I made a point of not being around when he tested them!)

As to what I have been getting up to in the interim, not really that much... We roofed over and covered another almost 90 sq m or so of soon to be workshop, all done in steel and similar, no woodwork involved,... While we were at it, we included a 10m x 6m overhead gantry system, main bearers made from 6" x 6" H sections with a double lifting point beam crawls on the main traverse beam, a second and slightly shorter, heavier duty beam will ride along side the 6m traverse beam about 750mm from it, and paralell with it, to give us up to four lifting points for difficult loads. We pretty much just finished putting up the main beam this evening, and, not to be left sleeping, I quietly snuck off and tested it... I lifted one of my bending brake/ press chassis.... about 500kg or so and it performed flawlessly, the main traverse beam hardly settled at all. At a rough guestimate, I should be able to center lift in excess of 5000kg at center, well above what my lifting tackle and chain blocks can currently handle, so swinging a 4wheel TM2 around should be a breeze.... Here are a few low quality pics to get an idea of the bits and bobs I have suspended currently... http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/20160419 New Gantry and Roof/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/20160419 New Gantry and Roof/)

Damn, I just browsed thru the pics and noticed two rather important things....

1 - it has been over a month since I started throwing some steel into the air and managed to get it to stay there...(in the words of the great Douglas Adams: Hovers in the air, like bricks don't!)

And


2 - it is high time I put a coat of paint on the front wall of the house... It looks real crappy!

But... That can wait a little while... there are far more important things to play.....er..... work on... Like Listers and gantries!

Keep on lifting!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 15, 2016, 11:00:19 AM
Hey Guys,

Its been over a month that I have been lurking in the background...doing all things non-lister....Life has just got in the way of the toys!

The gantry system is pretty much completed now, installed about 1.1Kw of neon lighting in the roof to allow for the aging eyesight. I also installed a couple of fittings in the gantry rail proper to detail light the area where a lift happens... This will be quite handy when I start doing the finals on TM2.(This has of course, led me to rewire and redo the lighting in the older section of the workshop, now that I see how bad it actually is...)

TM1 has been running fine of late, 100% WMO with the occasional whiff of Dino to start up for the evening run, I have been a bit remiss in my servicing routine with all the other goings-on, I see that he is about 200hrs overdue for an oil change and filter swop, I need to pull finger and do the necessary, lest the bearing rise up and smite me!

The slightly cooler weather has made for a more tedious start on WMO, so I  am using the small "fuel test tank" to start on... As soon as he fires up, I throw the valves and on with WMO we go....

As to a warm up routine, not much, get him firing, bring him up to revs over about 20 to 30 sec by holding the governor closed partly, when up to revs, give him about another 30 sec of free running, them onto load... (One thing I do, however, is to let the starter motor swing him over with the compression release engaged and the ip full open until the WMO clears the line and Dino hits the injector... It takes about 40 sec or so of turning over for this to happen, the injector starts to "squeak" rather than "crunch"... The WMO dumped into the cylinder is doing no major harm I reckon, just giving an upper cyl lube job as bonus!)

Incidentally, I have found a "simple" solution to my "sump gunk" running... I pushed the timing another 2.5 degrees advanced from standard in about .5 degree increments and monitored the "diesel knock" while warmed up and running... The result, around 22.5 degree timing, similar diesel knock to standard dino, less carbon buildup, similar power output when warm... So far, a happy face is in order!

Enough rambling.... I gotta go play spark monkey in my old workshop roof.... Uggggh!

Keep it spinning!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 26, 2016, 08:19:29 PM
Hey guys...

Just a small update on life in sunny ZA...

Not much been done on lister toys, did manage to throw a can of oil and a filter or two into the beast... only around 200+ hours overdue! I think I must put one of those irritating red "service" lights on the beast, at least that way he wouldn't be so neglected!

There is much to be said for injection timing... with the last advance I made to around 22 btdc, the burn has been much cleaner compared to previous... Has anybody else noticed similar when running wmo and the like? I am keen to hear!

WI still in place, keeping carbon buildup well at bay. I am loathe to pull things apart to check buildup, because at the mo, things are holding together quite well... I noticed that we have just about reached 5500kwh generated since I installed the meter, of this I am indeed happy. I would love to know what the saving has been to the household iro water heating... electricity has been a byproduct pretty much, with water heating playing the greater part of late...

The exhaust stack has been just slightly too hot to hold/touch, about 10 to 20C hotter than the radiator and hot water return pipes, so the heatex's seem to be doing their thing quite well.. the coolant heatex is working very well so far, the main fan on the radiator hardly comes on at all... I found this quite disconcerting initially and it has taken quite a bit of getting used to. One of the items I should have installed immediately, was the small "pilot" fan on the top of the radiator... this fan keeps the thermo syphon going reliably and only does minimal cooling... it is hooked up to a temperature switch at the cylinder head hot water outlet. It kicks in immediately the engine is up to about 85C and remains stunning pretty much on all the time... it moves about as much air as a 3" muffin fan, so no real big time cooling taking place, just enough to keep the coolant circulating reliably...

Anyways... Again I ramble... but before I go, a small word on tig welding... I had forgotten how much fun it was! I have been playing around with some ali welding, trying to get back into practise.... Definitely a case of 'use it or lose it' !

Keep it spinning...
Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on June 27, 2016, 03:57:07 PM
Fans push better than they pull. Placing the cooling fan on the cold air side of the rad will lengthen it's service life.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 27, 2016, 04:37:51 PM
Hi Guys,

B&D:

As to push, rather than pull, we will have to agree to disagree in that one!(Particularly in the case of a radiator with narrow finning as I have installed).. I agree, however, that running the fan motor in the cool will make it last longer!

Glort:

Glad to see I am still entertaining!!

The exhaust heatex amounts to a water jacketed 40mm pipe of around 3m long with the outside diameter around 75mm or so. The cool water flows into the jacket area on the "tailpipe" end and exits just before the cylinder head. Water is used only for showers etc, there are 7 plus residents in the household on a daily basis. Within 3 hrs we have around 300L of close to boiling water for ablutions....and yes.... I am generally filthy by day end and cant wait for a nice hot, relaxing shower!!

Spot on with your small fan understanding! There are 2 temp switches on the system, one is at cyl head and controls the small fan, the other is on the top of the radiator and kicks in when the radiator top hits 85C, it seldom comes on, but when it does, it is generally on a sweltering hot "berg wind" type day, and then it is only for a few minutes at a time....

Re the resevoir drum heatup on your system - I reckon the volume of the system was doing a hot/cold cycle and pushing a little hot water into the drum each cycle... the minute the system starts to circulate, water contracts and draws in a bit of cool into the system, only to heat up and expel the hot stuff at the top, which rises to the top of the drum...the cycle starts again....

My current WMO is all but finished, we are on the real dregs at the mo... the fuel processor is only about 1/2 full of real crappy stuff, so no point in running that up....yet... Tomorrow we go grab another 40L small batch to run up on.... I have just been a little busy with other toys lately to do the waste recovery thing....

Tomorrow's another day!!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on June 29, 2016, 02:09:57 PM
Common fans can push equally well as pull. For the most part it is just a matter of changing their rotation and/or orientation to the power source. The vast majority of our generator installations are using pusher fans to exhaust the waste heat out the front of the radiator. The same is true of most air-conditioner condenser fans. It mostly has to do with the desired air flow direction, practicalities of mounting, and little else. On automobile fans, those with radiators in front, the reason for them to pull rather than push is because they would not work well fighting against normal air flow when the vehicle was moving forward. My Mercedes uses a pair of electric fans mounted in front of the radiator rather than behind and they are defined as pushers. I suppose it really becomes a matter of which side of the blades you might be looking at...

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 29, 2016, 02:31:55 PM
Hey Glort....

I was bout to ask how many KwH to the k*****n.... but I wont in case I get flamed....

Car fans are indeed robust and strong, for me though, I dont have 12V on the system per se' so they would be a pain to install with txformers/rectifier etc... Easiest was a few scrap 220v low power consumption fans... Probs adds up to less than 150W in total for fans and another 200W or so for water circulation... all in its probs in the region of 1.5A or thereabouts for the 220v line as a max fixed overhead...After this is all taken care of, it still pushes 20A to the db board so, "ja well no fine!" (An old SA saying...)

The WMO I look for is probs the worst of the worst...Why go easy? But seriously though, it is in vastly varying qualities and quantities... Often from open pails forgotten in the back of beyond... I wonder how many dissolved rats I have consumed? That would make the kitty boys happy, I bet!

I run through about 5L of oil a day on an average to short 3hr run... This sees to about an average load of ..... uh.... dunno.... Will have to recheck my spreadsheet for that, but I do remember that I average out to about 600ml per Kwh so going on the grey matter here, its around 5000/600 ... 8.5 kwh.... about 1.6L per hour.... The "Day Tank" gets a top up every 4 to 5 days if we do average runs.... To get the best out of the system, I try and keep the run to 3hrs plus or minus... More than that and water heating becomes inefficient, less than 2 1/2 hrs and water heating is too little... Time things right, and I get the dishwasher on, the ironing done, and the chips fried in one run! (Consecutively of course!) Each of those heavy appliances takes us to around 18A draw total including the household! To try and get the women to understand that only one of the heavy use items can be used at a time is sometimes....no always, a chore...(but a hairdryer doesn't take that much....does it?)

There are plenty of ways to do something for the environment:
Keep traveling costs to 0 by working from home.....Check
Recycle old oils into fuel rather than dumping .... Check
Recycle old equipment and refurbish rather than replace .... Check
Reduce your footprint IRO Grid Water usage..... Check
Reduce your footprint IRO Grid Power Usage .... Check
etc etc etc....Need I go On? .....

I had a "discussion" face to face with one of my "green" friends.... He gave me a bollocking for a wood fired braai we were having.... Until I pointed out to him that his "clean" household cooking either came from coal/diesel or nuke...and to top it off, he came to visit in a nice petrol powered sedan... His one trip out to me burned more energy than 6 months worth of weekend barbecues.... A long silence ensued and the subject changed....(Its amazing to see the look of realization when the facts slowly sink through the brain boulders) .... Lol....

Enough rambling/ranting and raving...As long as we all do our bit to keep old iron going, old fuels burnt cleanly, and minimal sludge dumped into the environment, there should be a green space left for our kids!

Keep it spinning...

Cheerz
Ed

PS - I am not a greenie/bunny hugger/environmental fruit bat.... but.... cleaner is better.... Oh sh!t.... Maybe I am a greenie/bunny hugger/environmental fruit bat.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 29, 2016, 02:48:48 PM
Hey GMan...

Well put! .....but...

Consider a plain fan/radiator setup....no shrouds, air ducts etc involved.

Close couple the fan on both a pull and a push scenario(ie the fan blades are in close proximity, identical spacing for each).

The pushing fan will exhaust air both axially and radially due to a higher pressure in the hub area and the centrifugal component of the air being moved...No duct, and the air will recirculate through the blades as not all of it will be able to "fit" through the fins at such a low pressure/velocity..

The pulling fan, will move the same or similar amount of air, but with a somewhat higher percentage going through the radiator fins, possibly because both the radially as well as axially expelled air has to come from somewhere, most easily the other side of the radiator....

Just my warped explanation....

Cheerz
Ed

PS - My roid uses a pull fan....no duct...works better than when I had it the other way round.... My bulldozer on the other hand, uses a push fan....Ducted and keeps the cr@p blowing ahead and away from the operator!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on June 29, 2016, 03:28:15 PM
Hi Guys,

B&D:

As to push, rather than pull, we will have to agree to disagree in that one!(Particularly in the case of a radiator with narrow finning as I have installed)..

X2.  In fact I would say that it is completely the other way around.  if the pushed better than they pulled, cars would have electric fans in front of the radiator not behind.


Quote
I agree, however, that running the fan motor in the cool will make it last longer!

That may well be true and it may also depend a lot on the fan in use. I have no real thoughts other than that.

What I do know for a fact is car radiator fans seem to be extremely robust and long lived.
I have a pair on my truck I took off a 10 yo Subaru. I used them to replace the mechanical fan and what a good modification that has proven to be.  I don't have a thermostat on them, they tend to run all the time except when I am on the highway when I remember to turn them off.  Around town they are left on.
They log up big running hours but not had any problems so far.

I also have a couple I put in the windows at home in summer. These tend to run 24/7 for weeks at a time because no matter the temp outside, the rooms they are in that get the full sun are always hotter if left unventilated. at night they bring in a much cooler breeze than the house has been heated to. The hours these things have run up over the last 3 summers I have been using them would surely be more than any normal vehicle would see in service and these things were taken of vehicles that were over 10 YO when I got them!

I have great faith in these fans which is also bolstered by the fact they are only ever sold in my fathers wrecking yard to replace ones accident damaged. Can't ever remember selling one to replace one that stopped working with the exception of a car that ended up underwater and was a farm ute. Even that failed a year after being submerged but it was siezed so who knows.

How much oil a dat are you going through Ed on average and is a better source of WMO difficult for you to get?


It's funny how everyone using WMO tends to get and warn of sludge and water.  The oil we drain at the yard is never that bad. Sure some is a bit thick and very dirty but I have never seen anything sludgy at the bottom of an oil drain pan or drum I have brought home. It just makes me wonder where these vehicles come from and why the service routine is so bad!
I got about 60L the other week from my Brother in law who did an oil change on his boat. Being diesel oil it's nice and thin and it gets changed on a calendar time rather than an engine time basis. On a run basis I think he'd only need to change it about every 3 years!  :0)

We do throw all the oil in together at the yard, engine, trans, brake fluid, steer but never any water/ coolant.  Some mechanics must be effing lazy!
I have been stuffing round and procrastinating setting up my waste oil fired house heater and I intend to run that on WMO to save my veg oil.  For that burner I don't even need to filter the stuff. I could probably strain it through a couple of layers of fly wire but anything that gets through that is going to be fine enough to get through the burner fittings.

I have a couple of Vids on my YT channel where I burn WMO. The idiot comments I get from the greenwashed save the planet Ignorant environmental nazis about recycling and other crap is amazing.
According to some, all you need to do is filter it through some cloth and put it back in the engine.  I wonder how many of them are stupid or even hands on enough to do that with their own Vehicles?

My favorite whinge is about " Heavy Metals" going into the air from WMO burning.  Again another whinge that sounds intelligent but is moronically flawed.
An engine only has to loose a few thou of an inch off the bores ( steel or aluminium) to be stuffed and the same off the bearings which are smaller but do actually contains some metals that cooking utensils aren't made from.  That few thou of metal displaced is captured in the oil filters and divided between them and  20 or more oil changes. It does not take much imagination to envisage how minute the amounts of metal are in any given amount of oil nor the fact than much of that is going to be very non toxic metals like aluminum, copper and steel amount others.

These clowns also ignore the fact that this oil is burnt  by the thousands of gallons every day by vehicles as they just drive along the road. It's also dropped on the road and the thing that is of more concern to me  is the huge amounts of material that come off brakes and clutches.  Not hard to go through a set of pads in a year and there is infinitely more material  lost in a set of ftont pads than there is in probably 20 worn out engines.
Never hear the environmental nazis mentioning that though. They seem to mis or avoid facts and basic things that they can't sensationalise and blow out of proportion for their fear mongering purposes.

You'd think we were burning babies or Kittens Ed the way some of these ignorant twits carry on!    ::)


Why not put those vehicle electric fans on an aftermarket thermostat control to start at 220F ? Cleaner combustion, improved fuel efficiency  and longer engine life if operated only when required. In particular with the no stat operation.
   In fact I can't imagine any advantage to operating without a stat.
   It's common knowledge that fans and pumps push better than they pull.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 29, 2016, 10:33:29 PM
Hey B&D,

220F might b  a little high for a non pressurised system with minimal glycol to push up the boiling point... even at sea level... 195 to 200 would b a little safer I reckon... I have played the temperature games on my listeroid and found that there is a definite sweet spot to operating at slightly above pure water boiling point.. to get there, I pushed up the glycol content but found a small problem with hydronic cooling due to viscosity.. Until the coolant gets a little warmer than 40 or 50 C, it does not cycle very well and caused localised hot spotting and boiling in the head channels.. spectacular to say the least... let it warm up slowly under minimal load and things work very well, but it is not foolproof... me being the fool... I also played thermostat games and managed to get it tuned up quite well too.. but, for me, this was again not to my wanting as I have no over temp shutdown when things go awry if the thermostat decides to fail closed... I am considering a very simple auto-top-up type of arrangement for the system, as should I have a catastrophic leak/pipe failure, similar things could happen... I like simple, easy and lazy... I am considering a small and open header tank with a float valve that gets topped up from our water mains system, this will T feed into the cylinder head top pipe, should any pipe break in the system, besides the safety feed of course, cool water will flood the engine, make a hell of a puddle and attract attention.... hopefully! No damage through overheat happens, it simply over cools and life goes on...

Agreed regarding pumps etc pushing better than they suck, but that is in a closed system... at best you can only get 1 ATM worth of suck on something, then you get a vacuum... but, from the little bit of practical I have had over the years, I have just found, personally, that radiators are a damn side easier to cool using a plain unducted fan sucking air through, than making up many hours worth of ducting to get the same efficiency by using a push air system...a further benefit, for me anyway, with the roid, is because of the relatively exposed and plain radiator without shrouds and ducts to shield the core, even with the small amount of windage and breeze through and around the radiator, from flywheels and atmospherics, should the main fan fail, unless under close to maximum load, the cooling is sufficient on the average day to keep the boil and seize demons at bay...Bonus!

A properly designed and fully ducted and sealed, fan pressurised system would definitely out perform a fan evacuated system in cooling capability... but that is not what I am talking about... What I am talking about is a minimalistic, fan/radiator pair, no frills, fancies, ducts or other....a suck definitely beats a blow in my books!

Agreed to regarding some form of thermal switching to hold the cold demons back in their stall until they are required... This is particularly evident and witnessed on this Beastie of mine.... pointless for me to cool the coolant colder than the hot water its supposed to be heating(coolant heatex in system)....

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on June 29, 2016, 11:40:31 PM
>  We do throw all the oil in together at the yard, engine, trans, brake fluid, steer but never any water/ coolant.


How well does brake fluid fare in the mix?  I thought it was some other sort of stuff, because it sucks water out of the air if it can.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on June 30, 2016, 01:03:29 AM
  I made a mistake reading your post and thought there was no mechanical water thermostat on the truck.
  Of course the none pressurized roid is about limited to 210F or so even with a 50/50 mix.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 02, 2016, 09:14:51 AM
Hey guys,

After successfully pushing the wrong button and deleting the post I was busy with......

A rough guestimate of energy harvesting via hot water...(approximate numbers from yesterday's run, forgive me if I cocked up the calcs..)

Total water volume 300l
Start temp- 8c
End temp- 68c
Time taken-6 hrs
Energy-21kw total
Equates to about 3kwh ex exhaust and coolant recovery...

But.... temp was measured at tap after about 30m of uninsulated basement and outdoor copper run... and during the test there were a couple of showers and loads of dishes done... probably equates to around another 100l or so of cold water added to the system...Engine electrical loads were variable, but averaging at about 2.5kwh, fuel consumption is around 600ml per kWh of electrical produced...

It would be interesting to see the 'actual' energy harvesting if I could run the system in an off line mode without the variables creeping in...

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 05, 2016, 11:15:13 AM
Hey Guys,

Still here, still spinning over(slowly).... But a wee question about filter socks.....

I am building a pump from an old pneumatic cylinder, to transfer oil from collection drums through a sock filter I have built up, to go into final settling tanks prior to use. My question could be answered by the manufacturers of the sock filters, in fact they have, but I would rather trust you lads with the experience out there....

The sock filter, according to specs given, is easily capable of a running input pressure of around 2 bar. I would like to hear what pressure you experts are using as an input, to get the best particle retention on your sock filters/filter media.....

Keep it pumping....

Regds
Ed

PS - If anybody would like to see my enormously over designed  sock filter and housing, lemme know and I will post a few pics....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Hugh Conway on September 06, 2016, 12:44:40 AM
Ed, I don't know anything about sock filters and waste oil, but can tell you that we use a 20 micron sock filter at about 4 bar in a clients deep well pumping system. This is within spec for potable water systems. The 4 bar is system pressure rather than delta P.
Cheers,Hugh
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 06, 2016, 09:25:29 AM
Hey Hugh,

Noted, the suppliers reckon up to about 4-8bar too... with a max delta of about 3 (this was guessed by them I think).... I reckon 2 bar should be safe enough to prevent a rupture, just concerned about material stretching and opening up the weave.... They reckon the filters are around 1-2 micron, but I have my doubts.... So far on low pressure, gravity fed filtration, they seem to work quite well, but I need to speed up the process a bit...

Cheers
Ed


Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 07, 2016, 01:39:01 PM
Hey Glort,

I agree re the settling time, the longer the better!! No question about it!!

Currently I am not carrying a large stock of WMO due to storage constraints, I can only store about 4 to 600 L of oil to recycle at any given time.

The "system" I currently use is loosely as follows:

Oil arrives in 200L or smaller containers, these are decanted into an upright 200L settling drum.
After as long a settling time as is possible, minimum of 7 days, the top 2/3 is pumped off through a filter into the "Usage" tank.(Not really long enough, I know, but it is the best I can do at the moment.)

The usage tank is a 200L drum, horizontal, but the bottom is tilted away from the exit, leaving around 20L or slightly more for crap to roll to the back.(The really fine stuff separates out over here, as it takes a few weeks to go through the batch.)

When the drum approaches empty, it gets tilted 20deg or so forward, left to settle for a day or so, then the sludge/sediment is drained till good oil shows at the tap. This is then returned to the backward slope and the drum is refilled with "new" old oil...

The settling drum gets its lower reaches drained every few refills - this goes into the fuel heater/stirrer/filter machine...Around 60 or so L at a time... The residue from the machine goes into a "really really really bad oil plastic drum" - this gunk drum has not filled up yet and I have processed a good few 1000 L so far....(Anybody want some mineral oil based sandwich spread?)

What I have found in the longish term so far, is that the filtration takes quite a while when using gravity. I am hoping to speed this up by using a single cylinder pneumatic cylinder as a pump. Effectively, how I am going to do it: one side of the cylinder is a piston pump pumping the oil, The shaft side of the cylinder will be tethered with a spring return and charged with compressed air for the power stroke to push the oil through a rather large filter unit I have constructed. When the power stroke is done, the shaft hits a toggle and exhausts the air for the ram to be pulled back by spring tension, recharging the pump side of the ram. Once pulled back fully, it hits the toggle and the cycle starts again...

I have elected to go low speed piston pump for a few reasons - the primary being that any dirt clumps or water in the fuel will not be broken down into smaller units, particularly the water. I have found that a sure way to clog a low pressure filter sock system is to put emulsified oil/water through it. Flow stops almost immediately. Secondly, pressure can be regulated VERY VERY easily by regulating the input air pressure. Thirdly, and probably most importantly, should the flow through the filter be restricted, it is not a truly "positive displacement" type system because of the air drive I am using, so no pressure relief equipment will be used in the contaminated oil flow...Should flow stop, the pump simply stalls....(Another, more important reason for me is that there is no way on this planet that I want to stuff up a good, working, hydraulic gear pump with old sh!tty oil... I am way too tight-arsed....)

What I am hoping to achieve is a reasonably easy and relatively quick filter method using the available junk I have lying around!

Lets see how it pans out!!

Comments appreciated!

Cheerz
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on September 07, 2016, 04:51:26 PM
I enjoyed reading about your proposed pneumatic cylinder based pump, Ed.  I hope you'll post a picture or two when you get it going.  I use a pneumatic diaphram pump I got used on the cheap to transfer my fuel to my gravity feed tank...but see that these pumps seem to be very expensive now, even used on ebay.  Air cylinders are often to be had quite cheaply used and using one as a pump as you suggest is very appealing. Since you're using used motor oil you should be fine re: the Buna rubber O-ring seals.  Veggie oil wrecks most rubber very quickly...a lesson I learned the hard way when when I was running biodiesel.  I bought a cheap manual rotary transfer pump- worked great; went to use it two weeks later and it would no longer pump- all the seals were gone.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 08, 2016, 11:21:55 AM
Hey Bruce/Glort,

Bruce: No problem re the pics, I will post some when the time comes...most of the system is in "distributed processing mode" as it now stands....ie I am have most of the junk spread around the workshop and not in one place(except the filter unit, that is in use already.)

Glort: You make me blush....you have a far higher opinion of my capabilities than I do!

Centrifugal pumps are certainly an option - If the cr@p is already suspended in the good stuff and it is not viable to settle it out because of minimum SG differences et al... I am trying this piston pump setup out to try and keep the dirt "together" and not mix it in or break it down any further...Particularly because, as mentioned previously, I just dont have the facilities for longer settling at present.....

Gear pumps work a treat! they are awesome little machines that can really deliver - I think your flow restrictions you have come up against are more to do with cavitation due to input side restrictions than anything else... a sure way to slow down the flow on the little buggers is to restrict the input, even marginally, it makes a BIG difference....

Roller pumps are pretty cool too... Merc has a 12v unit that is "inside tank" for their sedans.... nicely engineered, but pretty useless on liquids with higher visco than diesel if you need lots of flow...again, they starve due to in port size...

Possibly the used pumps have already "worn in" from an alignment perspective - change that, and you will be quite tight and noisy until they wear into their new position....In fact, I have seen similar on badly aligned hydraulic power packs in the past...Do the service, sort out the shaft alignment and they are noisy as hell...creep the motor back towards the out of alignment "where it was running before" position and thing quiet down....Go figure....

Anyways....I ramble again...

Let me get off my butt and go and put some junk together into something usable....

Keep it pumping...

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 15, 2016, 12:44:31 PM
Hey Guys,

Hooked up the "pump" a few days ago and gave it a brief test... Had to kludge together a multitude of springs for the suction return stroke, this gunk that I am pumping is quite "thick" to put it mildly... The pump works a treat, was doing it on a "manual" control type cycle by simply blowing 20psi air into the bugger with a blow gun as and when required. It displaces around 1 1/2 Liters per stroke, nice and smooth, with only one minor drawback - The cylinder I am using has(had) a built in "End Stroke Damper" which is internally ported to a small, adjustable orifice on the end plates. Nothing that a quick strip down(4 Bolts), remove the buffer seal(One dig with a screwdriver), re-assembly(4 bolts) and continue, didn't sort out...

Sounds simple, quick and easy.... It was!! (Now the difficult thing is to clean up the area where I stripped it down... I am sure that they use old sump oil in bubble-jet printer cartridges... This stuff doesn't so much wipe-up as "smear" to give everything in close proximity a dull black shine....but that's another story...)

The filter seems to be performing well(at this stage), the next task is to put a semi automated air feed system onto the pump and start pumping! (Possibly a pressure gauge on the output might be a good thing too.... Just to ensure that things are running within the filters' limits....)

Enough Rambling....

Lemme carry on trying to navigate the wide account-an-seas of international funds transfer to try and get some Lister spares....

Keep it pumping...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on September 16, 2016, 02:24:22 AM
1.5 liters per stroke- that's a big air cylinder!  I'm looking forward to seeing more about your air cylinder based pump, Ed!

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 16, 2016, 03:41:28 PM
Yep Bruce...

Its quite "large" .... Considering the stroke is only a little over and inch or two!!

Cheerz
E
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 19, 2016, 02:38:10 PM
Hey Guys,

Another day in paradise!!

Eventually got round to doing the much awaited cylinder head swop-out... This happened because my temp valve job started to get a little bit "blowey" and causing me to lose a bit of power under heavy load. (The temp job has lasted about 1000hrs, so I cant really complain...)

While I had the head off(or just before actually) I employed my much vaunted "Resonance via Impact Induction" decarboning regime on the first 3m or so of exhaust... Spectacular to say the least!! ... Chunks of black shite erupted from the end of the pipe.... All over me, the driveway, the .... Well, you get my drift... I can't help it, I am a slow learner.... What I did find interesting, was the exhaust blocking up virtually solid on the last bend before it hits the building-fixed main upright.... This resulted in a rather interesting phenomenon.... The overall aperture that wasnt blocked was in the region of around 1/4" worth of gas passage remaining... The back-pressure must have been quite immense... Almost instantly the engine got the worst diesel knock I have EVER heard... So much so, that I thought the thing was about to throw a rod!

I immediately shut down fuel and coasted it to a virtual stop, ticking over slowly under hand control.... No more knock... Allowed it to speed up slowly, still no knock.... As I allowed it to come up to almost full revs, the knock started and became rapidly worse...

What I surmise was happening, is that the immense back-pressure builds up and forces the exhaust valve slightly open during the intake stroke, this admits very hot gas into the cylinder on the stroke and when the fuel hits this overly hot mixture on the compression stroke, detonation, rather than controlled combustion, occurs... (I did remove the head just after this and I did check... No evidence of valves hitting the piston crown, or heavy carbon chunks being pulverised either.) The combustion chamber/head inner/piston crown/exhaust port shows relatively little carbon deposit(Less than .5mm all round) after about 1000hrs of gunk fuel being put through it.... Old man hydro is doing his job!! (Cant say the same for the exhaust though - as this unit has an "aftercooler heatex", I am picking up quite a bit of carbon in the pipework!)

Enough rambling...

Keep it spinning..
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 20, 2016, 10:33:48 AM
Hey Glort!

U r a STAR!!!

Brilliant Idea with the chain!! Most of my runs are fairly straight with T pieces every now and then, most runs have access from one end via a T...

The chain Idea will work brilliantly!! I have boiler tube brushes, but I only use them where I have an "exit" on the pipe being cleaned - they "Ratchet" into the pipe and can only be reversed mid stroke with a hell of an effort and ultimately stuffed up by doing so....

WI into the pipe has been tried, with great success to the cleaning, but a few frowns (euphemistically speaking) from the residents of the household....Washing turns a a marvelous spotty black/grey, white cars go spotty black/grey....even the dogs!

My problems with the carbon buildup occurred due to the water feed being turned down a little too low I think... I have been boosting it a bit and the "thump-thump" from the exhaust end is becoming more evident.... I am considering a intermittent dosing system, semi automated... Just need to find a low pressure water solenoid valve that runs at 220v - I must have one round here somewhere...

What I am considering doing is hooking the 220v high heat fan output to the solenoid as well as the fan - when TM hits top temperature, as well as the fan kicking in, the flood gates open too(in a regulated fashion of course) this will allow a slightly higher than normal dose of water to be admitted, easy to regulate via a small needle valve, this will not only cool, but steam clean the innards as well when at top temp. I have found that the running temp can be easily regulated by the water flow, fine tuned so as to speak. The problems occur when the load varies and the water flow doesnt - so what I am planning to do is put a minimal trickle in as per previous for low power running, but boosting it when the temp spikes due to high load... When in place, it shouldn't need much human input at all... Also no electronics, just simple electrical stuff, hooking onto what is already there...

Your thoughts?

Keep it steamin'.....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on September 21, 2016, 07:26:13 AM
Great.  Now I wonder if I have to pull my muffler and swab the pipe every other year. (which should have been last year ! )
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 21, 2016, 09:49:01 AM
Hey Glort/Mike,

Hmm....That gas blowtorch idea could be fun.... Especially with the dry grass only about 10 to 15m away from the exhaust outlet...

Picture the scene:
A Lister thumping away romantically in the background... A nice cold beverage as the sun goes down... A warm glowing fire.... No fireplace....  ::)

I think I am gonna have to stick to the colder methods of decarboning for a while..... Dunno why.... Just this little voice.....

Mike, a sure way to see if you need to clear the pipes - "Just Listen" - if there isn't, or is very little, exhaust pulse at the outlet and the exhaust sounds more of a jet than a pulse, its probably time... that's what I have picked up on my system.... Another telltale is the gradual appearance of soot from any clamped joint as back-pressure builds up... That was another symptom I ignored for a while....

Strangely enough, there was another symptom that reared its head - Not sure it is related, but maybe... Sump Oil consumption - Not sure if it was a combination of the valves needing attention as well as a clogged exhaust stack, but the beast has been a little thirsty for sump oil for a while.. He has needed a top off on the oil level every other day or so, after around 6 to 10 hrs of running... Since doing the Cylinder head swap and de-carbon, (The Cylinder was not removed, nor were rings exposed during the operation) TM hasn't needed to be topped off at all...  This usage would normally indicate excessive sump pressure or a stuck CC breather valve or perhaps even worn or suck oil control rings, but they have been in good order and not touched during the last maintenance spell, so nothing changed there... I did notice, a long while back, that excessively loose and sloppy valve clearances caused a marked spike in oil consumption when a rocker bush seized and failed.... At the time, I wrote it off to a "glitch in the matrix" and thought nothing further of it.. Anybody else had a similar experience?

Lets see whether the "Matrix Stabilizes" and oil consumption lowers long term....

Keep it thumping.....

Cheers
Ed

PS....Finally found the pic of a thumpmonster I liked!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 22, 2016, 09:22:56 AM
Hey Guys,

Here are some pics of TM1's Head and combustion areas I took yesterday... Not great quality, but it gives some idea of the (lack of) carbon and deposit buildup after running around 1k hrs or so on virtually 100% WMO ... The water induction on the inlet is doing a sterling job of keeping most of the crud at bay....

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 COV Plug and Head after 1000hr WMO Running 20160921 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 COV Plug and Head after 1000hr WMO Running 20160921)

Overall, I am more than satisfied. The carbon deposits are more of a problem in the exhaust runs than in the engine itself.

What is of interest is the way that the exhaust valve has backed into the head, an old problem, and the main one that made me take the head off to get sorted. Around 1k hrs ago, the valve and seat had started to fail, a temp reseat job was done with only the basic tools I have(Barring a lathe that I used to cut the valve face) and it has survived quite well....

Cheers
Ed

PS - Some interesting stats, bits n' bobs' I have on record to date:

Total Runtime: 2504hrs
Fuel Usage: 3516L, mostly WMO
L/KwH: Currently 0.598
KwH/L:Currently 1.672
L/Hr:Currently 1.404
KwH Last Run Session 2.33
Total KwH Produced to date: 5880

Total water heating LPG estimated saved over 14mo Period: 21 x 14Kg Bottles

Fuel Used: WMO / Contaminated and recycled Diesel, Thinners, Petrol, ATF, Transformer Oil, Paraffin, Various other grades of mineral oil, WVO... if its liquid, oil based and burns, it gets used. (Sometimes, if it just burns its good enough!!)

Residual oils that are badly contaminated with water and coolant left on hand after recycling 3500L of gunk - <200L (Soon to be gone through again and more reclaimed)

Most common used spares for maintenance - Fuel and oil filters.

Other maintenance spares used: 1 x set rings, 2xhead gaskets/Oil pump seal/IP elements x 2

Warranty spares used: 1x Crankshaft/1xBig end Bearing

Highlights(The things that I remember most):
Crank failure at 1500hrs due to bad lube oil standpipes.
Vibration issues and balancing of flywheels
Finding the best injector timing position for WMO
Water injection Installation
Electric starting
Heat Recovery from Exhaust and Coolant


And....

of course....

Lots of FUN!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 22, 2016, 03:39:46 PM
Hey Glort!

Thanks for the compliments!!

As pretty much always, agreed on what you say about the parroted mantras!!

One thing that I guestimated in the numbers was the LPG that we would have burnt through during this time period - around 21 Bottles... That equates to a significant cost saving on its own.. Around ZAR5500 at today's prices... I remember a couple of weeks ago, chatting to my housemate, basically on the cost vs saving of running TM... It went loosely around the basic facts that as a pure electrical generator, it was pretty much break-even with a little bit of saving, the savings basically covering the spares and mods on a daily basis (as well as fuel, being that the going rate for WMO is around one ZAR if I cant find someone who wants to dump it.) The hot water/gas saving is the cream on top!!

But, as always, its generally the fun side of things that keep them going!! (I must admit though, sometimes the fun of lifting 500kg of motor is not so much fun!!)

And, above all, the camaraderie of a bunch of other twats like me around the world involved in similar shenanigans!!

Keep it spinning!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on September 22, 2016, 05:51:41 PM
EdDee, how's the bore looking in that engine? Still running the piston with 2 top rings?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on September 22, 2016, 08:37:27 PM
Well I'm more than happy to be one of the twats!!

Cheers Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 23, 2016, 09:13:50 AM
Hey Tom/Stef,

Bore seems fine still. A slight ridge, but nothing to write home about... Nothing compared to previous stripdown, where there was a substantial ridge that I had to carve down, but then again, there are still another 500 or so hours to go before it hits the same time frame as previous.

I didnt clean the bore, not even wipe it in fact, when I put the "new" head on. Just worked very, very carefully and made ultra sure as little as possible was disturbed. In hindsight, I should probs have taken a few pics for record purposes, but with my ass hanging out of the gen shed and a storm approaching (which never materialized anyway), I kinda did what was required and not much more...

I did notice, from the short run when it was detonating, that there was a fair amount of soot sticking to the bore itself... No matter, a few secs of run time scraped it off after and all was well(I presume, as there is little blow-by and venting from the cc breather)...

On the note of the CC breather - I have eventually routed it to the intake manifold... I got tired of the oily film that gets deposited and picks up dust... There is not much breather activity on this beast - surprising actually..... To keep things to "scale", I made the breather out of 40mm Galve pipe and some bends from a radiator hose.... It crosses from the CC vent extension around the front of the engine, at about the height of the cylinder head and lower than the rocker cover... Looks quite neat(for a change).... I abandoned the venting into the rocker cover, while it works, its a bit messy from a dust turning into grinding paste point of view...

I normally run with fairly loose valve clearances to allow for a bit of carbon deposit on the seats, but yesterday I went back to finer gaps and was quite surprised at the change in sound of the engine when the gaps were closed up - much, much less mechanical noise.... Particularly from the cam gear backlash(this beast hasn't had any tuning in this department yet....) As to whether performance is affected, not much, if at all.

I did see, on checking over before running yesterday, that he had used a bit of oil, about the same as previously, before the head was changed. Possibly I have a stuck oil wiper ring, which became "unstuck" with a good rattling from the back pressure induced detonating... Who knows? I will keep an eye on it and also change the fuel viscosity slightly - I am currently running between 40 and 50w fuel oil - the diesel knock is very slight - as I decrease the visco, the knock becomes more pronounced, and sooting becomes a little less... That might just "unstick" things.... Worth a try I suppose... WI helps an enormous amount, but it cannot cure everything...

Enough rambling from the old twat this side... Time to go play!!

Keep it spinning!!

Cheers
Ed

OMG... I just realized something... Now I understand why Trans World Airlines never offered Tea on their flights....Could you imagine the hostess pulling up with a trolley to your seat and saying: "Good day Sir...Can I offer you some T.W.A. Tea?"
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 23, 2016, 12:26:27 PM
Hey all ye "Learned Fellows" out there....

Here's an interesting one.....

If you look at the previous post, a small mystery to me....

I tightened up the valve clearances for a trial yesterday, and lo and behold.... After the run and before today's run, with the smaller clearances, a LOT less sump oil was used....Coincidence? I don't know....? Has anybody had similar?

Too early for me to tell as yet, need to run a few days with loose/tight settings to see if its a ripple in the matrix, or if it forms a trend.... But.... I would appreciate a comment or two from you gents out there.... Maybe I am missing something....

Keep it oiling...

Regds
Ed

PS - Just for sh!ts and giggles, to settle a heated discussion on the combustibility of WVO, I pushed about 1/2L or so through the engine while the "non-believer" was present and standing with saucer-sized eyes.... What I was reminded of while doing it, is that WVO is way more suited from a combustion/cleanliness/smell point of view to WMO.... Just wish I could get lots of it!! (The ladies tend to get a bit edgy when the the chip fryer suddenly empties itself..... I blame evaporation of course..... But I think they might be onto me now....)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on September 23, 2016, 03:35:21 PM
I would tend to want a reading on crankcase vacuum under both valve adjustment conditions to diagnose the oil consumption question with any degree of "scientific" method.

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 24, 2016, 09:48:08 AM
Hey Glort,

Just had a client arrive with a 308 that needs some attention... so much for my lazy start to the day.... but that's another story....

What did transpire is that he mentioned to me that he has a few ibc"s worth of lard, the commercial grade stuff, that he has to dispose of... this could be quite interesting indeed... comes from some local emporiums in the fast food line, ex chip fryers.... I have asked him for a sample, which he says he will hack out and get to me next week.... I see another heat exchanger in my immediate future for getting this stuff into a liquid to stuff down the ip to make more fun.... Have you had any experience with this stuff yet?

A LONG time ago, many years, I processed similar stuff with heating and drying, and stuck it through an engine... If I remember correctly, it worked fine, but was a PITA to do on a micro/small scale... to do occasional runs on it, of small qtys less than 20L at a time, the time overheads and additional heating requirements made it a non-worthwhile endeavour....but.... with around 5000 L of the stuff looking for a home, this might just be worthwhile.... Your thoughts?

In fact, I can already see a bit of exhaust plumbing heading to a heating tank.... I must be insane... its not like I actually enjoy making work for myself, is it?

I checked the oil level of TM, it was a little down, but not majorly... I did fill it to the max mark, which is slightly over full, so let's see how it pans out.... At least the beast runs mechanically quieter with tighter tappets... one bonus...

As I sit here typing, TM is thumping away in the background, hauling around 3.5kw electrical, pumping out around 5kw heat and, above all, stopping about 30L of sludge from being released into the environment in a less "friendly" way..... damn Glort, you better watch out, looks like I am becoming a greenie.....

The venting to the inlet for me is a much easier(read that as lazy) way of keeping things in the gen shed cleaner... the shed is well ventilated, to put it mildly, with about a 300mm gap from ground level to the bottom of the sides all the way round, with the exception of the back wall, which is part of the house... While that makes for a nice airy and drafty enclosure, it also makes for a lot of dust, which adheres to any mildly oily or damp surface, and is an absolute pain to keep clean... particularly as anyone arriving onto the premises, parks literally within spitting distance of the beast.... Given that the doors are 2x1m glass, everything is pretty exposed, so the "showcase" has to be kept presentable... Way easier to clean a bit of pipe on the inside, than wipe down an entire genset every couple of days... and... NO.... I don't spend the weekend with a tiny paintbrush painting the names on the tyres either!!

I might still take you up on the veg oil... do you think they will allow a few ibc as hand luggage?

I have adjusted the visco a bit on this batch of gunk, I am now running on a 25% parrafin to 75% of 50W or so gunk, seems quite a bit better at starting and running so far. So far, the combustability seems more dependant on viscosity than content, if that makes any sense, on a daily basis. I have found that on a very hot day, thick fuel works just as well, if not better than dino, but as air temperatures drop, so does the heat content of the compression stroke, so the heavier oils tend to soot up a bit more... thin them out, allowing them to atomise a bit better, and away you go...

I have put a wee bit more thought into the semi automated WI heavy dose cycling and don't think it will be worthwhile in the long run, not with the varying types of gunk I feed the beast.... If I had a large batch of gunk, of uniform nature, automation becomes more viable... Yes, I can install a variable dose pump with pinpoint egt and knock monitoring, but that will be just a few more things to go wrong in the long run... I gonna keep it simple... want water, open tap... want power, start gen.... have smoke, mix fuel thinner... not quite idiot proof, but certainly more "visual" and simple for a fool like me to understand....

My thinking and dumb way of explaining the oil consumption/cc breathing in relation to valve clearances is probably way off track, but here it goes anyway... Less clearance means the valves open and close slightly before and slightly after they would with larger clearances. The exhaust starts venting a little earlier, the inlet valve overlap is a little longer, there might be less "vacuum" in the cylinder due to this (the exhaust gas has a fair momentum in a long exhaust run)  ... this might just cause a little less oil to be drawn past the piston on each stroke... Who knows? Probably all BS anyway and it is all due to crappy worn bore, shitty and stuck oil control rings, and, above all, due to the fact I tripped over a black cat while walking under a ladder...

Again I ramble...

Keep it chugging...
Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 27, 2016, 03:50:38 PM
Keep it spinning old boy!!

Been on Listeroid power+WMO since around midday today... It's already almost 17h00... Looks like some miscreants have probably thrown a chain over the 22Kv line feeding the premises and have shorted out the local area... Saw the supply boys a few hours ago, but nothing has come down the wires since, with the exception of a brief 2 minute or so burst of electrons.... just enough time to shut down TM, walk back to my office, and then return to TM to get him started again...

Well, if nothing else, he is gonna get a good run because he was due to do the evening shift anyway.... Lets see what transpires....

I am currently trying out a bit of 10% thinning on the 50W gunk.... He is a bit smokey on it.... Tomorrow I will go back to the 20% thinning and see if there's any improvement... But then again... This is another drum of gunk, so the rules might will have changed anyway!!

Keep it spinning!!

Cheers
Ed

PS and BTW.... The jury is still out about oil consumption vs valve clearances.... But I am gonna add another variable to the mix... How about fuel combustibility influencing it too?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 28, 2016, 09:10:56 AM
Hey Glort,

Sounds like the fattystuff is indeed a plan worth pursuing! I will indeed!!

From what I remember, it was quite easy to dry and filter as well, nothing overly difficult at all. You have confirmed this... Filtering, if I remembrer, was more a case of removing "crispy bits" than super micro-fine stuff like you get in WMO. The WMO is a bastard to filter - one batch will filter beautifully, the next (from the same drum at a slightly different level) will clog 2 or 3 socks in a row.... Get past it, and it filters fine after that again... Very disconcerting!! (Yep, I know, I am not letting my gunk settle for long enough before filtering, but thats another saga all on its own..)

What I have found very worthwhile, is to let the "storage drums" for the gunk settle for at least 2-3 days before tapping off the usable stuff... I pull from around 4" above bottom and then drain the dregs for later processing when empty.

With the addition of the fat burning system, the fuel supply is going to become interesting. I am going to try and keep the existing dual fuel setup and add the additional system to it... Looks like its gonna get a tad crowded to say the least... I am in two minds as to whether I use a heatex from the coolant, the exhaust, or...no make that three minds... just heat it electrically ex the genhead.... Probably electrical would be the easiest, certainly in the beginning, that would allow me to even preheat it using utility power before a run... (Starting to ramble again....)

Right, let me give the lads a shout and see if they've got the IBC's of waste into an accessible area...

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed

Edit: A little bit of feedback - 21hrs Run on WMO, Sump oil Consumption around the 4 to 500ml mark or so... A bit heavy, but liveable at the mo... Oil consumption seems erratic, it appears as if the oil control rings are a little gunked up....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 29, 2016, 11:24:00 AM
Hey Glort....

Welcome to the rag-tag world of WMO handling.... Its vile, disgusting, horrible, toxic, smelly, dirty stuff that is best contained in a totally enclosed metal container....Like a sump! (Or laser toner/inkjet cartridges)

There is a certain knack to handling the stuff - Assume, without a doubt, that there will be spillage whenever you decant, pipe, filter or process it - It ALWAYS happens - What I do is use one of those old "Fire Hose Reel Covers" - a glass fibre clamshell type design, around 3' or so square but separated diagonally from front to back along the sides... They make awesome trays to work or stand your kit in while you are pouring or processing. They have caught many a minor spill and allow for quick cleanup afterwards.

Cleanup once it gets into anything absorbent is easy - use black paint.... You wont notice any stains afterwards.... but seriously though, If you can find something that is cheap and easy to lift this shit out of cement, you will become a millionaire very quickly!!

My thinking on settling - a particle of dirt in diesel takes on average 24hrs to travel 1m under gravity - obviously, metals a little quicker, sand a little slower... the average drum is about 1/2m diameter.... so around 1/2 a day for most of the crap to settle out (assuming around 10 to 15w viscosity)... now, I know, the laws of settling and other black magic type things are not linear, but, at 50w, we can assume around 3 to 4 times longer settling will be required for heavy-ish solids in suspension(the nasty sh!t that chews pumps and rings etc)... so, in heavy fuel oils, around 3 days or a bit longer to settle a meter... The drum is about 1/2 a m so in heavy stuff, I need to settle a minimum of 2 days to be safe.... I try and allow at least double that.

The settling times I am allowing, seem quite successful so far... After two fills on a drum, with their respective settling times and used off over a period of around 20days average each per fill, I eventually, carefully canted the drum forward to allow the sludge to roll forward to cover the exit hole for removal. I left it canted forward for most of the day and started tapping off the shit at the bottom. What I got was in the region of 10L worth of what can best be described as "Effluent" .... Extremely fine, almost muddy, horrible greasy stuff.... Now bear in mind, the oil was filtered down to around 5-7mic on its way into the drum, so there is no obvious sand or rough stuff, just very fine almost carbonaceous type material present... I wasn't going to put it under my microscope, too much cleaning involved!!

I have, for quite a while now, been putting some choice bits aside, to build up a mini centrifuge... Nothing fancy, no automation, just a good old manual thingy to run some oil through... Still need to find a torque converter to fit the pressure cooker that went missing from the kitchen a couple of months ago....... Damn, these women are careless.... how do you lose a pressure cooker.... Strange enough, I have a similar unit that I have in my workshop, been there for years... ... ... ..

Utility power for heating.... I know its blasphemy, but.... So much easier... It will only be for the odd occasion that the thing bungs up and goes solid on me because it wasn't dino/WMO flushed before shutdown.... I am kinda resistant to taking a blowtorch to the piping to get things flowing...

I am staying away from battery power as much as possible, I loathe the things... mainly because in this part of the world, the miscreants will break into vehicles and even gate motor units to steal the batteries... Too much temptation I guess....

Summer temps hit up to about 40C and winter goes down to around 0C on the very, very odd occasion... Normally around 4C in the workshop overnight and up to about 35C average max.... Solidification will be a thing to deal with, but not too bad I reckon....

I will attend to TM's thirstiness for sump oil...eventually... Just need a bit of time to get to it...no rush... I have been tempted to put in a float system, but I am pretty sure that the problem of oil consumption is more due to the dipper being a little too large/long and just oiling things up a wee bit too much... I will make a change there when I get around to it too.... (Also, I tend to keep his oil at weir level which is a bit high anyway....) Bear in mind, he has around 2500 hrs on "not the best of fuels" and the cylinder is a bit worn....

Enough rambling....Yet Again....

Keep it slurping!!
Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 01, 2016, 09:40:20 AM
Hey Girls.....

Eventually got round to getting the compressed air powered pump up and running... here's a little video of it pumping some 45W-ish  oil through a sock filter...

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Dirty Oil Piston Pump 20160930 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Dirty Oil Piston Pump 20160930)

Its nothing fancy, just a slow old chugger to get the job done... no chance of fire, no electrics, can set pump pressure easily, no chance of damage if the flow is stalled, to stop it, you can either turn off the air supply or close the output valve....simple and safe...it can be left running unattended without a chance of burning the place down...

I still need to find a single spring large enough to do the return stroke, the gaggle of springs to pull the ram back and draw in the oil are a temp measure until I can get off my butt and measure the actual tension required.... all in all around 200kg I reckon....

Right, time to put some tools away and tidy up the workshop a bit... once that's done, some legs to put on the filter unit and a batch of gunk to filter... isn't this so much fun!

Keep it pumping...
Cheers
Ed

Edit: A few hours later.... Tools still not put away....

Right, Picture the scene.... A minor snafu in the gunky non-return valve department, on the inlet side of the pump, handling the incoming side of the dirty oil..... A small piece of plastic, a' la the type used in the lids of the disposable 500ml plastic containers of oil got sucked into the non-return valve (The pickup strainer is still not installed yet..) and caused a bit of non-pumping to occur... (This happened last thing last night when I left it running on residual air from the compressor...) No Problem, whip the top off the little valve, remove said gunk and screw the top on again... quick and easy, that's why I am using this style valve...

All going according to plan, even lifted the pump up and put it on an empty 200L drum so I don't even have to disconnect the oil feeds, the system will drain back to the tank as soon as I open the valve.... Wonderful... Works like a charm... There's the gunk, sitting under the valve flap... where's the leatherman? .... got it...nope....got it....slipped again....got it....Tug/Pull/Wiggle.... problem solved!!

When....

All of a sudden...

Whoooooosh!!

1.5L of airborne sump Shite!!

Duhh.....

I turned on the compressor on the way into the workshop.... It took a couple of minutes to get to the 30PSI pressure to trip the control valve and cycle the cylinder.... Whereupon, you guessed it.... One face full/ceiling full/workshop full of not so finely atomized sump crap decided to leave the pump at a rather large dose of speed as there was literally nothing holding it back except a rather large 20mm cover hole....

What an asshole!! I now have a yellow bulldozer with black spots, a floor with a not-so-even coating of oil, in fact, pretty much everything in a 3m radius needs a liberal wiping down... even the ceiling!

I am now going to go and hit the shower, continue cursing my stupidity, kick back in front of the screen and watch Star Trek... The old stuff...

In among the emergency bit of "do I really have to clean this cr@p up" actions, I at least put the pressure regulator on the pump on the cylinder air feed side of things, now the control circuitry can run at high pressure and the pumping pressure can be regulated independently...I suppose, looking on the bright side... Another small step forward....Just a very, very, very messy step at that....(Oh, and BTW Glort, remember me telling you about that drip tray I use.... Well, I lifted the damn pump out of the tray onto the drum to work on it, then carefully slid the tray out of the way so I wouldn't fall over it.... Yep, you guessed it.... most of the oil, on its return journey to ground level landed right where the tray used to be....Fuggit!)

And.... I still haven't put the legs on the oil filter unit so it can recline safely out of the way... Stuffit!! It can hang on the gantry a few days longer while we clean this mess up....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 04, 2016, 04:35:35 PM
Hey Glort,

We have the odd rat problem over here too... mostly over winter when food becomes a bit scarce... They tend to become(or try to become) house rats... Nothing a 12ga/308/30-06....or .22 doesn't sort out... Plays hell with the paintwork though.....

Oil spills are a bit of a pain, but nothing that can't be "lived with" or catered for on a daily basis... I generally try and process less than 200L at a time for this very reason... But, invariably, the small spills occur during setup or knockdown... Very little gets spilt during the processing itself.

The pump is a slow cycler for sure.... Intended to be so, the net result is very little, if not nothing in the line of emulsification during transfer or filtering... I have got a few, in fact more than a few, other types of pumps to use for transfer and filtering, but tossed out the ideas after thinking what the nett effect would be in the grand scheme of things...

My next target drum of gunk is a 200L batch that has had all the tailings from the last year or so go into it... All of the really bad stuff that was in small quantity and didn't warrant individual attention.... Its gonna be interesting for sure!! (I think I will pump the bottom out of the drum first, that should be mostly water, then the slime and sediment...This will all go towards fire lighting and pole painting... Once I get to the better stuff, I will raise the dip tube a bit and then push it through a filter to see what comes out.....Could be interesting, if nothing else!!)

Caustic soda works a treat on the oil spills... I always have a fair amount on hand - Its part of a recipe I use for gun blueing - and there is always a bit of concentrated and old chem from the blueing tanks to be re-purposed to driveway cleaner... Basically the mix is part Na-OH and KNO3... A bit of a waste of good saltpeter... Always better for the saltpeter to be used to make the "Holy Black Powder" that is getting so hard to get hold of these days if you are into that sort of thing... Interestingly, the old blueing salts, when watered down a bit, make AMAZING fertilizer....

Was promised another 200L of gunk today... Still waiting for word on the IBC's of fat to materialize though, hope that it doesn't fall through....(In the interim I did pick up 210L of mildly contaminated diesel...)

Oh yes... After more than a year of running, I finally managed to put a "Sludge Drain" tap on my day tank... Another "Lazy" addition.... Now I don't have to wash out the tank at service time....or....maybe even....I can just use a little from the tap every so often to top up the oil can I use for the valves and push rods... There's probably way less dirt in solution in the bit of sludge that accumulated in the day tank than gets blown onto the engine proper during a 24hr period, and, ...water....what of it? Nothing that a bit of heat from the cylinder head wouldn't dry out in short order...

Again I ramble....

Keeeeeeeep it spinning!!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 05, 2016, 10:00:53 AM
Hey Glort,

The stuff I play with can be difficult, or easy, to get depending on the quantity in mind... Larger quantities come available, but I don't have the facilities to store and process the big batches - I was offered a 5Kl metal storage tank for free the other day - It is quite a nice unit, uses compressed air to pump the contents out - I think it originates from a motor manufacturer - It was used apparently for bulk storage of ATF for their assembly line... I am still considering it, but am not wild about having an immovable object of that size on my property....

Around this part of the world, there is a drive to keep WMO and the like out of the environment... As to its success, I am not so sure... The net result is that most of the smaller garages and the like are tied up with the WMO disposal lads and smaller qty's are not too easy to get hold of(unless its pretty fetid stuff). The bigger concerns normally do have a bit of excess that they could probably pass my way, but, they are in qty's too big for me to handle and transport. I pretty much just keep a lookout for the 200L and smaller batches and process them as they come along. So far, because TM is not part of the critical day to day running of the place, I run him for longer when fuel is available and less when it becomes scarce... Barring maybe 2 or 3 days over the last few months, he has run a minimum of 3hrs a day and up to 15hrs a day on a few occasions...

As to the quality of the stuff... Its pretty ghastly, in the circles I get the stuff from, it appears that the vehicles are serviced when they don't run anymore... I have, on more than one occasion, found quite a serious amount of bearing material in the oil... not to mention dead geckos and rats too!! (Definitely fossil fuel in the making!!)

I think that I probably could be choosy about the fuel if I really wanted to, but where would be the fun in that? Virtually everybody, everywhere, on every forum or bit of research I have done, has had major problems when running WMO in a diesel system. I will admit, it is a challenging environment, but at this point, for me anyway, it does not appear that the problems are insurmountable. Difficult and tedious to manage, but not impossible. It does cost a bit in the line of "School Fees" to get the system into place, but so far its been quite a bit of fun. (Probably raised a few eyebrows here as well!!) - And definitely is a talking point for the petrol-heads that drop by around here every so often...!

Its actually quite amazing to see how the small, really small time hobbyists in the motor world respond to seeing TM thumping away and disposing of the sludge in a very, very, environmentally friendly way. I am talking about chaps that wouldn't bat an eyelid to leaving a drum of goop on the side of the road (at best) to be mixed up in the weekly rubbish collection. (I think their consciences are probably catching up with them..) We are talking about the gung-ho absolute opposite of bunny-hugger class of person here... Not long after they see what I am doing, and a couple of small drums of goop are dropped off when they are next in the area...(Sometimes even with a bit of a challenge - "I bet you cant use this stuff" - Needless to say, on occasion, when there is a beer or two in the wager, a wee bit gets processed immediately and a small run is done for them...with the wager being settled of course!)

Its all fun, and learning of course!! (and making roundworld a little better off in the process...)

What have I learned overall...I mean really learned in this escapade? Simple - Make sure the insides of the beast are mechanically sound and in spec, feed it anything that burns as long as it doesn't have gravel and chunky bits in it, keep water pouring into the inlet to keep carbon down, keep the ass-end clean as possible so it can breathe out, balance the bastard as well as you can, and, in my case, take as much time as you can with settling the fuel.... That's just about all!! (Oh yes, think lazy!! Don't be ashamed to bolt something on or together to make your life easier... The easier things are to use, the more you will use them!) There are probably a good few other things mentioned along the way, each probably important in its own way, but most of them fall into the "lazy" thinking way of things...

Again, I ramble....

Keep the crankshafts cranking, the tappets tapping and the pistons pis ......working too!!

Cheers
Ed

PS - Hey Glort, how about a micro version of a Star Trek Transporter? "Hey Scotty: beam 10 microns of white metal onto the journal when you get a chance... The warp coil is getting a bit knocky...."
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 11, 2016, 09:54:17 AM
Hey Glort,

Agreed... Simple is very often best... Not for everybody though - There will always be some price to pay for using "sub-standard" fuel, ie a fuel in an engine that it was not designed for... In my case, the crap I am feeding it seems to be giving the IP a few problems - this is probably due to water as all I am currently doing is settling and filtering, no actual thermal de-watering anymore.. I have pushed around 800L of "non-cooked" oil through it so far, it is a little hard to start, due to ip and injector wear, but still runs fine... A bit smokey on occasion, but grab the magic mirror, the black cat and do a solstice dance and things clean up in an hour or two.

I have seen quite a bit of "over-injection" with the gunk I have been getting from one of the lads and I have found a way to minimise the problem, or at least manage it to a large extent.

My roid doesn't have an over-fuel stop on the IP rack. The other day I noticed that under overload conditions, the rack was wide open and TM was belching smoke like a steam train. The overload occurred shortly after startup, before he got to operating temp. When TM is still cold, depending on fuel mix used, he can either easily make electrical target current or easily not make it if the fuel is bad. With a bad batch of fuel, if he doesn't make target current, the electrical safeguards don't get a chance to kick in and he doesn't "unload" under high current...

What I found was that if I manually closed the rack slightly and limited the overfuel condition, he picked up revs and made slightly better power (and way less smoke)... He was so overfueled that he was actually dropping off of his power curve and "flooding" a bit... I tightened up the cable that actuates the shutoff lever to the house and am using that as a rack stop. It does mean that he is a tad harder to start, but with the 220v starter its not a major biggie.

It will be interesting to see what or how it affects fuel consumption (if at all) .... Considering that most of the time we run him in the evenings, he is under full load/near overload condition..... (I did note that sudden loads would allow him to go full-rack on the odd occasion for a couple of secs..)

Enough rambling....

Keep it chugging...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 13, 2016, 09:31:53 AM
Hey Glort,

Hmmm.... Turbo.... Nitro.... Roots Blower.... Titanium Conrod.... Aluminum casing.... Whitewall Flywheels.... Common Rail(on a single?)....
.
.
.
Naah....Will save those mods for my hi performance aluminum Aero- Lister, you know, the one I am going to fit into the Sopwith....
.
.
.
Then again.... Maybe a matched pair in a Chinook would save me building a runway....


Lol...

Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 14, 2016, 09:42:10 AM
Hey Glort,

There is a "knack" to starting an engine.... Particularly with a crank handle!

There have been a few wagers made on the premises here too.... Particularly in the line of "I bet you couldn't start that thing by hand" - Easily won I might add, cheating a bit I suppose... Once TM has been running for a few minutes, he is VERY easy to start! I can even start him without using the de-compressor - beat that!! (There is a trick to it of course: Walk the flywheels back to about 1/4 way into the previous compression stroke, or bounce between compression strokes and really put your back into the full 1 1/2 turns of the crank to get him over the business stroke and away you go!) You have to "commit" to it and not approach it lightly...(Kinda like the the Bacon and Eggs breakfast...The Chicken is involved, but the Pig is committed!)

This was a skill that I had to acquire years back when visiting one old farmer... He removed the de-compressor on a CS to prevent his workers from starting the beast... Another boring story, but that being said, he showed me the way to get it going and it never fails to amaze folks who try to do it themselves!!

Never had a bounce back that I couldn't cope with either.... Except for the one time that some silly bugger had about 1/2 L of petrol poured into the air intake to try and get things going... There were a few cartwheels involved if I remember...but...sometimes its difficult to remember when you get flung across a barn and into the wall....What it does make you remember, is to carefully check for "foreign liquids" before you even think of grabbing the handle....

Keep it cranking...

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on October 15, 2016, 07:52:46 AM
I think I'm too old to try the bounce method,  I'll stick to the de-compressor
 Yow !!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: carlb23 on October 15, 2016, 12:33:07 PM
While i have no issues with starting my lister with the de compressor i will not attempt to try to start it without it for fear of breaking my arm or something else.  That being said we only use our lister for backup and i have an air starter on mine and 100 gallons of compressed air on hand at all times.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on October 15, 2016, 06:28:22 PM
Amen, Carl.  Gast 4AM with rubber roller has been doing the job for me for the last 10 years of regular use.  Still on the original roller.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: carlb23 on October 16, 2016, 11:40:13 AM
Amen, Carl.  Gast 4AM with rubber roller has been doing the job for me for the last 10 years of regular use.  Still on the original roller.

yup my gast 4am has been doing its job since early 2005 and has never failed to start the engine on the first attempt.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 24, 2016, 05:22:06 PM
Glort!

Woohoo..... He who owns the water, owns the world!! (To crib sumwun else I believe...)

Interestingly enough.... I have been doing some fine tuning on the WI on TM1.... Found the best balance for me as it currently stands is as follows:

750RPM
1770cc Displacement (Engine is rated 12Hp @ 1000RPM-Estimated output @ 750 is approximately 8Hp used)
4.4Kw Max Load Electrical
2.5Kw Avg Load Electrical
Fuel is Undiluted WMO (ex Petrol Engine and Diesel engine service center)
Water Flow = 2L/90mins ie 1.333L/Hr
Very little crank condensate present from the CC breather.
No oil contamination (emulsification) after 450hrs running - Checked at oil change and daily via dipstick.
Sludge was present, but WAY less than 100ml
Lube oil used - The crappiest, lowest quality, cheap arsed oil I could find of straight 30W(With an occasional top up treat of 20W50 found lying around)
Crank temperature in the region of 60 to 70C after 3hrs running.
Engine coolant operating temp is around 75C to 85C (Measured at water exit from head)
Exhaust heat exchanger is working well still.
Coolant heat exchanger working beautifully.
WI is NOT shutdown when cold/starting.
Started on WMO or diesel, little difference perceived. (Electric started after approx 30-45sec spinning for initial lube circulation.)
Lube Oil consumption has settled down now, after approximately 1100Hrs on WMO as fuel - Since the rebuild, TM has run mostly undiluted WMO.
(Possibly had a gummed up oil control ring straight after rebuild...Hold Thumbs)
On occasion, I mix in up to 20% reclaimed paraffin/turps/thinners(When a batch of oil is problematic and too thick)
I have not de-watered the fuel oil I have run on since the rebuild, it is settled, filtered through a sock filter, put into bunker, settled and then used.
Occasional brief stints on diesel during day runs if there is a major carbon build up (A few mins at a time, with a heavy dose of water to clean.)

(Okay, I know I was a bit verbose.... Just saves a bit of searching time for someone who wants to try do similar to destroy their engine... )

Maybe we can send these specs to BMW......

Keep it spinning

Cheers
Ed

PS - How often do you change your sump oil of your thumpers?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on October 24, 2016, 05:39:43 PM
Very enlightening and thorough description Ed! Much appreciated input here!

Wear and tear details once you get a few thousand hours (or tear-down time again) will also be most welcomed!

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 28, 2016, 09:22:25 AM
Hey Guys,

Just a quick question - Is there anybody else on the forum that is CURRENTLY running either a standard(No Mods to timing/stock standard) or modded(with WI/Injector line heating/Injector Timing changed etc) Lister type engine on a greater percentage of WMO than Dino?

Keen to hear....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 28, 2016, 01:50:38 PM
Hey Guys,

Food for thought, musings and number doodling:

Actual fuel consumption(WMO) based on 4Kl approx fuel used over the last year or so:

Approx .6L/KwH electrical generated at plug.

Add to this a couple of overheads, namely a 50W cooling fan running virtually 100% of the time, the main cooling fan which kicks in about 10 to 20% ie 15% of the time depending load and ambient temperature of about 370W, a circulation pump for heat exchangers rated at around 1.5A, currently drawing about an amp ie 220W.... These are all before the KwH meter.... so a total additional electrical overhead of .64KwH...

Invert the .6L/KwH and we get 1.655KwH/L

Factor the overheads in and we get a total output from gen of around 2.296KwH/L, which equates to .436L/Kwh generated.

At an average SG of .85 for Generic Motor Oil, .436X0.85 = 370g/KwH electrical generated output at genhead.

Now taking the average efficiency of a genhead and belt drive at around 80%(Bit of a thumb suck), that gives about .370 x 80% ie 296g/KwH actual at engine output shaft.

This particular engine was spec'd at around 270g/KwH (if I remember correctly) under ideal load conditions so a 10% increase in consumption for crappy waste fuel, highly variable loads and doing everything you shouldn't do to a poor old engine seems pretty darn good to me.....

Now the happy bit: As it is a "Cogen" type setup, generating usable heat and power - The heat recovery is being used to generate hot water, recovered heat from coolant and exhaust heats up 300L of water from around 20C to 65C in about 2Hrs... That is a total of around 7.7Kw making the recovery around 3.9KwH of "waste heat"...

Well, what does this all boil down to?

If the WMO was purchased in its entirety at ZAR1.00/L (current going rate, bear in mind most of the oil was "donated"):

A total of around 4000L have been consumed, the return on which has seen 5% average sludge/water and filtering loss, leaving around 3800L of fuel oil...

Using 3800L of fuel, currently generating 1.655KwH/L (Average electrical load is around 2.2Kw/Hr) electrical and 3.9KwH heat reclamation, we get a total generation time of 3800*1.655/2.2=2858hrs(Not far off what has been measured)

Heat Generation = 2858Hx3.9KwH=11146KwH
Electrical Generation = 3800Lx1.655Kwh/L=6289KwH
Total Power Generation: 11146+6289 = 17435KwH

Assuming that water heating would come from grid power(cheapest) or Gas boiler(actual), using the cheapest grid method of heating:
Current Cost ZAR1.9172 / KwH
Total Projected Cost for time span calculated if ex grid: 17435*1.9172=ZAR33426(Around 15 months now)
Total Raw Cost of Fuel if not donated: ZAR4000
GP Margin/Saving: Around ZAR29500 (Lots of Smiles)

Now, before you rush out and buy a case of champagne to celebrate:

Costs in round figures ZAR for the last while(15mo)-
Engine: 18000
Genhead: 4000
Belts/Pulleys/Steel/Piping/Fans and Switches: 5000
Filters/oil and Service costs: 2500
Total of:29500(About break-even).....oops, looks like its not so cheap after all!

Scratching the memory banks, the following things peek through:
Probably another 2500 or so in sundry bits
Add a head gasket or two + rings: 1000
Time to construct....Eek!
Raw Oil Processing tank: ....Oops..
Oil transfer Pumps:...  Duh...
Cables and Auto Grid Switchover kit: ....Don't go there...
Closure and Doors to Weatherproof ....Damn....

Right, so add it all up and it should pay for itself in another 1 000 years or so....

Keep it puffing!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 01, 2016, 08:27:56 AM
Hey Glort,

I reckon the fun for me, is well, making things work! I love to take a sideways look at things and play the "what if" games .... Satisfying to do on a practical level. (Of course, a lot of the scenarios played out are false starts and blind alleys, but with the practical aspect, most of it can be worked around!

I am "eventually" getting round to doing the full prep on TM2 - As I am stripping him down, I am modding and polishing the innards to a level that I am satisfied with. Most of him is sitting on the bench, mods done now, as well as cleanup and smoothing. The last dozen or so bolts have to be pulled out to remove the crank and trumpet housings, but I am playing with an idea to make up an adjustable bushing for his cam idler gear. The existing bolt for it is in fair condition, but I am not entirely happy with the mesh depth on the teeth. I am toying with the idea of making a double eccentric bush to adjust the mesh on both the cam and the crank gear simultaneously. I have noticed the racket the cam idler makes on TM1 and want to get away from that. The only downfall is that I will have to machine the hole for the idler pin quite a bit larger than it is currently. I haven't taken measurements yet so I am not sure as to the material availability on the trumpet housing....more on that later when I have a good squiz at it!

Another thing I will be toying with is to fit dual flywheels on both sides, that will be quite an exercise in packing things together as I intend to try and use gib keys if at all possible... The heads on the gib's mean there has to be a bit of space between the bosses of the wheels.... The long crankshaft ends are starting to get short!

On another note, we have a small perennial stream on our property with a few metres of runoff, but there is one major problem - Crime! A micro CHP setup would be an awesome project, but the transmission lines if we generated power and piping if we pumped water, would get stolen within a week. ANYTHING left on the property containing copper/aluminum out in the open, whether secured, buried, aerial or probably even guarded with armed guards gets appropriated by the local "its our right" crowds for scrap resale... Ye gods, they even steal our safety nets for the paintball range... (And these are just shade cloth)... We even have a cellular telemetry tamper alarm hooked to them to try and curtail losses... I have given up trying to erect spotlights over the playing field for night games - We installed spotlights with an aerial supply cable on 3m high poles first - they lasted a week or two, the next batch were installed on 12m high poles, they lasted a two months. Both lots were stolen, cables first, then lights, then poles.... This is 200m in clear view from the house, usually around 3am they move in and help themselves.... Off-pissing to say the least!! (I wish I could erect a 6m security wall around the entire place... That would probably get stolen too though...)

Enough ranting...time to go do some work!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 01, 2016, 12:12:30 PM
(Let's Try this again... Damn laptop crashed!)

Minor update:

There is about 1/2" of material around the hole for the idler spindle(On the trumpet housing flange), opening up the hole in the casing et al by about 1/4" should leave enough material to allow for the eccentric bushing... Next step, check the idler spindle step to see if there is enough meat to allow for it to clamp and seat in the normal manner and still cover the eccentric bushing with overlap.... (In the words of an old machinist mate of mine: "Measure carefully, lest the ID become greater than the OD!")

Keep on modding...

Cheers
Ed

Another Update: The difference in dia on the pin is around 1/4"... ie about 1/8" per side... Given that the mesh is probably less than 20 thou out, a double eccentric bush might still be feasible - failing that, I might have to settle on a single eccentric bushing to get things into line once it is measured up and ready...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 02, 2016, 08:34:40 AM
Hey Glort,

I ran some tests a while back - running at around 500RPM TM1 worked well. He had enough power to pull the average off peak load on the household and was nice and quiet. One problem that surfaced, was the fact that my UPS's - 3 of them, all complained bitterly about the power quality and fell back to battery standby due to the pulsing. I am hoping that the additional flywheel weight will give just a little more stability to the power stroke to allow them to run quietly.... (All other household electrical goods worked flawlessly.)

The wheels are individually balanced, no counterweights. I am adding counterweights to the inboard wheels to allow for silk smooth running throughout the rev range I will be using(Well as smooth as a big vertical single can be made!). Out of the four wheels I am using, (two of which were scrappers for rated 1000rpm, but have been retested and prepped for 500rpm), there are 3 sizes - the 2 identical wheels will be on the IP side and the Larger/smaller two will go on the far side...If it all works out as planned anyway. I have also gotten hold of a LARGE CI pulley which I might add as a flywheel on the genhead itself, just  need to get it qualified to the rated revs, if indeed I do decide it needs more smoothing - I am not wild about genhead flywheels in general though....

Vermin control is usually with 12ga around here... Youtube the Rhodes University Riots to see... About the 10Kv option...That's a no-go... The buggers steal 22Kv lines by throwing chains over them and shorting them out... they then haul on the chains to pull down the lines and make off with them once the lines trip out on overload... The problem here is the number of escape routes for the miscreants to use - Now and than I have caught and handed over a few of the perps but they generally come late night/early morning and being naturally camouflaged, they are difficult to see in bad light....

Putting in K9 or NO17 control is also not an option for me... the "risky area" has about 1 to 2 km of fencing that will be needed - the original fencing was stolen and I cannot afford to replace it. The "residential section" has CCTV and monitored electric fencing, even that's a pain to maintain as the locals take great delight in herding cattle into the fencing to test them regularly...

Shade cloth = insect screens for shacks, small chicken cages, walling for goat pens.
Lamp posts = main bearers for huts, corner posts for shacks, firewood, fencing and the like(If wood), steel lamp posts get folded up and traded at the scrap yard!

Welcome to the land of milk and honey (Easily attainable from your neighbor for free!!)

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 03, 2016, 09:05:02 AM
Hey Glort,

I don't know the Ruggerini very well, but something in my memory banks says "look at rated operating speed" and "injection timing" - The Rugger was rated for a fairly narrow rev band if I remember correctly - it had a flywheel and balancing to match the revs needed for the application - Smaller flywheel for higher revs... Now this is going back quite a few years, so I might be way off track, but some bright sparks this side of the pond changed the injection timing and the rev range to bring the rpm down a bit, without looking at the dynamic balance of the things... The result was, well, as per Lister spec, "about 2ton of concrete should hold it down"...

Check where the "sweet spot rpm" is for your rugger by running it unloaded on a fairly "mobile" mount... Where it runs smoothly, aim for that! ... The power pulses will be a headache, with any sort of coupling, the best would probably be to go over spec on the belts somewhat - If you need one, use two... You could retard the injection event slightly-watch for smoking and power drop off, also listen to the diesel knock. This would smooth out the whole thing a bit, but, there is always some sacrifice in doing it.

Your problems with bolts breaking seem more to me to be with vibration from balance than the power stroke (Look at the amount of metal in shear or contact holding the flywheel from spinning on the crankshaft vs the hold-down kit...) ... But hey, I am an old fart with a bad memory, anything is possible! (That's the great thing about putting on a few years, as the memory fades, old problems are forgotten and the same ones crop up  recurrently to be solved as new problems all over again!!)

Do you have a youtube vid of the Rugger running that shows a bit of the vibration(and also the sound)?

Quote: "The lowlifes always play the part of the victim and blame government, social services, Booze, drugs, the price of fish in Bulgaria and everything else and short of causing bodily harm in front of 10 witnesses, the cops can't be stuffed even coming out when you call them. But of course they get really upset when anyone actually does anything particularly if it is effective and makes them look as useless as they largely are."

I couldn't have put it better myself! The last time I "arrested" a pair of miscreants who were caught in the act stealing (I confiscated their weapons - machetes and axes ) and threw them off the property after confiscating their barrows containing stolen goods... About an hour later, they were back with the cops to try and lay a charge against me for theft of their possessions... Fortunately, the chap in charge listened to what I told him and gave the two fellows a "good talking to".... It could have gone either way, I was just lucky I guess... Welcome to the endangered species list!!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 04, 2016, 07:05:04 AM
Hey Glort,

And you forgot to add in closing: An excellent cook. homemaker, handyman, lover, sensitive.....(you are not gay are you?.... I vaguely remember a joke based around the perfect man on these lines...)

But seriously though, since they stopped dishing out a good hiding for being naughty at school, things have spiraled.... You cannot reason with someone who has no fear of repercussion...

Then again, it is really difficult to enter into a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent!

Keep on smiling (Or try to at least!!)

Cheers
Ed

PS - on another note, while on the subject of Lister engines, TM1 has now almost 100hrs on him since the last oil and filter change/service.... Since the service, the oil level hasn't dropped by more than a couple of mm... If you remember me mentioning (take that as griping) that he needed an almost daily top up to keep the level up.... I haven't pulled the cylinder or decoked the ring grooves at all.... I am highly suspect that running on WMO immediately after and since changing the rings did not allow the rings to bed in normally - It looks like its taken around 800hrs or so to get things "groovy"! ... Possibly the added lubricity of the WMO as a fuel? ... Starting on WMO? ... Turning the motor over for 20-30 sec with it injecting WMO before starting?(My simple mind has remembered that most engine wear occurs immediately at startup, before oil has had a chance to lube everything-Coincidence?) .... Who knows? ... But it will be interesting to see the condition of the internals and the run time to failure when he falls apart again!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 07, 2016, 01:20:04 PM
Hey Guys,

Another episode on the "Interesting Times" or otherwise known as the "Don't Double-Time your Lister(oid), It Will Get Jealous!!"

I spent Friday evening in the welding shop, arb-ing around and knocking up some "basic stainless steel 5mm bar racking for a wet environment" (A facecloth, soap and shampoo shower rack doesn't sound nearly as impressive!), while TM1 thumped away beautifully for around a 10 hour shift, I started him running early in the mid-afternoon and ran him all the way through to late evening. He was a little "wandery" in the revs department/governor by late evening, I put it down to a prematurely clogged fuel filter.(This one only did about 100L of prefiltered gunk, as opposed to the last one, same make and model, which did almost 700L or thereabouts.Anything is possible, possibly I contaminated the fuel during filtering, or maybe this batch had some extra fines in it, or maybe .... well whatever, but it happened!

The following day(Saturday) I continued with the leisurely tear-down of TM2, managed to measure the amount of slack that was evident the camshaft gear train....it worked out to 2.4mm that the center-line of the idler bolt was out(That's with 0 clearance on the gears and starting to bind...Allow about .4mm clearance on that measurement or so on an eccentric bush and that should give me a good starting point to get things together. The bulk of the clearance was on the camshaft side of things, there was just a wee bit too much slop on the crankshaft meshing side, a little inwards would do the trick... More on this later...

Once the measurements were made for TM2, I changed the fuel filter on TM1 (Mutter, mutter, mutter... Cross threaded the damn thing and stuffed up the threads... Fixed that minor stuff up and carried on!) Once the fuel system was bled, I started him up and away he went, takes a few minutes to get the last few bubbles out of the lines that trap in the high parts of the crappy fuel line routes I have taken and the new filter cartridge, but nothing serious, no great pain...

Of course, I did do the cursory checks , oil level still above minimum, water present and accounted for, valves and rockers oiled, tappets oiled, governor linkages oiled.... Run up on the starter for around a minute or so(maybe a bit less)... Now, bear in mind, TM1 has been a bit of a thirsty bugger in the sump department up until about the last 120 hours or so ago. Just prior to his last 400hourly service about 100 hours ago, he stopped using sump oil and I have not had to top it up since service, even though I check it religiously before each run. I put that down to the WMO I am using having a higher than Dino lubricity and slowing down the run-in process...

A bit of Background: TM1 (and TM2) both have a sump with "apron" - the oil is picked up through the strainer in the apron and pump to the TRB's / Crankshaft pickup ring after going through an aftermarket canister filter. This system has worked beautifully for the last couple of thousand hours or so. I have added a dipstick to the apron side of the engine, the high oil mark has been calibrated to when the oil level is just below the big end housing/nuts at BDC, the low oil mark is when the apron weir notch is just exposed above the oil by about 1/4 to 1/2" - this is a far more meaningful (to me anyway - correct me if I am wrong) way of checking the oil level - the original dipstick only shows the level in the weir..... The apron could be empty under certain conditions....

Right... Now the jealousy steps in - I am sure that TM1 was getting jealous of the attention I have been giving TM2... He threw his toys out of the cot and stopped his oil pump from doing anything... The bastard even hid it from me... The oil pump is still moving freely, just no oil is flowing....something has gotten stuck somewhere(probably one of the balls in the valves) and oil is just not moving!! - Net result: No oil flowing into the weir to be splashed around, no lube to the cylinder walls, no lube to the big end.... Piston seized in cylinder!! Fuggit!! Tomorrow is another day...

Sunday: Eventually got around to taking off the CC cover and poking around properly... I didn't pull the big end cap, but did feel it for play... Not much, if any, to be felt. I eventually got the bastard turning over and added copious amounts of lube oil to the top of the piston while doing so. Feels like the rings did a nice "jam job" in the upper cylinder. (I didn't pull the head, just gently bumped the flywheel back and forth to break things free.... It seems as if there is an excessive amount of play on the small end bushing, something to be attended to in the near future...)

Well, I figured, my bench is currently full of stripped down and mostly modded TM2... No way I am going to tear TM1 down as well... Lets do what the peasants do when the things gum up and stop working... Add oil, wind it over, see if it starts...

After allowing him a loooong wind over on the starter, I threw the compression relief and pump stop.... He fired right up!

He is breathing a little harder out of the breather, but no oil leaks as yet... Maybe there's broken rings, maybe there's a scored cylinder, maybe a galled piston... Maybe, at the very least, the rings cooked and softened... Who knows? (Anybody want to hazard a guess as to the damage?)

I will tear him down in the near future, but what pee's me off with this is that now my run time on these rings/cylinder with WMO fuel will be skewed... Oh well... just 900hrs of run time wasted from a data collection point of view... (incidentally, he is still running without oil pump... I am just keeping the oil level above the weir in the interim until I can get round to seeing whats crapped out on the pump....I wonder how long he will last?)

Keep it spinning

Cheers
Ed

Edit: On TM2's eccentric bushing for the idler gear - I drilled the casing and trumpet, then reamed the hole out to 20mm. Into this I added a tophat section bushing with the center hole to suit the idler spindle offset by 2mm. This is inserted from the outside and locked in place by the existing spindle. I have adjusted the play evenly on both sides and put a telltale mark on bushing and casing for reference. This has given me around 10 thou play(backlash) in both the crank and cam departments individually...  Initially I was looking at an eccentric in an eccentric type bushing, but with the play that was evident, there was just not quite enough real estate available to accomplish this.... This "fix" was a lot easier to do than remaking a stepped idler spindle... Once in place and tightened, it holds well and is easy to install.... Anybody wanting a picture? Just let me know!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 08, 2016, 11:00:08 AM
Hey Glort,

Always entertaining to read of your "practical solutions" to the neighborly problems!!

My nearest neighbor is about 2 or 300m away as the crow flies.... He has remarked, on occasion, that he likes similar music to me... He notices it generally on a Sunday morning when I throw the patio doors open on the bedroom, lie back in bed and wind up Led Zee, Boston, Deep P or the like.... Its amazing how far 2Kw RMS (Sony 1Kw RMS 7.2 with 2x500W Active Sub Woofers) of good stuff can carry on the morning breeze.... In fact, I often "get requests" to play a song or two from our paintball range.... and that's 300m from the house.... Strange.... Now that I come to think of it.... I thought my hearing loss was due to years of shooting....

While on the subject of Listers': As to the bore, I am sure the seize and stop did a bit of damage, not too much(at this stage anyway), but enough for me to want to take it down and do an inspection when I get a chance... I am still thinking, dunno why, that I might have a broken compression ring in the mix now...(there is no unusual "squeak/grating" sound at top or BDC that sometimes accompanies a broken ring as it starts to cant in the groove)... Just a gut feel....

TM1 does have a slinger, in fact its got a hollow dipper with an oversize slinger... All in, about as wide at the tip as a regular slinger turned sideways, so there should be plenty of lube all around... What worries me a bit, is how many iron filings from bore and rings are in solution now that the pump is not filtering the crap out... Oh well, it must just wait till TM2 is more of a single entity rather than a landscaping project!!

I am still loathe to install a low pressure alarm, trying to keep it simple... Far easier to just shift the "low oil" mark up on the dipstick up by 1/2" or so... that way, the weir notch is always wet and oil will be available in the top sump!! I did think of a sight tube of sorts, something like I have on my old "Elliot Universal Mill" - It shows oil when the pump is running...Must think about this one... Simple to put a up side down U bend in with a sight glass at the top to show....Hmmm....

Ron: I haven't forgotten you!! Post the reply you PM'd me on the open board here as a reminder... I will take a pic or two and URL them for everyone...

Right.... I gotta go earn some sheckles to pay for my mechanical addictions...

L8rs!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 08, 2016, 12:39:17 PM
Hey Ron,

So much for earning $$$ to feed my habit....

Here's the pics: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 Offset Bush for Idler 20161107 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 Offset Bush for Idler 20161107) .... Sorry about a) the crappy quality of the pics - b)the crappy machining...

The first two are of the bush installed and in position, the telltale is clearly visible... The next couple show it removed from the casing and in various positions to give a general idea of its shape... The last one is how it all looks when assembled, the bush is tapped into the crankcase/trumpet from the outside, then the idler spindle is inserted from the inside... All goes together quite easily...

This was about the simplest solution I could come up with to allow for "machining tolerances" of our Indian friends.... There are undoubtedly better ways of doing it, just not quite as quick, dirty and easy as this... Hand Drill, Hand reamer, vernier and a bit of time with a drill press and a 20mm piece of shaft could do it... Where I  machined up a bush with a built in washer, a 20mm shaft with separate washer would do just as well....

The overall outside sleeve diameter is 20mm, the bearing surface of the spindle is just over 22mm or so... there is not much "step" on the thick side of the bushing for the bearing edge to mate to the inner of the crankcase to keep the pinion straight, but by my reckoning it should just make it!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on November 09, 2016, 12:17:55 AM
Thanks for that EdDee!  I was really gonna repost the IM but there is no outbox for it to be saved in and after a very good supper of broiled stuffed salmon and a passable liquor store boxed Moscato ( yeah nothing but the best snort here) I couldn't remember it word for word.
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on November 09, 2016, 06:50:00 AM
Hi Ed

I can't open the photo's of the bush, may well be me, A, i'm crap with the www, B I'm using a Chromebook and I've yet to master the little bugger!

Anyway, I'm off down to Spain to give a rich blokes 35m Med Sled a good thick coat of looking at, one of the engines is out of line with the gearbox and is trying to vibrate it's self to death. After the CS walking around the workshop I'll probably struggle to find anything.

The good news is I'll get a go in a shipyard and should be able to get a bush knocked up. I've not had time sort out how exactly much offset I need, by feel it was around a mil and a half (60 thou) how far out was yours?

Cheers Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 09, 2016, 09:23:44 AM
Hi Stef,

If i took the absolute max that the idler could be in mesh while bottoming the teeth, it measured out to 2.4mm if I remember correctly. I backed the bush off to 2mm offset on the first try and that seemed to give me an acceptable level of backlash/clearance. Possibly knock up a 2mm/1.8mm and a 1.6mm offset and trial fit for best results maybe? They are quick to make on a lathe... Nothing fancy and surface/finish can be quite rough (The rougher the better, within reason of course, as this allows the bush to get a bit of purchase when tightened into the casing and not spin inadvertently) As to the length of the bush, measure your trumpet/casing thickness and give about 1/2mm clearance... The top flange of the bush only needs to be about 1mm thick or so, it is not a load bearing surface and is sandwiched between the nut and the trumpet flange.... (Alu num num would be a possibility too... MS is not a prerequisite..)

Cheers
Ed

Edit: Just checked the URL for the picture of the bush...Seems to be ok and visible from on my side....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 09, 2016, 09:32:49 AM
Hey Ron,

Down in my household here, Muscadelle, red or white but preferably red is a cooking wine of choice.... I can drink at least 2 bottles while cooking supper!! Usually followed by a very festive and talkative mood, headache to follow.... Generally the meal tastes awesome to me after prepping it in this manner, cant vouch for the rest of the diners though...

Email me some of that samon....Sounds good!!

Keep it cooking

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 10, 2016, 02:13:10 PM
Hey Guys,

Did some number crunching and playing about....(After replacing the IP element on TM1....90 minutes of pissing around to get him firing was a bit much yesterday...At least I get 10/10 for determination... :( )

On to the numbers:
I took the Lister original specs for the 6/1 and the 8/1 and combined them into a Power vs Revs graph (I know that this is not strictly speaking correct, but it is close enough to what I need)

From 500RPM through to the rated max of 850RPM, the ratio is pretty much linear, there are a couple of under/over shoots, but the line is certainly straight enough to give an estimate of power output at an intermediate rev. If you use the formula: RPM/650x 6, it will give the estimated engine output at a specific RPM of your choosing.

ie: 850/650x6 will give an estimated output of 7.84HP (this is close enough to a 8/1 spec of 8hp to be believable)

The Lister rev specs can be used to estimate on an almost linear basis what shaft power will be available at a different rev.

Another example could be: 500/650x6 = 4.6hp (a little over, but not too far off the 500RPM Rating of 4HP for a 6/1 to be usable.)

Right, so I set about doing the number crunching on the old shagged-out TM1 - A Roid clone of 12/1 at 1000RPM spec.
Results: 750RPM - Calculated Power out of 9Hp (Interesting....Max continuous current draw I get out of the genhead lately is around 4.4Kw.... this looks believable as a quick calc is to check engine capability is to take Kw demand x 2 to give HP requirement of engine.)

Based on my numeric doddering around, the following info might be useful to someone, somewhere when they try and match up a power needs vs Revs on a 12/1/1000 Roid:
RPM....HP
500....6
600....7.2
650....7.8
750....9
850....10.2
1000...12

IIRC, the lowest figure was not too far off the mark either - I seem to remember just a tad over 13A at 220v when running in the region of 500RPM, giving an estimated engine output of about 5.7HP or thereabouts...Cool!!

Since the seize and immediate increase in blowby, I am pulling a max of 18A continuous at 215V from the genhead, rings have defs taken a bit of a hammering, this works out to around 3.9Kw where before it was about the 4.4 to 4.7Kw mark or so...about a 10 to 20% drop in output.... Time to get TM2 off the bench and do a ring job on TM1...!

I have decided that should the bore be scored, I will rebore and build up the piston to suit, the TiG machine is gonna come in handy for sure!! (Assuming of course, that my "run it to death" practice hasn't stuffed up things way beyond salvage.... In that respect, when is an item a throw away? I dunno, never had to throw any bits away as yet, except for IP elements and a warranty crankshaft replacement.... Far more fun to work 100000hrs rebuilding a governor linkage than buying a new one!!)

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on November 10, 2016, 05:53:56 PM
Take a look at the 18/1 DES with turbo that Bill Wood built - reported on this forum. He did a beautiful fabrication job on that and his results are quite positive.

Take it from a seasoned expert... diesels under light loads will often suffer from incomplete combustion of fuel (and the attendant slobbering or cylinder glazing). In addition, break-in can be challenging for some of them without working them fairly hard in their initial run-in period. Lister had quite a few problems with their new engines in this regard. I have also seen some very solid Caterpillar engines ruined by this very thing. Not a fault of the engine, rather a fault of the system being designed or utilized in less than an efficient and proper load regimen for the engine chosen. This does not mean anything at all about revs though... I concur that slowing them down and using that as the method of matching load to the actual output potential is a good way to go. Almost any combination that gives your machine good combustion properties (clean exhaust) will be a winner.

Match your machine size and configuration to the task/s at hand and you will likely get the best possible results.

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 11, 2016, 12:15:55 AM
Hey Glort/Gman,

Agreed on pretty much all points, with both of you:-)  (How's that for running on the fence line?)

Underloading to a minor amount is generally not a problem, underloading to less than about 25% or so for shortish periods is also not a major problem as long as distillate, good quality fuel is used (in these relics, as long as run in is complete). But.... run on reclaimed oil of higher than reccomended viscosity, with suspended carbon, non distillate, and you pretty much have to run at 70 to 80% of max load to prevent things from slobbering, glazing and becoming messy in general... Don't forget WI is pretty much a prerequisite too...

I am not wild about additional aspiration devices, not on these things, not in my scope of needs. I have enough power if 10hp or so is available to cover my base plus surge needs ...Incidentally, I have seen glazing cured, along with probably a few hundred hours of cylinder and ring life by a farmer pouring about 200ml of "Brasso" brass polish down an intake manifold... not something I would recommend by any means, but it did work and the machine did suddenly pull its finger out its proverbial orifice and start performing...

Glort, I am not sure if a turbo or boost device would offer me better efficiency... I only start rolling coal when I hit overload, and then its for a few seconds till the utility fallback kicks in. The other times he smokes up the place is when there is a carbon buildup in the idi or on the injector or when the exhaust clogs... The rest of the time, there is pretty much just a pale grey smoke, mostly due to WI probably...Or, if its really crappy fuel, I sometimes get brown smoke haze - really!

But, enough of that... I need to get TM2 online soon, as said previously, as I am stripping and prepping, I am doing the mods that I found most effective on TM1...

Its 01h35, I just sat bolt upright in bed... in the words of someone famous.... "I had a dream!" ... now, my dream entailed......

Both major failures I have had so far, have been lubrication related... OK, sure, the first failure where the one bearing lube standpipe tried to turn itself to dust and dump itself into the big end... well that was a bit unusual, a freak maybe... The latest one, with the pump doing its thing (still not looked at yet, just running on splash lube at the moment with a hollow dipper) .... Damage could have been minimised to a large degree, or even totally avoided, if the top sump was kept filled by another means.... So here's the idea...

Right...

Wait for it....

What if, instead of that bloody useless dipstick, I put an oil delivery system...Kinda like the old Honda bikes had... An oil tank with a tube stopping at the correct height to keep the top sump flooded? If oil level gets too low up top of the sump due to the pump going tits up, a bit of oil auto dumps until the right level is achieved... Life goes on.. I was thinking of something in the line of a pet rodent water bottle, prefabricated from unobtanium or something.... All that is needed is an air tight top and a ball valve on the bottom to shut it off for when it needs to be filled.... And a sight glass of course... Mount the whole shitstorm on the studs for the small cc cover plate, only needs to hold a pint or two........ Your thoughts?

My reasoning for this is that the hollow dipper works well... Really well.. the rest of the innards only need a wee bit of splashing to stay wet... the pump is not so much there to feed the TRB's and big end, but to get the oil to the sump, out from the front apron...(with a bit of strain/filter along the way... if a filter fails, bad luck, oil is still available... the bastard won't stop dead within 10 minutes... Lose oil, and things happen quite rapidly... (incidentally, bothe seizes I have had, have been within around 15 to 20 mins of startup... Coincidental, I think not.... I am putting it down to oil getting a chance to drain out of hot working parts after shutting down....)

Right, let me hit dreamland again and see if I can come up with some finer points for the auto fill system....

Keep on dreaming....

Cheers
Ed

PS...  Glort...there are probs millions of better engines than the roid out there.... but these damn things have some strange alluring quality that make u want to use them....  regarding lower revs and boost to get same power... well, I am approaching it differently with TM2... Low grade fuel, 500rpm, heavy wheels, long burn time, aiming at 6hp ie 3kw.... Let's see what pans out!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 11, 2016, 08:48:26 AM
Hey Guys,

More on dream planning....

Reserve oil top up tank-

Requirements:
Must be a bolt-on to the engine proper - No flexible lines to a remote tank for vibration to break off.
Must have capacity of around 1 to 2 pints.
Must be removable, to restore engine to original condition.
Must be "aesthetically pleasing"
Must be reasonably unobtrusive, fitting below camshaft outer area.
Must be robust, but not heavy, due to vibration present.
Must be easy to construct and install, made out of relatively common items.
Must be "airtight" to allow for "Gerbil Style" level control.
Must be (reasonably)adjustable to allow for fine tuning when running for oil level setting.
Must have External Level indicator such as oil sight glass for quick reference when the engine is running.
Must be "Idiot proof" in operation... Ok, this is a difficult one... the more idiot proof I make things, the more ingenious an idiot I become....

Of course, anything I come up with over here, you are all welcome to use!! (Royalties payable in frosty beverages with promises of "all expenses paid" trips abroad of course!!)

Hmmm..... Edit to follow.... More thought required....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Hugh Conway on November 11, 2016, 06:30:08 PM
Ed, sounds like a good idea.
It seems that there is plenty of splash to keep things lubed even if the oil pump fails. When the upper sump becoms empty though, no splash either!
An aux method of filling the sump is interesting and probably not too difficult to fab up.
I am wondering if crankcase pressure pulses will cause a problem. A check valve in there somewhere?
Cheers,
Hugh
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on November 11, 2016, 07:56:47 PM
Good point, Hugh.  Oil level means little if the upper sump goes dry.  Float switches are a bust inside the splash sump- I tried that and it doesn't work.  I went to a sight tube with magnetic float and reed switch.  My older Metro 6/1 is a single sump type Listeroid. The low oil shutdown has worked well with my auto shutdown system and has saved me twice so far.  The upper sump level could be instrumented via tube also. but you'd have to drill and tap the upper sump and install a brass barb in it. Please note that the "open" end of the sight tube MUST be vented back to the crankcase or crankcase vacuum will foul up your oil level reading.  Perhaps a pressure sense switch on the oil pump would also suffice for oil safety.

My oil usage is so low that I would rather have low oil auto shutdown than another oil tank and associated plumbing.  I also do auto shutdown on vibration, temperature, and speed too high or low.  My engine is remote and I only visit every 8 hrs for oiling, and I check the  oil sight tube then.



Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 11, 2016, 08:28:53 PM
Hey Hugh/Bruce,

I have done a few prelim checks while running, the pulsing and splashing does cause a bit of a dump until vacuum in the oil container takes over and balances things out... I still have to ascertain the optimum diameter feed tube and position/depth into the sump through the dipstick hole.... too big/wrong depth or angle, and it catches too much pulsing from the dipper(probably some bubbles in the oil too), too small and there is just not enough place for a bubble of air to make its way up the pipe... it would be much easier to install the gubbins on the main cc door, but what I am trying to achieve is being able to run a full weir type system, with overflow and settling area with the emergency backup should the pump fail... if it does fail and the sump empties, there will be enough oil to fill the sump and apron to max mark, allowing for a pure splash system....

(Sorry, might be stating the obvious, but helps me to jot it down... slows the grey matter and allows me to get my waterborne avian friends linear....)

I might have to refabricate a cover as well as a tank, the existing setup just doesent lend itself to easy modding.....but it will be interesting to work around all the little niggles!

So far, I still haven't had a chance to sort out the pump as yet... still running purely on splash lube with hollow dipper... it hasn't seized again, so I reckon after about 40 hrs or so this week alone, it proves proof positive as to a splash lube only system...

Anyways, time to hit the sheets, lets see what the sandman brings this eve...

keep it spinning....
cheers
Ed

PS... last night, dreamland gave me an idea to make a rotor for a fuge.... section and re-weld one of those disposable gas bottles you pick up on the scrapheaps ex the refrigeration boys.... for the outer housing, an old ali pressure cooker....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on November 12, 2016, 07:15:43 AM
Hi All

Having changed to TRB's on my 6/1 I wondered about doing away with the oil pump, as stated it's now reduced to moving oil from one level to another and pushing it through the filter, something Listers never had anyway..

Rather than 'fight the crankcase pulsing I wondered about using it to work an external 'diaphragm' pump, a bit like the Briggs and Stratton lawnmower carb.

It'll have one more moving part than a 'Gerbill' bottle, and a couple of reed valves, sure, but as long as the piston is going up and down it'll be pumping.

Answers on  a postcard............

Cheers Stef

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on November 12, 2016, 02:41:42 PM
I must be dumber than a stump. Somebody please edumacate me!!  Uh, why do you need a separate source of  emergency gravity feed oil?  Why not just fill the darn thing up to level and change the mark on the stick?
I always thought the lower sump and resulting eddy acted as a settling pool for crap?

Dumber than a Rock in Tennessee.
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on November 12, 2016, 07:37:37 PM
Stef, if you abandon the oil pump, I suggest just adding a gravity flow bypass filter under the breather door. Aka "sock in a box". It works and is a good use for old cotton socks and underwear.  My Listeroid, pumpless 6/1 setup is entirely gravity, thermosiphon, and exhaust induced draft through the radiator.


Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on November 12, 2016, 10:27:10 PM
Good point Bruce,

I'm gainfully employed at the moment, and then the Ski season is here (Yipee!), we a run a B&B in the Pyrenees, so I'll have little play time for the foreseeable, once I get things under way I'll post up.

Cheers Stef

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 14, 2016, 11:38:14 AM
Hi Guys,

Quite a few replies to get through, so at the risk of sounding abrupt and unmannerly (Which I am anyway, so no surprises there...) I will just jot them down in point form...

Glort: Pulsing will be a problem, but I think I can balance it out effectively by keeping the dip tube to a fairly low level, about the minimum level in the sump should do it. As to the hot/cold effect on contained air, I will not be mounting it against the crank, so heat transfer should be kept to only a few degrees above ambient (Assuming the exhaust isn't too close either...

Fuges - I have been looking at the cost (from an efficiency POV) of heating the fuel to remove water - time as well... Also, once done, it has to be filtered to remove solids and contaminants, more time cost and handling too... I am hoping that a fuge will speed up the handling and reduce the overheads. I have been doing a fair bit of reading on shipboard fuel handling, where they have similar problems with fuel, and pretty much every large system has one or more fuges to keep things together efficiently, besides, on pretty much all, there is also inclusion of mechanical filtering to sort the juice on the final run to the engines..... (My thinking here is that if its good enough for them, I should copy their processes...nuff said!)

Increasing the sump capacity - This is directly related to the surface area of the sump/apron - to keep level variances to a minimum, you would need a fairly large but "short" container as a remote sump - I don't, in my setup want to sacrifice the space for it.... (Think pump not working scenario...)

Torque converters make good fuges, plenty on that around, I just haven't been able to locate one at a reasonable price yet....ie free!

Stef: A diaphragm pump might work quite well, just a point to consider though - the CC breather valve causes a fair average low pressure in the sump, as rings and seals wear, more blow bye... The vacuum pump would have to "self-center" on the range of vacuum at a particular time.... Might become difficult... But worth a try I reckon... (You can get small vacuum driven fuel pumps for model 2 stroke engines - "Perry Pumps" - and if they work on those small 2 strokes (.3 cu in) then a Lister should be ok!!)

Ron: I have had, previously, with the gunk I run for fuel, where an oil control ring (or 2) jams up and the beast starts smoking... For a short run (3 hours or less) this is not a problem.... Oil level will drop by up to 1/2" over this period. When you run on a 10 to 15hr stretch, the oil will drop by 1/2 " and start exposing the weir notch, then it drops quite rapidly as the apron has a much smaller surface area than the sump overall... if, under these conditions, the pump fails (as it did on mine), the oil in the apron is worth nothing.... With a pump working fine, there is more than enough oil to supply the top sump, even for an extended run. The auto top up will allow me to see if oil has been used ex reserve while the beast is running, allow oil to be topped off while running too....

Now, on to other matters:

This weekend I got a chance to spend a bit of quality time with TM2 - I attacked the CC inner with an industrial grade needle descaler, compressed air chisel and fettled and carved my way through copious layers of sand/slag and crap - All in all around 2 cupfuls of it. I did go a bit OCD on it, but this time I am looking at doing all the prep and mods to see what the overall difference in running will be like. I pulled the crankshaft out (obviously) and gave that a good looking at with a file on the sharp corners and a polishing wheel on the journal. This is also a TRB unit, so no attention was needed there, just a quick check of condition, and all put back in. (Sounds simple and quick....It was.... It only took about 2hrs of polishing to get a decent big end finish going...) I reassembled the crank/CBW/conrod assembly while it was out and checked the status of the rotating/reciprocating masses while I was at it...

The crank/conrod assembly is around 1080g under balanced (rotational mass), the small end mass is 1000g (reciprocating) and the piston/rings/circlips and gudgeon weigh in at 2350g together(reciprocating). TM1 was not too far different if I remember correctly, I will look back in this thread and see what he was when I get a chance....

Once all that was done, I slotted the crank back in and checked the preload on the TRB's, All seems fine with no play and no deflection of the crank as the bearing housings get tightened up. Camshaft and tappets are installed and timed, end play on the camshaft has been taken out too...

Next job is the pump, filter and standpipe install, the thrower ring has been trued up in the interim. (While I was at it, I also opened up the lube gallery in the crank to 8.5mm and made sure it was well flushed and clean)...

Right.... Enough rambling....

Keep it spinning!!

Cheers
Ed

Edit: Right, Oil pump installed, oil filter installed, oil pipes in, oil pipes aimed at all the right bits, hollow dipper installed (Opened the thread in the conrod end cap up to 3/8NF - this allows for a somewhat more substantial hollow dipper), conrod installed.....oil lock ensued!! ....  Damn....I mic'd the big end and did a hand polish to within bugger all of out of round yesterday.... Did a trial setup and torque (Outside of the crankcase) using some VERY thin oil I had lying around....Worked a charm....Installed the conrod this arvie and used the 40W oil-in-a-squirt-can assembly oil....and, yep, you guessed it....Locked up solid!! To check if it wasn't something silly-bugger I did, I pulled the rod, washed it, used 10W thinned to about 5W, all was well.... blew a bit of air and 40W into the lube holes and got about 2 turns out of the crank before it locked up again.... Loosen cap, install thinnest foil shim I could make/had on hand...torque down ....Smile!!....All is butter and roses again!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on November 15, 2016, 07:04:48 AM
Ed,

Here's the boy for you....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALFA-LAVAL-MAB-103-FUEL-SEPARATOR-/131988242862?hash=item1ebb1cc1ae:g:RLEAAOSwHMJYEbsS


Perhaps a little pricey for a start up tho!

The boat I'm on at the moment has one of these, they don't miss the odd jubilee clip, but the Alfa might be noticed.

Cheers
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 15, 2016, 08:24:20 AM
Hey DS....

Green with envy..... Cardinal sin in progress.... Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's Fuge!!

Lol
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 15, 2016, 11:18:02 AM
Hey Guys,

Right, so here's a question.... With TM2 not a million years away from being built up, the shape, location and chassis design of the genset must be decided...

Has anybody got any experience with, or seen running, a Lister CS type genset with the alternator in line with the crank - ie an "inline" type setup (either close coupled, loose coupled or belt driven)?

Reason: I have a basement storeroom which would make a very nice gen shed - it is close to utility power switch over equipment, is out of the way, is secure, is in pretty much all requirements ideal for a gen housing.... One problem - Width!!

The room is around 2-3m long, but the access doorway is only about 750mm wide and the room another 2-400mm wider than the doorway.... It is more of a passage that goes nowhere rather than a room... I could just fit the gen through the doorway if I sent it to a slimming salon, but starting and access would be impossible.....

I am considering mounting TM2 lengthwise on a frame, with flywheel and starting kit facing the end of the frame. The genhead and drive would be on the far side of the engine...

My main concern is the torsional torque pulses on the frame when it is in a lengthwise configuration, bounce and dance as the torque will be acting on the narrower section of the chassis - Bear in mind, this will be another "wheeled or skid sled" type unit, it would have to be slid out of the gen house for maintenance, so no heavy cement block will help here....

Keep it thumping...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 16, 2016, 11:18:51 AM
Hey Glort,

I have a couple of "interesting" problems using the location I want.... Its quite low, not really enough space for the overhead alts, narrow, but long... All cement/concrete - About the only surplus space will be at the end of the genset to install a snatch block on the wall to winch it into position... I might even have to mount the radiator externally to the door, using a "dogs' leg" shape bracket (to get a bit more height to thermosyphon), integral to the chassis itself, so the whole mess can be slid out for servicing(Probably put down some 3" channel on the floor, open side up to act as rails, but don't know yet)....

Actual drive to the alternator will probably be double v belts, with the alternator shaft probably below the crankshaft and in line with it, with the alternator nestling partway below the main channel chassis top, maybe even having the mounting plate or base of the alternator level with the bottom of the surrounding channel - I want to keep the CG as low as possible, as the door to this cellar exits into a courtyard with a bit of a slope.... Its definitely going to be a bit of a "juggle around" with some heavy sections of channel to see what the jigsaw puzzle will look like when finished!! (Officially known as "Proof of Concept" in lah di dah terms!!)

The alt itself is a hefty beast for a lister, it rates in at 6.5KW constant, probably capable of about 20KW surge, judging by the brushes and windings and weighs close to around 80 to 100Kg if I remember my muscle aches after moving it around...(Probably actually 50Kg or so, I was quite tired that day...Lol)

BTW - Yesterday I got round to putting in the base gaskets, cyl hold down rods/studs, piston, rings and cylinder... Made up a couple of spacers and clamps to torque the mess down without the head so I can check squish and levels... While I am at it, I am going to prep, balance and install the IP side flywheel (Probably the biggest of the 3 sizes of flywheels I have) - That way I can mark it out with TDC/degree markings and get that mess together...I see a whole lot of gib key fitting in my immediate future!!

Just got a bee in my bonnet and nipped down to the cellar entrance - It measures about 880 Wide (Of which about 800 is usable at ground level) and 1400mm high - It does open up a bit on the width when you get past the entrance, but not much! Currently, if I look at TM1, his width is around 780mm (If he were oriented with crank direction lengthwise) and his height is about 1400 mm excluding the radiator and stand which tops out at 2000mm - This includes all the crap directly fitted to him, manifolds, air cleaner, exhaust etc. I could very likely take off easily 200 mm off his height by removing his wheels and changing the sub crankcase exhaust layout slightly... This is looking more and more feasible... (Cramped maybe, but feasible!!)

Right - here's one for the greater brained professors out there: With a 3:1 pulley ratio, turning 1500/500rpm respectively, what would the the recommended pulley diameters be, to transfer 6Kw when using v-belt widths(across the back) of 12.7mm, 2 belts in sheave? (With minimal slip of course!!)

Keep it spinning!!

Cheers
Ed

PS: Been keeping an eye on TM1's blow bye since the seize (Pump still not done yet...) and it seems like the compression rings might be either a)bedding in again, or b) becoming "unstuck" as the blowing seems to be becoming less and less with each run.... Who knows? (Maybe its the "Swan Song" before he goes totally legs up!!)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 17, 2016, 08:18:16 AM
Hey Guys,

Managed to spend a couple of hours worth of "quality time" with TM2.

I have done a bit of poking around on the IP side crankshaft and manged to fit 2xFlywheels to that side, using gib keys(Would be much easier and more compact with taper bushes, but lets stick to hand tooling on this). With about 1mm clearance to the oil seal, the largest flywheel is fitted. The gib key has been adapted to suit, as the crankshaft keyway ends just inboard of the spoke area of the flywheel when it is in place. I have had to step the head of the gib key as well, leaving about 1/8" above the keyway so the second flywheel keys on to it and butts up against its head, thus acting as a retainer as well. The outboard flywheel leaves about 20mm or thereabouts (havent measured it) of crankshaft sticking out to allow the fitting of the outer gib key. (This is a bit like playing mechanical tetris....) Both keys have been file fitted to the flywheels and shafts - the inner leaves about 1/4" of travel once tight and the outer leaves about the same. When the outer key is fully fitted, it is flush with the end of the crankshaft... This does "complicate" manual starting a bit, but I do have a plan in mind...(Involving a big hand drill, a stepped and tapped hole in the end of the crankshaft, a lathe and an extension to fit the starter handle...Which will also act as a gib key retainer for the outboard key too!!)

For a big lump of cast iron, with PLENTY of space on the crankshafts to hang things, its starting to get a little "crowded". So much so, in fact, that the rim of the inner flywheel is almost over the hinge bolt for the governor IP linkage....

Anybody want a pic or two? If so, drop a reply and I will take a few and post them...

Keep on cramming....

Cheers
Ed

Edit: Just remembered... While fitting and filing the gib keys, I came across a quite handy way to pull them out if you have enough clearance.... Use a largish open ended spanner over the head of the key at 90 degrees to it and use the back of the open end as a "camming surface" against the flywheel boss face, packing the face out as you extract the key. While I was test fitting keys yesterday, I got a tad over-zealous a few times (and seated them to full fit) - To my surprise, the spanner trick pulled them out with minimal fuss!! (Yep, you gotta push quite hard, but they pulled out the keys!!)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 19, 2016, 10:46:18 PM
Hey girls...

Here's some pics of what I have been up to...

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 Double Flywheel Setup 20161119/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 Double Flywheel Setup 20161119/)

I will give more info during the week.... In the meantime, comments welcome!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 20, 2016, 08:28:46 AM
Hey Glort,

All our life forms are carbon based.... Thats where oil comes from.... I might be able to speed up the animal/vegetable/oil/coal/lignite cycle habit and just go straight to using miscreants!

Lol

Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 21, 2016, 10:57:23 AM
Hey Guys,

More info on the "Walking Effluent Liquidizing system".....

All four wheels are now balanced, the balance weights at outermost web were in the region of: 0g,170g,85g,155g each.... They were at "random positions" relative to each other... Only one early style wheel was correctly balanced. (The later wheels show a definite drop in casting quality and workmanship.)

I have also installed 2x600g weights as close as I can to crank radius, on the inner flywheels. The rotary imbalance was around 10850g under balanced as per our little kitchen scale that somehow, conveniently, turned up in the oil spattered workshop, just when I needed it.... (Theses women must be more careful with kitchen appliances...Good grief, leaving a kitchen scale in the workshop....What next? ... Good thing I found it and tested it.....)

I have installed the flywheels in their final positions, this entailed making a 100mm shaft extension on the IP side to cater for crank starting (there are a few pics of it in the link I sent earlier.). While I was at it, I made and installed a gib key retainer for the other side as well. The extension and the retainer are cutoffs from the wrecked crankshaft of TM1 - Nothing, or very little, goes to waste around here if I can help it!!

TM2 now weighs in at around 700kg I would guess, next task is to re-site him to the larger gantry I put up earlier in the year. this will give me a little more peace of mind when I start doing the upper areas and final assembly - I will be able to move him around comfortably without taking bits on and off...

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 24, 2016, 01:21:56 PM
Hey Guys...

Another minor update...

The wheels are locked in place, 2-up on each side, the timing marks have been measured and marked out as well... I have thinned the IP banjo bolt head and left a small point on the center, this lines up with my new markings for timing the beast when I get it up and going. I have made a silly little mod to the IP pump rack, tapped a 5mm hole in the RHS to fit a spring return/rack limiter - This I will design on the fly and install a bit later when I get a chance... (ie I am still "considering the options")

The return spring on the rack will be a small spring, pulling the rack closed, just enough to overcome the gravity of the attached links, should a clevis decide to de-bus... It will also put the entire governor linkage system under a very mild closing tension - this will effectively negate any "slop" in the linkage system.... In my opinion, a far better way than tightening up all hinge points to aerospace tolerances (which will bind as soon as any dirt enters the equation....)

Pics here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods)  (You will have to scratch thru the pics, I will put them all into their correct categories and folders at a later stage....)

I have also trial fitted and measured a few things in the cylinder upper department - The Liner protrusion is around 6 thou, the piston crown TDC to top of liner measured around .... oops, lost it... (I did measure it.... and it was lower than the liner), which is all I need to know at this stage until I do the squish setup!

I did wind the beast over a few times to see how the compression is looking and how it will fare with starting on the double flywheel setup... With the CC Plug only finger tight, no injector line connected, winding it up and dropping the de-compressor resulted in a mild combustion event from the little bit of residual assembly oil in the top end... Happiness is!!

Right, time to reinstall the IP and start thinking about the rack limiter/spring return.....

Keep it puffing...

Cheers
Ed

Edit: Just slapped the IP back on the beast.... Similar problems to TM1 when I was setting him up.... The IP rack only opens up to about 1/2 or 3/4 way under governor control... looks like I am in for a bit of flyweight reshaping in the immediate future....... I am hesitant to move/shim the camshaft in or out, the gears et al are in perfect alignment as he now stands.... Strictly speaking, I could leave the IP max opening where it is... For a 10mm element, I seldom, if ever use full rack for power...but...If I reduce to a 8 or even 6mm element, he will need all the rack I can give him!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 25, 2016, 07:41:11 AM
Hey Guys,

Re-shaped the governor flyweights... One downside of dual flywheels.... Twice the work to remove them!!

It all went smoothly, there is now much more rack travel, it comes to within about 1/8" of full rack - I would like a bit more, but to do that I would have to probably move the camshaft a bit towards the IP, of this I am hesitant, as it will mean I would have to do a whole lot of in and out to keep the timing gears et al in 100% mesh... Lets see how he does like he is!!

Interestingly, the governor assembly as a whole was taken out and washed in solvent to remove dirt and casting debris a while back...When I took it apart, clean though it was, I felt gritty afterwards.... On closer inspection, the weights were coated with sand on their inner surfaces, not a lot, but enough to feel powdery once they had been handled.... They would have issued a slow release of grit into the system over a long period - Perfect for running in out bearing surfaces.... A quick trip over a rotary wire brush after carving them up and a bath in the parts sprayer was in order.... Dodged a bullet on this one.... Something to possibly keep in mind!! (Reminds me of the saying I heard a while back: "Fear not the bullet with your name on.... Be concerned with the grenade addressed: To Whom it May Concern!!")

Overall, comparing the amount of grit in TM1 to TM2, they are worlds apart.... TM1 had little if any, TM2 probably a few pounds removed by now!! Same manufacturer, same model, same supplier.... Consistently inconsistent!!

Keep it crunching....

Cheers
Ed

PS - Have I bored you all to tears as yet? Or should I keep on trying to?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 25, 2016, 09:01:05 AM
Hi Glort,

I have just been sitting back and thinking.... (A dangerous thing, it usually gets me into sh!t later!!!)

Maybe, just maybe, their production is not really consistently inconsistent... There is a VERY strong possibility that based on all the problems we on the forum have all had with sand in the innards to various degrees, that ALL if the India made engines have this problem.... There is also a very strong chance, that those who do not have the problems actually do have them, just unnoticed...

I take for example my own circumstance - TM1 was pressed into service almost immediately. He was given a cursory inspection and check over, no loose crap to any large degree was left lying around in his sump that I saw. He did have a bearing failure, butr that was directly attributable to a lube oil pipe sawing itself up and spitting itself straight into the big end, so not sand...

Now, TM1 has around 3k or so hours on him, the bulk of the work and pissing around has been on his upper section and IP side... Little done on the lower with the exception of the addition of an oil filter... When TM2 is in operation, I think I am going to do a full tear down of TM1 and go over him with a fine tooth comb (Hammer, chisel, descaler included...)

I am actually of the opinion, no, I am almost certain, that the sand I didn't see, or find previously, is actually there, just hidden away and inert...(at the moment)...

One would expect, after about a k hrs of running and more, that the crap would continue to show in the oil...Something I haven't seen when changing it.

I think that Mr Lister had a really good think about these beasts when he put pen to paper... I also think that his rather clever designs are of the ilk that they allow for the crap to settle out rather than recirculate as it would do in a more modern design... This allows for a way greater tolerance than we come to expect from modern manufacturing methods..

ie - Do you think it would be possible to run a modern engine after a top end seize? If so, for how long? Well let me give an indication: I have had lube mishaps on one car and 2 bikes in the past lots of years - one instance allowed me to get home before it died completely, the other 2 were totaled... Now, TM1 had an upper seize a couple of weeks back...Solid! I eventually got him turning over (I wont recount how, you guys would evict me from the forum) and after topping up the oil, he is still running...About 60hrs run time since the seize....Loads haven't changed...Oil hasn't been changed either....Interesting!!

It is certainly going to be entertaining to strip him down in the future for a rebuild.... I think that a lot of our clean out work is a little "over the top" for what is required... Granted, a clean engine internally is a great thing to have, it might live a little longer, who knows..... But.... Enough said!! (Let the flaming begin!!)

Keep on flaming....

Cheers
Ed

Edit: Just did a valve/rocker alignment job - Also trimmed the rocker shaft by 1/8" each side and made up some different shaft springs... Cut and thinned the heads of the rocker fixing shaft bolts down by 1/8" each as well... Made a heavy duty lifting bracket that can now be bolted onto the diagonal bolts on the head for lifting him, without having to piss around and take the rockers off each time to do it too.... Much easier and quicker. (Yes, I know the lifting eye looks a little flimsy, but my reckoning is that if it was ok on a 2 metric ton rated chain block, 800 to 1000kg of TM2 shouldn't be a problem!)...Pics here:  http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods) (Towards the end of the list, under today's date.)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselgman on November 25, 2016, 03:29:29 PM
I will always remember inspecting a 6/1 I once saw operating in India. It was sitting on the ground belt driving a large cement mixer drum in a huge pile of dirt and sand debris. No air filter, dirty looking fuel from a plastic bottle, apparently no concern over the mountain of crap it was almost buried in. Barefoot people scurrying around filling and dumping the mortar from the machine. The local guys I was traveling with said "who cares ?, they always keep working!" Further to this anecdote, I have heard from a number of credible sources that the local Indian markets use the worst stuff from their production in country and export their best quality.

So, in a nutshell, many of us have been experienced and trained on modern engine technology with pressure-fed oil systems and fairly tight parts tolerances, high levels of quality control required... this background and expectation does not necessarily translate accurately across the board to the antique engine designs and their design tolerances.

Give me a good original Dursley machine any day, take good care of it, and I will expect it to be around for my great grandchildren or beyond. But if I could not afford that luxury, then a close copy would still probably outlast me in this world.

dieselgman
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Hugh Conway on November 25, 2016, 09:36:27 PM

Maybe these machines are a lot tougher and forgiving than we Westerners imagine.
Check out this youtube..........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY4hgSj3bAw
A listeroid, not an original Dursley.
Operating in a dusty environment
Air filter.........none
Exhaust pipe.......none
Cooling system......none
Note the valve gear cover securely bolted down, probably never lubed under there.

Could the inclusion of intake grit and casting sand in the crankcase be a feature, not a bug? The grit/sand might open up operating clearances so it won't otherwise seize up..........well, perhaps.......

Cheers,
Hugh
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on November 25, 2016, 10:45:02 PM
Perhaps it's burning the plant fiber too and what doesn't burn seals the valves and rings. It does appear to be using an evaporative cooling 'system'.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: gusbratz on November 26, 2016, 03:49:28 AM
he says down in the comments that it only runs for a few minutes to chop enough feed for the cow and buffalo.  so they didn't bother with a cooling system.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on November 26, 2016, 05:23:24 AM
I bought a tecumseh powered air cooled mower from a lady at a yard sale for $2 US. She said it was run dry of oil and locked up. I gave it a nudge and it moved so I went home and changed oil in it a couple times and still couldn't get all the glitter out of the crankcase. I poured a quart and a half of gas in it shook it rolled it over and over drained it, and repeated with diesel a couple times. I refilled that thing with some kind of parasynthetic wally world oil and mowed and trimmed with it for years. Also the Wife could start it. I finally hit something with it a couple years ago and bent the crank. No one knows how to straighten a lawnmower crank anymore so I figured I had gotten my money's worth and recycled it.
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 28, 2016, 07:52:29 AM
Hey Guys,

Agreed pretty much on all counts.... The reason for all the "filings and crap" - Mass production!! Gone are the days of hand fitting all the components and file fitting to minimum spec - It takes just too much time. Slap it together, allow for wear in with a bit of looseness or tightness where you can, start it up and pray the filters and settling areas do their jobs!!

Considering the amount of time I have spent on TM2 now, had this been done by the supplier, excluding the mods of course, I would expect to pay in the region of 2x what I have... Unfortunately, the world we live in now, is price driven... Pay as little as possible to get as much as possible (as the saying goes: Low price, High Quality, Choose one!)... With the low loading specs of these engines, the makers can get away with murder and still have a reasonably serviceable unit.... But enough of that can of worms....

This weekend I managed to finish the IP mods, I put in a rack limiter with an integral return spring. The limit can be adjusted to allow for maximum power output. The return spring has two uses - First, it takes out all of the "slop" in the linkages, this gives better governor control. Second, the spring is only just strong enough to overcome gravity iro the weight of the linkages themselves... Should a pin or linkage detach, the rack will pull closed automatically, no overspeed, just shutdown... I also moved the adjuster and made an adjustable end attached to the crankcase, to test different springs is now dead easy.... Alongside of the pump, I cut up the banjo fitting and silver soldered an integral t-piece, this allows for dual fuel setup right at the IP itself, little to no delay in switching fuels now....(Of course there will be a delay, but only a few seconds as it does not need to purge long feed pipes now..)... This was not so much a mod as a repair - The barb fitting where it was crimped into the SS braided hose had a crack/hole in it - the bore of the barb was not concentric - it was out by about 2mm and was of tinfoil thickness down one side....

Aaah yes.... The workshop cat (Kitten) is now officially on site and in training.... Only to be scooped up and abducted by the kids and promptly moved indoors....

I have also started doing the "Auto Oil Fill" mods... The fitting has been set into the small CC cover in place of the dipstick. Unfortunately, it will obscure the governor adjuster a little, but I think I will get away with it.... The pics show a piece of 1/2" copper line in place, this is for reference only, it will be steel line on the actual version. Pics here:  http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods) (Towards the end of the list, under yesterday's date.)

Also managed to scare the sh!t out of the laddie that was fixing his car here on the weekend.... I picked up TM2 on the 400kg gantry... With full flywheel compliment... The gantry only creaked a bit and settled about 3" or so.... He took one look and reckoned it was far better to be outside the workshop at that point... 800Kg is a bit much....

Keep on scaring...

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 29, 2016, 09:51:48 AM
Hey Guys,

Here's an interesting one... Just in Passing... Ordered some 10mm IP pump elements from India on the 15th September... Just been collected from the post office, snail mail... Around 10weeks in postage, Cost of USD45 for 10 elements... ET10L 1/4... Total incoming cost including customs and SWIFT charges levied by our local thieves... USD92... Remember, this was for 10x elements... Now.... Include about 5hrs of correspondence and pissing about.... About break even I reckon... LOL....

I did try and find 11 or 12mm elements, but no luck to fit the 034 pump.... Bugger!

Right, I gonna make my gerbil sum oiler...

Laters...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 29, 2016, 02:43:33 PM
Hey Guys,

Gerbils-R-Us Auto-oil-filler-upper is now installed... I cadged it together out of what I had laying around.... Looks like it will work.... The "stop cock" has been modded internally - the rubber seal has been removed, nylon in place - the loose end for the seal has been silver soldered to the spindle and trued up on the lathe, now it doesn't act as a one way valve when the cock is open. The CC fitting has been bored through, the steel pipe goes through it to the bottom of the splash sump - It now needs to be filled with oil and trimmed off to set the oil level for running. The top plug on the tank has an integral dipstick for checking tank level, and this plug now uses an o-ring instead of a taper to make life easier. The top "legs" of the tank are flexible enough to allow for a small (3/4") height adjustment, the final height, once adjusted, is locked into place by the "conex" water fitting on the sump door, which uses a ferrule seal. The legs bolt onto the bottom inlet and exhaust studs. Interestingly, the use of a brass ferrule on a steel pipe(where it enters the crankcase), gives enough clamping to lock the pipe from sliding very effectively, yet, when loosened, allows the steel pipe to slide through once again.....And...yes... It does clear the governor linkages!

Pics here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods) (Towards the end of the list) Under today's date.... Comments welcomed! (Except remarks on the crappy quality of the images....my "new" cell phone aint as good in the camera department as the old one...And that was pretty sh!te to begin with!!)

Keep it oiled...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 01, 2016, 11:40:27 AM
Hey Girls....

I have just finished torquing down the head and checking squish.... FWIW, IP side of the cylinder being oriented South, the four readings were 1.93/1.89/1.92/1.85 mm respectively as per NEWS order... The deck/crank might be a tiny bit out - .08mm or .oh-oh-pi in inches, not too serious I don't think (I didn't check the crown to gudgeon dimensions when I had it apart either)....

The Gerbil-Fillit-Thing is stuck in and bolted up, the bottom of the tube being cut off at 45 degrees to match the dipper trough... It is slowly filling to set depth (about 1/2 way up the dipper) as I type.... I expect the tube to still pick up a bit of air and splash from the dipper, so the oil level should rise a bit when it is running... As to how much, I couldn't tell you, but I have made it fairly adjustable and I will keep an eye on it when TM2 finally pops smoke! (The "real" dipstick is in place on the drain side of the engine, soon to be calibrated too!)

Pics here under today's date:  http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods) (Towards the end of the list)

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed

PS: the dark "cloudiness" in the oil in the center of the sump is shadow, not dirt!!

PPS: Now here's a quick question for you learned gents out there that have a sump/apron style roid... Which do you prefer IRO oil level, the weir notch bottom with the pump keeping the sump supplied, or filling the apron to above the weir notch?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: veggie on December 01, 2016, 02:44:34 PM
EdDee,

I have a question about the top end lubrication.
You obviously do some lengthy runs lasting for hours at a time.
What is your procedure for keeping the rocker shaft and valve guides lubricated.?
In my case, I removed the stock rocker shaft and added the type that has a grease cap which pushes grease into the shaft assembly with each turn of the cap. It offers a bit better system than the stock arrangement, but not much better. That system does nothing for the valve guides, so I still have to oil the recess at the bottom of the valve spring.
I have seen that some people pack a handful of grease around the components. I suspect this works excellent, but I cant bare to pack  a 1/2 pound of grease onto the top of my engine.
Some have even fabricated an upper valve train lube system which takes oil from the sump. An interesting idea.
I am wondering how the top end can be modified so that the valve system does not have to be constantly watched during long runs.
In the "old days" of cotton mills in the UK,  a young boy (apprentice) was employed to walk around all the machinery carrying an oil can and a pail of grease. His job was to keep all rotating parts nicely lubed in oils.

cheers,
Veggie

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 01, 2016, 03:04:59 PM
Hey V-Man!!

I simply lube once a day at startup... TM1 is in a less than favorable environment and I am worried about grease catching a little too much sand and dust... That being said, even oil dampness attracts dust as we all know.

In all the time I have been playing with old thumpers, I have only twice had a problem with seizing on the rocker shaft... I cant remember the circumstances of the first time, but on TM1 I had the inlet rocker bind up for no rhyme or reason... Removed, cleaned up the shaft and bushing, reinstalled and all has been well with it for the last 14 months or so... I suspect there was a bit of sh!t in the bushing from the day it was made...

I regularly run up to 14hr shifts (if I have enough waste oil) and find that little of no attention needs to be paid to the rockers barring a quick squirt every 12hrs or so....

The rest of the time, for short runs, I quick squirt on startup is about as far as I go....

I am tempted to install a drip oiler, but haven't found one at the right price yet (ie free)!!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 01, 2016, 03:18:29 PM
Hey Guys,

Just did the dual-fuel fittings on the IP... Next to plumb in the injector return line... I am using some old HPA fittings I had lying around, seems to work quite well so far, no gaskets or o-rings needed and they seal up well....

Pics here under today's date:  http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods) (Towards the end of the list)

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 05, 2016, 09:24:53 AM
Hey Guys,

This weekend I made time to glue together a chassis for TM2... Overall footprint is about 1mx2m - Taper channel 160mm wide.... Should be heavy enough to hold him down. Luckily there was enough scrap lying around to re purpose, otherwise this would have cost a bundle... Used 3.2mm hi temperature glue sticks.... Lol

Pics here:  http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods) (Towards the end of the list under today's date)

TM2 is mounted in his correct orientation and position as he now stands. The alternator will be in line with him, but the shaft of the alternator will be above the outboard flywheel and belt driven off the rim. The 3 phase motor in the picture will be below the alternator and driven from it for net metering duties if it works out as planned. At the far end of the frame, in the excess space, I am considering installing a 220L heat store tank. Somewhere in among all of this, I am looking at a belt driven circulation pump and compressor as well....(not to forget a 12v start system as well...) ...  Tetris a' la Lister in progress!!

Comments welcome!!

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 05, 2016, 10:33:48 AM
Hey Glort,

It looks like the "small space" is gonna be just too small.... Bummer.... I am going to be able to fit it, but servicing will be a problem. My initial plan was to put the whole lot on "rails" so it could be slid in and out under winch power to do the pm's and repairs, but unfortunately, due to a small built up retaining wall with a drain sump built in that projects slightly into the mouth of the doorway, access looks like, at this stage, it will be a problem. The overall package size fits the "room" but to install it, I would have to put it in in pieces and assemble it in situ... I have found another nook, little used, that TM2 can fit into... Right next to TM1! I am considering combining the exhaust stacks and power/water/everything is close by as well, so less to do to get it useful! (Sorry, Mr lazy is kicking in....)

Weight, well, lets just not go there... TM2 on his own is about 750 to 850 kg maybe more... was quite interesting getting him from the initial assembly area to his fabrication area - a grand distance of about 10m, but using the gantries and with the amount of machinery and crap I have in the workshop, I ended up with a journey of about 25m of which about half of it was over my D40 Komatsu bulldozer.... A rough guestimate puts the weight of the bits before the chassis is complete at around 1200kg and still a good few bits to go on (that's not even including radiator/pump and 300L of Hot water storage).... I don't think he will be classed as a "portable" unit.....

It will be interesting to see his final layout, I have not actually built an "inline" Lister before... All the ones done previously have been "transverse"....

The 3 phase is a 50A 380V 1440RPM unit... I should be able to push about 15A/Phase on cogen if I can get it together, assuming it isn't stuffed... I still need to check it out properly though....

One additional small complication for the "small room" environment is the addition of the radiator, which I want to thermo-syphon, but also use the cooling exhaust draft from the alternator...(Hence the high mount of the alternator)

Enough rambling.... Let me finish my coffee and go cut some more channel...

Keep on gluing....

Cheers
Ed

PS - I managed to get some wooden welding rods from the local hardware store the other day... Try as I might, even soaked them in salt water, I just couldn't get an arc....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on December 06, 2016, 12:28:39 AM
Just a shot in the dark, but what would a bunch of cotton waste packed into the head/valvetrain area and soaked with oil accomplish? (other than making a mess)
I know a bunch of babbit bearing equipped steam and early gas engines as well as babbit pillow blocks used this method. Just thought I would throw it against the wall and see if it stuck.
  I agree a drip oiler would be the best solution, but them 'lil fellers is a gitting 'spensive!  Just a thought, what about cotton wicks, about 4 of them, crimped into a tube connected to a small reservoir and wicking lube to the rocker shafts and valve guides? That would still leave the pushrods dry, but I don't figure the inverted cup holds a lot of lube anyway.
Ok I am ready to be shot down :D :D so fire at will!
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 06, 2016, 08:04:55 AM
Hey Ron,

Cotton waste....Not so sure....Too much exposed surface area to draw lube out of... It would work well in a gland box though...

But now, your other suggestion - Wicking lube to the areas that need it - That I Like!! Perhaps a small resevoir on top of the valve cover,with say four discrete little tubes with wicks in going to the top of each rocker pivot and the top of each valve.... The lube would wick its way down each path to the specific point of need.... Mind if I maybe use your idea?

Keep it oiled....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on December 06, 2016, 10:53:48 AM
Hi All

A few years back I did a short trip on a Dutch barge, up the English channel, can't remember what the motor was but it was hot bulb ignition.

The guy running it used pipe cleaners to 'wick' the lube oil to various places, might be worth a thought.

Cheers Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 06, 2016, 11:09:22 AM
Hey Stef,

Nice one!! Easy and "directable" .... Defs gonna do that!!

Cheerz
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 06, 2016, 02:39:47 PM
Hey Guys,

Agreed.... Thinking back, a mate of mine had an oval track speedway bike, no clutch, no gears, open crank with a shroud in front to keep some of the sand out of the engine....Ran on straight methanol with a "total loss" lube system... About 500cc if I remember.... Now to me, that's about the worst you could do to an engine....Anybody remember what make they were? Husquavarna comes to mind, but I dont think it was....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on December 06, 2016, 03:12:34 PM
  I agree a drip oiler would be the best solution, but them 'lil fellers is a gitting 'spensive! 

Every single time I see those things for sale I am amazed at the price. Wether on ebay or on a table at an engine show, I look and wonder what the heck is so marvellous or complicated about these things to justify the price??
Then again, I also wonder how the hell an open crank engine can work with just a couple of things things on them wizzing round and not even a closed splash lube sump or oiling system.


Like crows collecting shiny objects engine men and especially engine dealers gather up drip oilers and pile them in the nest. If things were made square, meaning all needs were met and that was that  there would be a huge pile of them worth only their weight in scrap brass and glass. BUT at any engine show there are tables full of them at high prices few are willing to pay so they all go home in a box only to be hauled out to the next one. I wont pay the going rate and instead buy new ones from McMaster Carr. They are not period correct but I don't care. I am not going to add to the stupidity.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on December 06, 2016, 04:56:16 PM
  I agree a drip oiler would be the best solution, but them 'lil fellers is a gitting 'spensive! 

Every single time I see those things for sale I am amazed at the price. Wether on ebay or on a table at an engine show, I look and wonder what the heck is so marvellous or complicated about these things to justify the price??
Then again, I also wonder how the hell an open crank engine can work with just a couple of things things on them wizzing round and not even a closed splash lube sump or oiling system.

Y'know in the motorcycle world there are little chain-oiler reservoir and feed systems "scottoilers" they are here.  Just a reservoir and a capillary tube to take vacuum from your intake so it turns on when the engine turns on etc and an oil flow adjuster. You can set them for a drip an hour or whatever I guess.  Not "period" in any way but no moving parts either.  Cheers


Like crows collecting shiny objects engine men and especially engine dealers gather up drip oilers and pile them in the nest. If things were made square, meaning all needs were met and that was that  there would be a huge pile of them worth only their weight in scrap brass and glass. BUT at any engine show there are tables full of them at high prices few are willing to pay so they all go home in a box only to be hauled out to the next one. I wont pay the going rate and instead buy new ones from McMaster Carr. They are not period correct but I don't care. I am not going to add to the stupidity.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: George A on December 06, 2016, 05:34:03 PM
Check the suppliers on this website: http://www.old-engine.com/index.php

You'll find several vendors offering drip (gravity) oilers at reasonable prices, along with British threaded pipe fittings, etc. I've often thought it wouldn't be too difficult to add a single oiler for the rocker arms, using a tube feed of some sort. Would look kind of "grand" too........
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on December 06, 2016, 09:47:58 PM
Just looked up pipe cleaners on Ebay, I thought they'd be a thing of the past, like skate boards, I can't believe the amount of different colours (USA readers delete the u as required)

And they're bloody cheap!

Cheers
Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on December 07, 2016, 05:23:58 AM
EdDee, please feel free to "wick away" if that is the way that your imagination leads you. :D
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on December 07, 2016, 05:28:11 AM
Yeah, Glort, I will never smell Castrol "R" without remembering going to the Meanee Speedway near Napier as a kid in the late '60s and early '70s and sitting on the corners to enjoy getting showered in clay etc etc.  Legends like world champs like Barry Briggs and Ivan Mauger were just folks who raced there on a Saturday night to my twelve-year-old self
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 08, 2016, 08:44:49 AM
Hey Guys,

A small update....

Managed to get the genhead and 3-phase mounted on the sub-frame yesterday, lots of sweat in around 40C weather... Blew the plasma cutter to kingdom come, burnt out an angle grinder, dropped the genhead on my foot, all in all an interesting day!! (Oh yes also tangled up with my hand drill and a 13mm bit went south while slotting the slides for the 3 phase... All in the spirit of fun as they say...)

I still have to do the final placement and welding of the sub to main chassis once all distances and clearances are worked out, but so far it is looking promising, albeit a tad cramped. The genhead is driven directly off the flywheel rim, 600mm dia, the driven pulley will be either 225mm or 250mm diameter (haven't decided yet), so I have allowed just enough clearance for the 250mm to go into place. I am planning on using only a single 13mm belt to drive it at this stage, as there will be only around 3kw max draw on the alt.... A bit small, but with the large diameters I am working with, it should suffice. Should there be a problem, I can fit a double sheave pulley on the alt and away we go... I have also put "extra Long" adjustment track slots for the gen's, this allows a fair range of pulley and belt sizes to be played with in the future, should it be required.

Currently, I am designing on the fly in "compact mode", with minimum belt lengths, maximum pulley diameters - this means that when it all fits and turns, it will be worst case scenario for clearances.

For genhead to 3 phase, I am attempting to use a double sheave setup with pulleys 130/120mm respectively, if it all pans out, I will not have to adjust governor speeds when I go from prime to net meter mode... The ratio is around 10% up on 1500rpm (ie 150rpm) doing it this way, a little high, but I can deepen the grooves on the 130mm if I need to to bring it closer to the 60rpm overspeed for the 3phase to operate in net mode....

Pics here under today's date:  http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods) (Towards the end of the list)

Hopefully, today, I will be able to fit the sub frame to main and get that all finalized.....

I am considering running on a non-radiator setup, pump circulated with a 200L tank - certainly in the beginning - I am also considering using a common hot water/coolant reservoir that is pump circulated - As opposed to a closed coolant system with glycol....Anybody else doing similar? (With of course the mandatory exhaust heatex in tow...)

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 09, 2016, 08:28:40 AM
Hey Glort,

This 3P setup will be for grid tie in, not independent operation. I foresee that I might tie in a phase on the 3 phase to the alternator to do independent stuff... The alt will do the frequency and basic V regulation and the 3 phase would be in an "assisting" role, hence the 10% up on the speed of the 3P vs the Alt... If I find it too much and there is a bit of breakdown of the flux(Too much mag slip) in the 3p I can just drop the revs a bit by machining the drive pulley down a bit (the one on the alt shaft)...

I have played a bit with induction gens, they are sometimes always "tricky" to set up where voltage surge due to variable loads occur, but much easier in the role of tied in rather than stand alone. Stand alone requires a much more touchy setup of L-C network vs load vs revs to get things working, change but a small amount and things get interesting indeed.... I must confess though, I have not "hard belted" an alt to a 3P in a fixed ratio environment before, and am keen to see if they can be made to work in harmony... I don't see why not... This could end up being an easy (and cheap) way to boost say a 5kva to a 10kva unit by adding an induction generator into the mix....

10% up is around the max you could drive an induction generator in assisting mode if I remember correctly, the performance is already starting to fall off at this point, the actual real efficiency is around 4 or 5% up for coupling... To determine it by looking at the motor plate, look at the rated revs for the power. ie 1440rpm in this case - this is then a 2 pole set motor @ 50hz - the 60rpm deficiency is the "slip" required on the rotor to give rated power at shaft - if you work it out, this is a 100-(1440/1500x100)%=4% slip to induce current in the rotor to give grunt at the shaft... To get the same amount of current(or near enough) boost back into a tie in system, you would have to drive the shaft at 4% above 1500RPM ie 1560... But enough said, lets try it and see! What I am actually hoping to achieve, is less electrical load on the gen head as part of the trial... If it doesn't work to my liking, no biggie, I will just run them independently...(or the 3 phase not at all, 4 bolts and a belt and it disappears back into storage!!)

As an aside, have you ever run a 3P motor as a rotary phase converter from 1P mains? I have a couple set up to use where 3 phase polishing machines (crappy bench grinder with buffing wheels) were needed... start the "rotary transformer" with a cap, once spinning, hook up the 3P grinder to the 3 phases on the "converter", and away it goes.... Much cheaper and more reliable than the inverter controllers (if you don't need speed control)... Plus, 3P industrial motors are a dime-a-dozen at the scrappies.... Singles are in way more demand and difficult to get, when you do, you bleed money to cover them... Just bear in mind, you are only getting about 1/3 the rated 3phase power out of the converter this way - so a 15kw 3phase will only give you around 5kw 3phase out to power another device (approximately)...oh, and BTW, you need 220V 3phase motors to make it work with reasonable power output...

Yesterday evening I did the line up of all the pulleys and sub frame for the genhead on TM2 - I gotta work a lot more carefully now that the plasma is down.... no more quick tack, oops, cut move tack... Tack and weld once all lined up only!! I have managed to get the whole shebang together, allowing for dual ratios on the engine/alt coupling, with only the change of the alt pulley - there is enough tension adjustment that I don't have to change belts even - Bonus!! The clearance between the 3P pulley/shaft and the crankshaft necessitated a bit of surgery with an angle grinder, but one stubby 3P motor shaft later, and the conversion from 2 to 1 sheave on the 3P pulley, and all is good to go with enough clearance....Just!! The drive train belt layout is almost an inverted "V" with the crankshaft and 3P at the bottom, almost in line with one another and the genhead shaft above them in the center... Looks quite cute!! I looks like I will be able to drive the water pump from the second sheave (now unused) of the pulley that is on the genhead shaft... an added bonus of the current layout.

Right... Enough rambling....

Keep it spinning

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 09, 2016, 03:36:13 PM
Hi Glort,

Ostensibly I am going to look mainly at tie in, with a little combined small 3phase output on it just in case I need it....

I am currently looking for some old style "twirly meters" to stick on the outputs, will be much easier to visually monitor things if I need to, and they are pretty robust to boot... As to the C2C, I probably will do a little balancing, but not much, mostly to stop it growling if needs be....

Pioneer....defs not...Broke, with lotsa stuff lying around to play with...Yes!! (I love it when the mates come round with a truckload of junk from a garage cleanout...especially the big eyes when they see what I do with the stuff, a real hoot!!)

Been playing with the Genhead this arvie...got most of the kinks worked out, rebuilt the rectifier board and got the starter windings online too, I am really happy about that!! Under several layers of paint, near the mount, I bumped into the label - Its a Stamford D8 series, quite a nice one as well... I also spun the one outlet duct around, now its in true clockwise config, just doing that improves the airflow by, at a guess, at least 10 to 15%... It looks like the local gennie "doctors" have had a go at changing the direction of starting at some point... the assholes tried by swopping the +/- lines in the box, not swopping over the polarity at the brushes... Obviously the eejuts have no clue as to the difference between a series/parallell wound motor and a permanent magnet motor..... Their loss, my gain... I think this unit was scrapped because it "couldn't be reversed" for starting when they tried it....

Right, the weekend is here!!

Beer o' clock chiming in the background!!

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed



Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 12, 2016, 09:01:03 AM
Hey Guys,

First Smoke!! Bring out the cigars and snifters of cognac!!

Started TM2 up this weekend, a few short runs while I was sorting out the alternator connections.... Looks like one of our local profs defs had his hands in there!!... Eventually, I gutted all the internal add-ons and started rewiring the connections myself, without trying to find what was incorrect... I should have done it right from the start! (4 to 5 hours worth of trying to trace multi coloured wires, yep, snip black and orange, swop them over, snip orange and black, change them with red and blue....and that was just one of around 3 or 5 sets of mixups!!.....Enough!!)

Got the beast spinning at pretty close to 1500rpm, 245V while pushing around 1.5Kw resistive. I can pull the voltage down a bit, but I am not keen to, the line to the house is quite long and I reckon we are probably dropping up to about 10V over the stretch while at full load. The electric start has good torque and easily winds up TM2 to start revs within about 3 t 5 seconds, double flywheels and all, and, bonus, this it does on only 12vdc, so no need to put dual batteries on the starter side of things. (The charge/start circuit runs at 24vdc on this unit.) I will install a 12V motor style voltage regulator though, on the charge circuit, as I reckon 30Vdc might just turn my tractor battery into a football, even in the short term!!

There is a small water leak on the bottom of the jacket/cc joint, a small drip under the diesel tank, a small seep on the bottom of the oil pump, and thats about it - nothing really unexpected in that line from our Injun friends... The only PITA is having to lift the cylinder and spray in some sealer... I might just throw in a little powder and see how it works out. The other 2 drips are easy to sort out as he stands.

Shake, rock and roll, are minimum at everything up to the half load I have been testing at so far - There is a little shuffle, but this is to be expected as he is only standing on some wooden blocks at the moment. I have a wooden block under each corner "foot" of the chassis under the engine, and a single wooden block under the far end center where the 200L water reservoir is going to be supported. Currently all testes (yep, testes!) have been conducted with the generator cradle only tacked into place (8 small tacks holding that genhead and 3Ph motor assy in place with the overhead gantry hooked up as a bit of a safety measure).... Hence "testes", as balls have got to be bigger than brains to do it this way...Lol!

Once I have got the water pump onto the sub-frame and lined/hooked up, I can strip the whole mess down and look at welding and painting it up!!

I have an old CO2 cylinder lying around - I am considering integrating it into the chassis as a silencer, or even as a large water jacket/reservoir for hot water... Lets see what pans out!

Keep it thumping!!

Cheers
Ed

Edit: Anybody else done an "Inline" setup with a Lister CS/Alternator setup that you know of?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 12, 2016, 10:11:43 AM
Damn Glort!!

You reckon the 15 extra Barrels and Pistons I have, that I was going to turn TM1 into a radial are not gonna cut it..... Oh well, at least I can stay with the Nitro, Supercharger, Turbos and hot plate!! (Now I am going to have to get rid of the 200Kw alternator I had lined up as well... :-[  )

Lol
E

Edit: The genhead I have fitted is a Stamford ES11/1500RPM/Ser#R60973-1/6KvA/1Phase/220v/27.3A/24VDC@3A 2 wire unit.... Although I have kludged my way through its setup and wiring, do any of you gents have a basic internal schematic/layout/manual on PDF perhaps? (It looks very similar to the D8 / D11 series, closer to the D8 in fact, but there are some internal differences by the looks of it...Especially after I rewired it to get it up and running!!)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: broncodriver99 on December 12, 2016, 03:52:33 PM
Edit: The genhead I have fitted is a Stamford ES11/1500RPM/Ser#R60973-1/6KvA/1Phase/220v/27.3A/24VDC@3A 2 wire unit.... Although I have kludged my way through its setup and wiring, do any of you gents have a basic internal schematic/layout/manual on PDF perhaps? (It looks very similar to the D8 / D11 series, closer to the D8 in fact, but there are some internal differences by the looks of it...Especially after I rewired it to get it up and running!!)

Ed. I have a Stamford ES8 4kw head. I sent Cummins(who now owns Stamford) an email with my model and serial and they were able to dig up an owners manual and electrical schematics. It took a day or two but they are really good about getting back to you. They can even give you the build date.

Here is their contact info. https://stamford-avk.com/contact
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 13, 2016, 08:22:03 AM
Hey BD!

I have buzzed off an email to them, hopefully they will respond! (I need a front bearing, hopefully the specs give sizes so that I can get one before I strip it down!!)

Many thanks
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 14, 2016, 08:52:57 AM
Hey Guys,

A minor update....

Yesterday was "Chassis Strip" day, I pulled TM2 off the chassis along with all of the turny bits, leaving just the bare chassis with all the nice shin-level sticky-outy-bits that were only tack welded in place. After finding several sharp corners using my shins as environment sensors, and several gantry assisted gyrations of the chassis later, everything has been welded fully into place, including 3x S/Steel "feet" to raise his carcass about an inch off the floor....(S/Steel Round bar 40mm diameter x 25mm long.)

Next step is to attend to the few niggly little seeps and drips while he is fully accessible....A right PITA but something that is needed to be done!! Incidentally, I remember when stripping and cleaning both TM1 and TM2, the pump - There were no springs in the ball non return valves on either inlet or outlet - Is this an Indian budget cut maybe? I will probably install a pair while I am at it, just wondering if anybody else on the forum has had similar? (The original design spec had a spring on the outlet valve if I remember correctly...)

Keep it pumping!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on December 14, 2016, 09:34:47 AM
Hi Ed

Don't know about the cost cutting exercise, but my original Lister has springs in the ball valves, who put them there I've no idea!

Cheers Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 14, 2016, 04:30:11 PM
Thanks Stef,

I am planning to install a couple when I tear the pump down to sort out a minor drip in the next day or so....Didn't get much of a chance to play with it today, was too busy drooling over a new toy that arrived, a 73year old, single cylinder, disposable piston type thingy!!....(But my housemate did bring a few lengths of pipe to jacket the exhaust for the heat exchanger!)

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 19, 2016, 10:47:54 AM
Hey Guys,

Another minor update regarding TM2:-

Finally tore myself away from the M1 Carbine to go and do some fabrication on the exhaust heatex's... All went well, Pics here under today's date:  http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods) (Towards the end of the list)

Made some inquiries about a shaft driven pump of around 1 1/2" inlet/outlet diameter.... INSANE!!! No way am I gonna pay USD300 for a unit.... I am making another plan to circulate coolant et al....

Now, being the lazy bastard I am, I have come up with an idea, don't know if or how well it will work, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained!!

I am going to try hydronic circulation on both the engine and the exhaust heat exchangers using a common medium and a common heat store... What I am going to try is to set up a 210L drum, slightly elevated, with the bottom about in line with the inlet for the engine water inlet.. The head outlet will go into the drum about 6" or so up from the outlet height of the cylinder head... That leaves about half a drum of headspace above the return. In this "headspace", I will install an upper and lower fitting that feeds the exhaust heat exchangers, the return near the top of the drum, and the outlet to the heatex just above the return from the head... A little above this inlet to the exhaust heatex, will be a hot water outlet to supply hot water on demand. Filling the drum will be taken care of by an old cistern style ball float valve I have on hand - all metal/brass construction so it can handle the heat. The outlet from this valve will be piped to the lower 7/8 of the 210L drum to introduce cool water to the engine side first. Should water supply fail during running, and hot water be in process of supply to the household, the 210L reservoir cannot be drained to empty, the actual outlet to household will be around the height of the inlet to the exhaust heatex, which is of no concern it it runs dry, as opposed to the cylinder/head coolant, which is a must!! - (Viewed from top to bottom, in order of fittings into the 210L drum - Top-Cold water supply from ball float controlled valve, next and a little below it, will be return from the exhaust heatex, next will be the supply to the exhaust heatex, just above middle of drum, almost on the same height will be the hot water outlet to the household, next will be the return from the cylinder head just below the middle of the drum, next the supply to the cylinder inlet which will be just above the bottom of the drum... Lastly there will be a "drain tap" which will be screwed into the smaller of the drum holes...Did I mention the drum was inverted and a largish hole was cut in the old bottom/now top of the drum to do all of this??)

Keep on heating!!

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on December 19, 2016, 03:46:29 PM
Hi Ed
+1, either for 'wheel reinvention', concept upcycling or plagiarism!

Back in my miss spent youth I learned to make something very similar whilst in the 'forces.

A 40 gallon (210l) drum was laid horizontally over a source of heat (open fire, kerosine burner, ect,) and sandbagged in to make an semi permanent arrangement.

the outlet was a short length of pipe screwed into one or other of the fittings and set at twelve o' clock, the other was sealed off.

The inlet was a hole punched into the 'side' of the drum, at the top, with a funnel in it.

Once it was filled with water and had started to boil the only way to get hot water out was to pour some cold water into the top, thus it would never boil dry. 

Known as a Lazyman Boiler!

Cheers
Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 20, 2016, 07:59:25 AM
Hey DS/Glort....

Nothing wrong with reinvention....or stealing with the eyes for that matter...or ears...

We used a similar style camp heater concept way back when my grandfather was still alive, he loved camping, particularly out at a place called "Van Stadens'"... Back then, there was a river mouth, a beach, and a little store that opened up about once every two to three days to sell the odd loaf of bread and a few sweets... The "shop" was little more than a tiny room with a drop down to open service hatch.... Nothing else, no power/water neighbors or civilization....just the sea, river, bush and wonderful memories... This was way before portable generators, all of the night lighting was done by gas, tea/coffee/cooking was made on an open fire or if the rain was pelting, on a single plate "Cadac" gas bottle stove.... Paradise!!!

Any idea if anybody on the forum has tried heat scavenging to a similar degree as what I am gonna attempt? (Direct use of the coolant water for household and a combined exhaust heatex to boot?)

Incidentally.... shows how the mind can wander and fixate on something gone missing/lost... For the last few days I have been calling all the mates to try and find a clean, non-oil contaminated drum to make the "cooling tower" (I know I had some, just couldn't remember if I gave them away or used them all up..)... Well, after all the calls and coming up empty, I took a look see in one of my basement store rooms, lo and behold.... there were all my clean drums that I couldn't find.... They were put into storage a few months ago, under my instruction, by one of my employees... I think its time to go do a "stock take" of all the store rooms to find all the "missing" stuff.... That's the great thing about getting a little older... You keep meeting new people(even the ones from a week back) and you keep finding new, handy things (that you put away last week)....Every day is like Xmas!!

Keep on finding!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on December 21, 2016, 02:25:52 AM
My setup uses cooling water directly the hydronic loop in the house and basement floors, about 3000 sq ft of concrete slab. The system is tank cooled when no heat is needed. The tank water also is used to temper the water going to the hydronic loop. To change modes one just needs to flip a switch for the hydronic loop pump.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 21, 2016, 09:17:55 AM
Hey Tom/Glort...

Tom: thanks for the reminder regarding the system you use, I remember vaguely reading it somewhere, probably on the microcogen forum, just wasn't sure if it was successful or not!

Glort: Regarding packing and moving - I have stated categorically and without any form of misunderstanding being possible - The property I live on/in now is the last place I am going to be in!! I point blank refuse to move, way too much junk to pack - If I become disabled (or lose more of my marbles than I have already), I will sell the placed "as is" .... all contents and cr@p go with the deal on the land.... I will quietly disappear and take an extended holiday into the next life.... After one hell of a party of course!! (Damn!! its gonna be a good one too!!)

I haven't been looking at solar panels, used ones that is, in this area... A few mates have installed solar power in their houses and swear by it, but it is early days still, they haven't been running the systems for more than about 5 or so years by now. There are a few lads that have been running the systems longer, quite a bit longer, but I don't trust their numbers from an upkeep or saving point of view... While they are undoubtedly saving, I don't know what they are spending....

I would love it if you could send me a sketch of your burner setups(with rough measurements), I am looking at cracking a bit of waste oil still and want to use the oil to heat itself - try and keep it simple, but small scale - I have a couple of old 30kg CO2 bottles that I might just carve up to make a mini condensing tower/cracking base - they are strong, steel, weldable and in fair condition - I figure that if I can install a couple of non-return valves to the feed stock side and an ali rupture disk up top, I should be able to keep the whole thing pretty much safer than a household pressure cooker too.... Would love a dosing pump, my box of lab pumps and spares has gone walkies.... Or did I pack it away in a safe spot???

I have looked at finned/small tube heatex units - they work well but are a bastard to keep clean - particularly with the gunk I run TM1 on - so didn't even make a trial run when I saw the particulate buildup that I was going to have to put up with... I have settled on a linear exchanger, with 2" ID and a 3 or 4" Od jacket - simple, easy to keep clean and reasonable return on heat with little or no maintenance, For TM1 his exhaust heatex is a little over 3m I reckon, for TM2 his is around 2.2m or so... They are definitely not very efficient, but with the pulsing of the exhaust, very little buildup of carbon so far...(relatively speaking of course)... Keeping the heatex down to a single inner and fair velocity of gas is counter to the efficiency, but it provides what I need and is easy to make and maintain...  Tight bends and T-Pieces are a no-no, keep them down to a minimum and all bends slow and all is good...

Yesterday arvie I had a chance to make up the drum stand and secure it to the base... Even started TM2 to check for harmonic resonance in the frame - With the little bit of extra angle iron added in the stand, there is no resonance low frequency that I can detect now - everything is rock solid - Looks like he is bolted down to terra firma - not even the slightest wiggle on anything I can see or feel, just the thump through the ground and a minor vibration on each combustion event... Awesome!!

The cooling tower has presented a bit of a problem now though - because of the close proximity to the genhead stand, the 3Ph is impossible to install or remove without undoing the engine first... Bugger!! But that is not the end of the world, it is an added "nice to have" to play around with.... When I finalise his framework and finish the testing, I might just re-site the cooling stand to give me a bit more space. Currently its only there for "convenience"...

Enough rambling... Time to go work out and cut cooling pipes!!

Keep it spinning!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 22, 2016, 09:25:55 AM
Hey Glort,

Thanks for the info, you are a goldmine!!

I am pretty sure I will have the basics of a cracking plant/still up and running in the next little while, just got to finalise the governor on TM2, sort out a base gasket leak, and apply paint and he is done...

I did the prelim test runs yesterday evening after I got the cooling tower drum welded up and all the fittings in... As usual, I took the lazy route and decided to stick weld the fittings into the drum... big mistake!! Welding a thin wall container in 45C heat is not pleasant and a PITA - there is just not enough cooling to stop the weld burning through... Unfortunately I only had 2.6mm rods, so I have a bunch of welds that look like crap, but they are sealing at the very least... I should have just hooked out the TiG and done the job neatly, once and for all... There are 8 bleeding pipes into the tower - Drain, to engine, from engine, to exhaust, from exhaust, hot outlet, cold inlet and overflow.... Sheesh, it looks like a porcupine!!

While running the tests, using a test load of around 1.5Kw and around 550RPM for about 1/2hr, the rack was hardly open, 2-3mm at best. I found that the most heat was being scavenged from the water jacket  with about 1/2 as much from the exhaust. No pipes are insulated yet, and the return from the heatex passes quite close to the alt air cooling output, I reckon about 20% of the exhaust heat recovered was wasted by the draughting over the pipe... Way more than I anticipated, I will re-route things a bit when I get a chance. Also quite interesting, the end silencer on the exhaust was just a little too hot to touch, I expected way more heat to be lost there as the pipes are relatively short...

Today I plan to sort out the base gasket(after tossing out 200L of water) .... I have no valves in the cooling system for safety's sake,,,Sounds strange, doesnt it? I would rather toss water at time of fault than leave a valve or two closed and end up with an overheat/steam buildup and rupture... Comes from boiler days I reckon... Steam still scares me if there is no safety valve(that I know is working) out the top of the gubbins....

As to the hydronics of the system, it seems to be working as planned - the engine is cycling the bottom half of the drum quite well, with the exhaust cycling the top half superbly as well... Once everything is up to temp and loads increase, ebullient cooling should develop to stabilise the system at boiling point... The hot water takeoff point is mid level on the drum, so the only side that should be able to run dry will be the heatex on the exhaust, and that is of no consequence, it can run dry for short periods without any ill effect to the piping or rubber couplings.

Stability of the overall system has increased yet again, with the addition of 200kg of water on the tower... It aint going nowhere!!...And, surprisingly, there are only a few ripples in the surface of the water of the tower when running, no splashing whatsoever!!... Damn, this thing runs smooth!!.... C'mon guys!! Do the wheel balancing tricks and forget the ton-o-crete... You wont be sorry!!

Now, another question to you guys in Lister-Land.... Using a 220L drum to cool... Do you guys paint the inside of the drum to prevent corrosion, if so, what do you use, 2k, enamel....?

Keep it spinning!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on December 22, 2016, 05:55:56 PM
Fail safe systems are good. The way mine is setup if the hot water pump fails it will still thermo siphon and need to boil off 35 gal of water before over heating. There is a valve in the lower hose to limit "gulping" and provide a steady flow of hot water out.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 23, 2016, 08:56:09 AM
Hey Guys,

Glort: While I was running minimum load, around 1-2kw, very little heat was evident being extracted from the exhaust... As I upped the load to around 3Kw, the exhaust temp became a bit more lively and started to balance out - I dont think I had quite enough load on the beast to get a decent "exhaust flame" going... Most of the cooling was done by the head...When I stepped it up a notch or 3, things were more promising, I am surprised at the muffler temp, it got to a little over 60 to 70C at a guess, way lower than expected as the exhaust heatex's are short and not very efficient....

Agreed re the surface area of the tube vs diameter, but I disagree on your line of thought a bit - the smaller the tube, the larger the surface area IN RELATION to the volume of liquid it is carrying, ie there is a greater area of liquid exposed to the tube wall for a given volume of coolant in the system - Hence boilers tend to use plenty of small "fire tubes" to increase the effectiveness of the heat transfer... As to the speed of medium moving through a heatex, there I will argue with the best of the lads...

I have also done the plastic barrel fittings, your way as you mentioned, but I found a better way too - Instead of boring a hole, warm the area up carefully with a heat gun or blow torch, then push a tapered spike through the wall. On the inside (if you can reach it), in the coned area that is extruded, place a cutoff of pipe about an inch long that has an ID a little less than the thickness of the barrel wall x 1.2+the core diameter of the threaded insert you want to install (Takes a bit of playing to get the band ID right)... Keep warming the hole and push the tapered spike in deeper and deeper until the ID is about right to screw in the fitting while it is warm... As the whole lot cools down, the pipe on the inside of the drum  shrinks a bit over the plastic that has been extruded into it and it makes a very firm fitting indeed...No glue required...EVER!!

How about this one: Ever needed to join, let's say gutter pipe at 100mm dia to a waste pipe of say 35mm diameter, at an irregular angle and not on center line with one another? Normally a bit of a nightmare, but easy to do.... Use a 2L cooldrink bottle, you know, those cheapie blow molded screw top ones... Cut about a 1/4 off the top and about 1/8 off the bottom - this gives you a "tube" to work with of about 130-150 dia... Slip it over the pipe joint and warm it up with a heat gun - A blow torch is too hot - It will shrink down, increasing in thickness as it does, and conform and seal to the pipes in situ... I have a few temp jobs still in place after a few years by doing this... And about 300 other uses for a dead coke bottle too!

I am a bit hesitant to use the plastic drums for boiling water storage, from a safety pov - the top of the drum is above head height and I am not keen on catching a face, or arse full of 80C water if something gives way.... Particularly as TM2 will be mounted alongside a "thoroughfare"

Surprisingly, up country, frost and freezing can be a problem, particularly in the mountains... I run on about 80 to 90% glycol in the Ford Ranger, not for freezing, but to keep hoses and seals in good shape and to keep corrosion down too... It pushes up the temp about 5 or 6 degrees, but this is not a bad thing, as boiling point is way higher... I usually have to replace radiator cores and similar when the rot through - from the outside!!

Tom - Agreed re the fail safe system - Best way indeed!!

Unfortunately a soluble oil in this one of mine wont work - I am running common coolant/hot water supply - or intending to - so it will be interesting to see how it fares....

I ran TM2 up on full test yesterday arvie - he performed better in one aspect than I forecast, and worse in another... I was intending him to run at 5XX RPM, pulley ratios were set up and done. I ran the household off of him at the lower revs, everything ran fine, he even shunted out something in the region of 20A, ie 4.6kw before he started "rolling coal"... Just these f!@#$%^ APC Ups's I have, they didnt like the bit of ripple that was evident, even with the dual flywheel set setup... Fuggit!!! .... I eventually went 10% up on speed, bigger pulley on the alt and ran around 600RPM at engine, and they calmed down and decided to accept TM2 as a friend... I even decreased the comp ratio a bit(added about .8mm of base gaskets) to see if I could affect the smoothness a tad...no luck. I still have to do TM2's timing setup, he is a bit "advanced" for the lower rpm - power is good, knock isnt bad, but I have a gut feel it is not at optimum...

So far the "gerbil oil feed system" is working well, levels are not increasing or decreasing in the sump and the feed valve is open...

Thermo-syphoning is, or seems to be, more than adequate with the system running under 1/4 to 1/2load for about 1.5hrs and pretty much full load for about an hour yesterday, the bottom of the 44gal drum wasn't hot yet, the top of the drum was giving off some light steam and hot to the touch, but not boiling....

I have figured a way to install and remove the 3PH motor without removing the engine...It will require a bit of surgery on the cooling tower base - I should be able to make a few of the cross braces bolt-on and slide the bugger in from the side or the end... Not fun, as it weighs about 100kg and there is little chance of slinging it until it is almost in position....

Enough rambling...

Here's a little vid of him running and pushing out about 3.5kw - Listen to the noise of the alt head front bearing.... http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods/VID-20161222-WA0010.mp4 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods/VID-20161222-WA0010.mp4) (Excuse the crappy quality!!) Note: there is no bolting down to the concrete at all... In fact, as a trial, he is running with his "engine side feet" on 2 little 2" square rubber pads made from an old motorbike tyre tread!!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on December 23, 2016, 05:39:37 PM
Hey guys....

Here's a little vid for you.... the best "Drinks holder" in the world I reckon.... It all started out when I sent a small vid to a mate, he didn't believe me, said I was BS'ing him about how smooth this thing runs.... Well, see for yourself, with today's camera technology, its quite easy to make smooth videos, but the vids can't get rid of certain things, like ripples in a glass of water... Here is TM2 pulling about 2/3 of his designed load, running the household, office and paintball range fridges simultaneously... just over 10A at 230V, so I am quite happy indeed... and... NOT bolted to a ton-o-crete!!!!

Comments welcome!

Vid here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods/VID-20161223-WA0006.mp4 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 General Assy and Mods/VID-20161223-WA0006.mp4) (Excuse the crappy quality!!)

If I don't get a chance to post again before Xmas... have a good one, and keep it spinning... Safely!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 10, 2017, 06:23:38 AM
Hey Guys,

Here is a bit of an update for you.... First off, I hope you have had a restful festive season, and everybody is safe and sound!!

TM1 is still running, albeit starting with difficulty, compression is way down due to a seize when the oil pump failed... Haven't gotten around to sorting the replacement rings et al out yet.... Tomorrow's another day!!

TM2 is running well, I have relegated him to an "emergency" type unit - He "donkey starts" TM1 when I need to. He has his final belt ratios set up and his governor done accordingly - Running at 650 or so RPM (I haven't tac'd him yet) he is pushing out about 240V 50Hz and maxes out at 20A, something I am more than happy with as I was only aiming at 15A full load. I haven't hooked up the hot water feed to the household, the reservoir is simply "there" for the cooling (A heatex has been installed on the exhaust though, coupled to the same reservoir.) An induction generator has also not been installed yet, nor output meters either for that matter... Also got a chance to play with his governor to get him smooth - I was short of springs, so I had to make do with what I had - Bear in mind, TM1 and TM2 were originally 1000rpm units - What I found was this: With a long soft spring, he overshot on startup RPM's until he settled out. Put on load, he hunted quite badly - Around + or - 80rpm up and down, so a "bandwidth" of 160rpm, averaging around 650rpm mean. I cut the spring shorter, a few coils at a time, and the hunting got less and less. He now runs around 50,9Hz unloaded down to 49.5 or so Hz fully loaded. To remove slop, I added a small "closing spring" on the far side of the IP rack. To minimize over-injection, I incorporated a small opening stop in the same mechanism. His full rack travel is around 6 to 8mm in total now... The IP pump element is 10mm bore!! (If anybody wants a few close up pics of the mods to the IP pump and governor spring mods, just shout and I will post them. I have a couple of blurry, crappy ones out there already, but dont feel shy to ask if you want a better look!

I did manage to find a couple of quite nice looking "generator" meters which I have ordered ex fleabay - Voltage/A/Frequency/power/total runtime/session runtime type measuring units - No KwH capability though, not needed as I am going to measure that at point of entry to the house... Currently, the KwH meter is sitting at the genshed, requiring a walk outside to take daily readings - I have ordered a new, modern, digital Kwh meter to install at the DB board.. (Woohoo, does that mean I am leaving the stone age?)... Also a fleabay unit, pretty cheap, looks like they could be handy to others too (I have no idea as to quality or robustness, maybe they are rubbish, I don't know!!

 Here is a link to the unit for the generator:http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-165-275V-220V-Digital-Generator-Volt-Amp-Watt-Hour-Power-Frequency-Meter-New-/121938071929?hash=item1c64135179:g:Od0AAOSwAvJW-M-O (http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-165-275V-220V-Digital-Generator-Volt-Amp-Watt-Hour-Power-Frequency-Meter-New-/121938071929?hash=item1c64135179:g:Od0AAOSwAvJW-M-O)
 
And a link to the one I will be using at the DB Board:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100A-AC-LCD-Panel-Digital-Power-Watt-Meter-Monitor-Voltage-KWh-Voltmeter-Ammeter-/271952136069?hash=item3f519c4785:g:6~YAAOSwLVZVxiLV (http://www.ebay.com/itm/100A-AC-LCD-Panel-Digital-Power-Watt-Meter-Monitor-Voltage-KWh-Voltmeter-Ammeter-/271952136069?hash=item3f519c4785:g:6~YAAOSwLVZVxiLV) ....

Over the last few days I have been playing with a Babbington burner I made up. (I can hear Glort pricking up his ears and his eyebrows raising!!) I have coupled this to a 4" flue about 300mm long - The burner feeds into the side at an angle, causing a spiral flame upwards in the pipe. Here are a couple of clips of the burner running while I was testing it. http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Babbington Burner (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Babbington Burner)

The burner needs from 20PSI up to around 100PSI for full bore operation. (Also depends on the thickness of the crap you burn in it, but it seems very tolerant of everything from kerosene/turpentine through to unfiltered sumpgunk oil.) With this I have made a drop in oil distilling tank of around 3" dia and about the same length, to distill and crack some waste oil. SCARY!! The burner is capable of heating the lower third of the oil tank to a cherry red in around 5 to 10 minutes - I introduce waste oil at a rate of around 30ml every 5 seconds or so, and wait for the discharge line to stop flowing before I introduce the next squirt - After about two hours of playing around and checking in/out lines for flow and blockages and buildup(none found), I took the top off the tank and checked for residue - Barring about 1/2cc of ash and solid, there was very little indeed!! It looks like there is almost total breakdown of the crappy liquid into gas for condensing - probably some of the carbonaceous solids are also being broken down/smelted/gassed off simultaneously... The condensate is an evil smelling coffee colored liquid, about the same viscosity, maybe a little thicker than diesel (It went in as water contaminated pitch black 40 to 50W sump gunk).... As to the ratio of fuel into burner vs product through vs product fuel recovered, I have no idea!!

The next step in the system is to make a safety blow off on the tank so that, should a ignition or steam flash occur, it is not directed to the feed stock or the finished product catchment areas. The next minor headache thereafter, two in fact, is to try and make up a small dosing pump and a decent condensing unit. The current condensing unit is simply a copper pipe, 1/2" dia, put through the rollers to flatten it and give it a helical spiral. Ideally, I would like to make a proper heat exchanger to take care of the condensing side. Unfortunately, soft soldered radiators wont work - the temps are in excess of 300C at exit of the boiler/entrance to the exchanger. I am toying with the idea of another water jacketed pipe, straight, about 6ft in length. (Makes for easy cleaning and the heated water can circulated to another useful application if I need to.) As to the dosing pump, I might go drip gravity feed even, with a slight outlet restrictor on the tank - Once pressure in the boiler drops, more feedstock is introduced... Lets see what a bit of playing around will develop....

Enough rambling....

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed

Update: With LEF offline for a few days this side, I stuck all the bits in a .txt file and pasted it in... The safety dump has now been added to the mini bomb (cracking boiler) and works well.... Too well in fact!! (There are some interesting splashes of black dotted around the work area, roof included... Face shields and Leathers are the order of the day for testing this animal!!) I have played around with the gravity/outlet restriction scenario on the "cracker" and found it to be too difficult to streamline and get working reliably. Couple that with wet oil being introduced and things get "interesting" and quickly at that!! I suspect that I will be using the mini cracker for "lab type batches" under manual control. For larger scale working, I will have to employ a much larger cracking reservoir/vessel to allow for the small quantities of water that get fed in with the feedstock. In perspective, the total volume of the cracking vessel is around 1 to 1.5 L at a rough guestimate. If one cc of water enters with a small dose of oil, it will approximately double plus the internal pressure of the vessel as it flashes to to steam (and that's not even taking into account the oil vapour present at time of flash) - Water to steam is an expansion ratio of around 1700x if I remember correctly... But... If I use a larger vessel of around 40 to 50L capacity and feed in a similar quantity, the flash pressure is only around, well, just a wee bit higher than operating pressure... But, and a big but, we now have a sizable bomb should it decide to go incandescent.... Not really a risk I would be happy to take.... There is one other option still available to me, and that is placing the cracking chamber in a state of vacuum whilst playing with it.... Anybody done this before? (Previous stills and separators I have had experience with were all positive pressure units. I have done some very small "assisted  evaporation" type work with vacuum chambers, but nothing in this line as yet.).... Hmmmm.... so many lovely dangerous toys to play with!!

Update part II: Just spent the last 3 hours or so running the mini-bomb and looking at burner fuel in/feedstock in/cracked oil out.....and time consumed.... Unless this process is automated, with a dosing pump of sorts, using a larger burner, a larger cracking tank, with plenty of high temperature insulation, no screw in BSP type pipe fittings, all joints welded and fully high temperature/leak tight, and, above all, there is an immediate use for the waste heat from the exhaust of the process, the viability on a micro scale is, for me, not within the boundaries I have set. Granted, a fair amount of product was lost to atmosphere due to minimal condenser coil efficiency on the test, but even had I recovered 90% instead of the 25% obtained, the time required to break down the oil was too long. I could have sped the process up a fair degree by increasing the temperature of the boiler, either by insulation or pushing the burner harder, but, when I did push the temp up, I found a fair bit of ?brownish carbon? was being carried to the output. This settled immediately on the bottom of the catch container and would be easy to remove. When I slowed the process down a bit, less impurities were carried through to the output, the oil that was condensed was almost identical to pump diesel in both viscosity and color, but there seems to be slightly more lubricity with the product as opposed to diesel, how much I cannot tell you, going only by feel - It feels like a thickish penetrating oil, where diesel feels far "dryer".

Was the exercise a worthwhile trial - Yep, plenty learned and lotsa fun had!! (Even when I scrap the container and salvage fittings, the burner will be carried forward to the next bit of fun.... Ali and bronze casting!!)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 11, 2017, 09:20:21 AM
Hey Glort,

Mental telepathy....Lol....Good thing we are not neighbors, the rest of the suburb/town would be up in arms with us by now.... Yesterday and day before, I did a 36hr stint - Started 08h00, worked through the day, went to bed at 22h00, got up at 23h00 because I couldn't sleep, carried on till last night 23h00 and finally got more than a couple of hours nap time in!!

I have been tempted to go the solar route for a few things, but don't like the color of the storage devices, you have to wrap them in too many greenbacks to make them worthwhile - I might just go out and design a sand/unobtanium battery that I can make in my back yard to do the work...

Those PWM controllers are handy, I have used a few over the years, built some in the early days too, along with SCR drives for lighting as well... Having played quite a bit with silicon in the past, I still prefer nuts and bolts though, dunno why?

Incidentally, with some SSR's as well as most SCR's, you can use them to switch DC current - just reverse the trigger voltage and they stop conducting - Both solid state relays and silicon controlled rectifiers require an AC supply to cross zero V to allow turn off - If you reverse the control voltage it has a similar effect - Way back, on my Ford Granada, I installed a bank of spotlights that popped the control relay on a regular basis (Something Like 5 or 600W of DC @ 13.8V) - used a cap and a SSR eventually - push button/SSR locks on because of DC supply voltage/charge cap from supply voltage/push another button and cap disconnects from supply and reverses polarity onto control wire/lights go off .... Worked a treat... Everybody thought I was nutso maxxo at the time, but it lasted until I eventually gave the car away!!

The burner works well - I have made it "detachable" from the flue so I can screw it into whatever I need to run - Rather make one sexy fully adjustable, gold plated knobs et al, then swop it between experiments - Once the needs of the experiment are met and it is successful, make a smaller integral burner for each task. I have managed to go from about 500ml per hr to around 4L per hour on this burner - so that's around what about 5Kw to 40Kw so far?  The compressor is a bit of a pain, but as a test I hooked it up to a bottle of Oxy - Now that's spectacular - I damn near had to start shoveling coal into it to prevent it eating the burner tube! It is not heavy on air either - the air orifice is .4mm dia - the compressor comes on about every 15min or so - I found running at around 40PSI and adjusting the air flow at burner was about the best method.

For cracking, I need a bigger chamber, definitely. The small chamber I was using was actually a bit large for the burner flue cavity I had, It restricted flow quite a bit. I need to make a chamber about 6" dia and at least 60" high - when you get steam flashing, it lifts and mists the layer of oil in the chamber and you get a bit of this contaminating your output and condenser - I was very impressed with the one run I did, keeping things nice and hot, not pushing for volume. The output was a very pale yellow and a burn test on it showed fairly easy ignition when hot, difficult ignition when cold, visco around the 8 to 10W - Perfect food for the TM's!

As to output quantity, as much as possible in the shortest time with the least operator intervention as possible!! (I reckon this is defs gonna be a case of "go big or go home"!)

I bubbled some output through water - it condenses very well - then, because I was not limited to the condenser, I pushed up throughput - Result - Steam flash, dirty oil in the catch! (I think the container is still lying in the adjacent field, nicely coated with blue words....)

The burner side of a system like this seems quite a doddle - at worst you either have excess heat or too little heat - Too little is a bit of a problem, but with some archaic methods it is quite easy to see if your chamber is filling up with product or not, so the system can be shut down for draining. For the product pump, I would probably go with a positive displacement pump, gear, run on a pulse timer probably, or even a pneumatic cylinder type pump with a solenoid valve control maybe...something similar to the dirty oil pump I use for filtering....

I looked at the dosing pump - It would be fine for the small chamber - I am very tempted to get one - could make things easy indeed!! (Along with the timer board of course!!)

For my next trick, am keen on building up a fuge - still trying to find a torque converter or similar that fits the "missing" pressure cooker from the kitchen that somehow miraculously appeared under my workbench in the workshop....

Enough rambling - I gotta do some work to pay for my addictions!!

Keep it spinning!

Cheers
Ed

PS - Eventually pulled finger and dusted off my Fluke meter, pulled the cover off my plasma cutter, found faulty rectifier (Common cathode 200V 30A 3pin package) and ordered a replacement! Simple fault, easy repair, there is good luck still to be found!!...  (Still doesn't mean I like playing with melted sand though!!)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 11, 2017, 02:46:45 PM
Hey Guys....

Some handy little things:

Image one:

(http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Coke Bottle Adaptor/IMG-20170111-WA0011.jpg)

Image two:

(http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Coke Bottle Adaptor/IMG-20170111-WA0013.jpg)

Made them today after I got the shitz with trying to fit a cooldrink bottle as a temp tank/funnel to one of the thingummies I am playing with.... If anybody needs one and has a lathe, the thread is around 25diax2.5m pitch, 60 degrees....

Cheerz
Ed

PS: if you cant see the inline images, check here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Coke Bottle Adaptor (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Coke Bottle Adaptor)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on January 11, 2017, 06:22:23 PM
Hi Ed

I can't see the images, is it because I'm using a Chromebook, or am I still crap at this Etech stuff?

Anyway, here, hopefully are a couple of pics of the dipstick I promised Butch I'd make. I knocked it up with a cordless drill, bench grinder, some emery cloth and a set of taps from Lidl (like Walmart, only cheaper!) out of a bolt from a French 'sleigh' bed, around 100 years old.


https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOGuvbx6-LPju_JN5E4WexTxWMIj9cihPI1l6CT

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNlp1IMG_LzAPvdSKKYpXiSNquUG-4jY_C70x2m


Cheers

Stef


Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 12, 2017, 08:59:21 AM
Hey Stef,

I managed to look at the pics from my cel off my internal network using the link to the url... the inlines don't show though????

Also, couldn't see your pics you posted either...

Cheers
E
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 12, 2017, 01:51:43 PM
Hey Guys....

This is way off topic, totally unrelated, but I had to share it!!

Basil, the chap in the article, is a good mate of mine... He lives about 2Km from me, similar interests et al... This happened today or yesterday while he was visiting his youngster in PE, a city 330km from here, down the coast, also incidentally the city I grew up in!!

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/man-wrestles-robber-who-grabbed-his-wife-20170112 (http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/man-wrestles-robber-who-grabbed-his-wife-20170112)

You go BAZ!!

Hero worship big time!!

Keep it safe

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on January 12, 2017, 08:03:12 PM
Hi Ed

Found yours, Nice, but what are they for?

Thingummies is nice but vague!

I made my hollow dipper from an old bolt with a cordless drill, hack saw and a file

I'd love a lathe, best I can do is the drill press and a 1mm slitting disc in the angle grinder.

If there's anyone south of Limoges with one too many.........

I'll try something else......

(http://i65.tinypic.com/2je1zz8.jpg)

Cheers Stef

PS. Basil looks like the way ahead!

S
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 13, 2017, 12:01:13 AM
Hey Stef,

I am always trying to use old 2l bottles for disposable reservoirs for fuel or chem... These adaptors found temp usage as a fuel and oil supply on the mini cracker and have already been stripped off it, cleaned and washed, and their attached tanks disposed of. .....

They are back in the drum of fittings, ready to be used on the next liquid experiment....

As an aside, I ended up restoring a set of antique operating theatre spotlights this afternoon, stand and all.... They have now been placed in my lounge and connected up as a very 'steam punk' reading light behind my favourite sofa where I occasionally sit and read in the evening...

Pics here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Theatre Lights/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Theatre Lights/) ... Excuse the mess, the pics were taken in my one workshop just before I moved them into the house... Although, being a bachelor, sometimes the projects do tend to end up in the main house during restoration... The end result is that the workshops end up neater than the lounge!

Keep it lit!

Cheers
Ed

PS ... That last pic came thru 100's... Nice mod!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 16, 2017, 08:53:46 AM
Hey Guys...

Another mini-update....

Stripped down TM2 yesterday and got ready to move him to his final home, about 5m linear and about 300000m over bulldozer, around the blade and up against the wall... While I was at it, I gave him a good clean off and a coat of QD enamel on his chassis and dangly bits... Ever seen a chassis in white?

The move went smoothly, albeit tedious, after about 10hrs of sweating it out alone I got him stripped, painted, moved and assembled... I was so knackered at the end of this, I didn't even empty the paint out of the gun when I was finished or close the tin of paint properly.... Bugger.... I am off to do that now!!

Pics here: www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 Final Chassis Paint and Setup (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM2 Final Chassis Paint and Setup)

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 18, 2017, 09:23:42 AM
Hey Guys...

Another "Rant and Rave"!!

Its taken me two days to fit a pulley on a 3-phase motor, install a mains lead, pop on a belt and tension it!! That must be a world record!! Surely!!

With telephone calls, staff needing guidance, small jobs coming in and various other distractions, it never fails to amaze me how time can get away from reality!!

But, at least, it was small steps forward with only minor stumbles backward during the time in question...

Right, so the 3 phase 7.5kw electric motor is installed and belted up. Running it open circuit, on diesel power, shows little increased drag on the motor. I took the time, before dropping it into the chassis, to zip start it and spin it up to check mechanical condition and unloaded current draw. The unloaded current it pulled was in the region of round .9A at 230V, giving about 1/4Kw (Not taking into consideration the power factor of course). Interestingly, with dry bearings, it pulled about .7A and after a pump or two of grease, the current came up to about .9A...

Of course, with everything belted up, tensioned and installed, I couldn't resist bringing it online for a brief Net-Metering test...

It looks as if my initial guesstimate of around 7-10% increase in rpm over the 1500 "no drag speed" is pretty much spot on. (Pulleys look perfect for the job!!) To test the whole gubbins, I disconnected the genhead output and started TM2. I then held his revs well below the 50hz mark and switched in the induction motor into the mains feed to the building. This resulted in about a 5A draw from utility power as I measured it on the clamp meter. I slowly increased revs on TM2 and the current draw dropped accordingly. At about 90% of running rev, the clamp meter showed pretty much buggerall in the line of current flowing to or from the induction motor/utility power... As I allowed TM2 to come up to full operating speed slowly, the clamp meter showed a gradual increase in current flow up to around 10A. Slowing TM2 down, the current fell away to 0 and then increased again as the revs dropped away even further. up to a maximum of around 5A. Speeding TM2 up again, it followed the same pattern.... Next task is to get a cheapie twirly-whirly meter and install it on the induction side of things to see how it pans out!! (The clamp meter gives no indication of current direction, only current flow.) Presently the induction motor is in wye configuration, I am tempted to change it to delta to see the increase/decrease/whatever effect - My target of 10A/2.5Kw is met by the present configuration though, so maybe I should just let it stay as is!! (Also on plan is to hook my scope up to the mains lines and see what ripple or interference is generated by the induction motor coupling.)

Keep it smoking....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 24, 2017, 02:16:29 PM
Hey Guys,

As mentioned previously, "The devil finds work for idle hands..."

I have been mulling over a few ideas and would like to put them out there, for opinions and viewpoints from "Ye learned gents..."

TM2 has both net metering and prime mover capabilities, hot water capable, but stand alone and not connected into the house hot water supply(maybe never) - TM1 is prime mover and hot water only.... To maintain perspective, a summary: TM1 is mostly waste oil fueled and the cheaper beast to run from a fuel perspective, he is also coupled to hot water generation, which he does very well with. TM1 requires a "donkey start" from 220VAC, which is either provided by utility, TM2, or orange screamer depending on what is happening and available...

My Idea so far (Also, putting things down to type gets my grey matter more organised...) ....

Couple TM1 and 2 into an auto-changeover box, similar to what I have currently put together for swopping over from utility to TM1... The current changeover unit will reside at TM1, in his enclosure, and a "newer and better" (maybe) box installed to do the auto-swop and load monitoring with generator/utility duties.

The logical layout I would like, would be pretty much operating in the following manner:

TM1 - When he is online, he will take over the full building load from utility. He would have overload monitoring and load dumping should he go over 4.5Kw.
TM2 - When utility power is in a failed condition, he can be 12v battery started (Stamford Starter/Genhead installed) to take over and get things up and running (He is not an auto start unit.) - TM1 can then be started by the 220V and take over the load on an auto switch over, TM2 will then be unloaded and coasting. When this happens, I would like the option of TM2 being able to auto switch into net-metering mode should I elect. Should I require, due to workshop power demands (welding etc), I would like to run both TM1 and 2 simultaneously using the induction generator on TM2 to assist with the loading. (In fact, there is another little 5Kw diesel auto-start screamer that I have mentioned as the "orange screamer", that could also be brought into the big picture as well, where TM2 is concerned as a net-metering unit. The orange screamer is for those nasty 2am to 6am failures we often have... If nothing else, he makes a damn good alarm clock to get up and start TM1!!)

Damn.... the more I think about the various options, the more complex it becomes....

Effectively it boils down to 3 gen units -
TM1 - needs 220v to start and makes power and hot water, cheap to run.
TM2 - manual start on 12v, makes power at 220v, can also be coupled via induction generator.
Orange screamer - This off-pissingly noisy piece of "DEK Silent Runner 6000" is anything but... But he is auto-start with mains monitoring and he does work well for the early morning hours when power fails and he is diesel....

How would you gents hook these three units, plus utility, into a nice little birds nest to play together?

Keep on scheming...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 25, 2017, 09:04:24 AM
Hey Glort,

First answer:
First Purpose - TM1 - Waste Oil recycling and cogen - TM2 - Backup for TM1 iro power gen, hot water outlets fitted, but unused at this stage, possibly full cogen backup later - Orange screamer - well, its just there and I would rather keep it hooked up as its a nice compact unit rather than sell it....

Second:
Outages are quite often, and power bill reduction. As well as gas bill reduction for water heating. Sufficient power is available from the grid, so no bolstering really required. Net metering is not available in our area as yet.

3rd:
I have the brush kit for fitting to the hoffman genhead on TM1, to allow for 24v start, but havent fitted it yet... the 220V starter works really well, takes little over 800W to start TM1 so even the little 900Va (unmentioned previously) 2stroke gen can start it at a push... TM2 is semi permanently hooked to the DB, same for orange, so 220V is generally available even during an outage to start TM1.

4th:
TM1 is on jungle-juice(anything that burns) and TM2 is indeed on satan-fuel....

5th:
Actually....Probably...Greatest reason...Slo-Mo diesels are so much fun!! And since I have them, may as well put them to useful work!!

6th:
System integration - I love getting things to "work together" .... Each of the individual gensets is mostly capable, with a little management, to run the show quite adequately... I do like the concept of "belt and braces" to keep reliability up. Also nice to have a simple system that is non-electronic-automated due to frequent lightning problems in this area (Power lines/House/property has been struck at least 10x, probably more in the last 25years I have been here... Dropping Mains and running old style gen during thunderstorms seems to be the way to go...so far) Come to think of it, the reason I started back on the old style lister/genhead system was due to a direct hit about 2 or 3 years back...Killed the Orange screamer quite effectively...I am still waiting for a regulator to arrive to finalise his repair, now that TM1 and 2 are fully up and going...(Had and emergency petrol screamer for donkey start but sold it to a co-worker about 3 weeks back)

I am quite interested, at this stage of the game, to hear what others are doing to simplify the operation when they have a varied bunch of primes and assisters to hook up to db... I have a rough plan in mind, but I like to "steal with my eyes and ears" first to get as many options as possible.... Who knows, maybe there are guys out on the forum that have done this already!

Agreed re the re-config, but being a lazy fart, I hate doing the job twice... So much better to hack out an idea over a few evenings and  pints with the mates, grab the tools and then do it a bit later, all done, no changes needed...Smile!!

Keep it spinning,

Cheers
Ed

PS - Eeeeek.... Just opened my email and got the quote I been waiting for from my tame builder/construction laddie.... We are renovating a section of the workshop(that was a flatlet originally) and converting it back to residential ..... I guess when I sign this thing, Listers are gonna be a little lower on the spending list for a while.... Bread and water is going to be the order of the day until around June.....2199....!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on January 27, 2017, 03:39:58 PM
Bearings are proof there can be too much of a good thing. At work the temperature of the motor generator set bearings increase for a few hours after a fresh grease job. The bearings and housings have a port and catch can to handle the extra lube that is causing the increase in drag.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 02, 2017, 08:45:17 AM
Hey B&D

Agreed, but then you know what they say... "Too much of a good thing........IS BLOODY MARVELOUS!!"

Been a bit busy with the builders lately, hence the lack of posts from my side... Things are coming together on the flatlet, walls and windows broken out, moved and windows now in the process of being replaced.... I thought we had a dust problem here before...that was nothing compared to now!!

Sat smiling last night...another power outage, this one lasted only about 3 to 4 hrs in total, but the local monkey-pality have got it down to a fine art!! Currently I run TM1 about an hour or two a day on cogen duties, mostly late afternoon/early eve... They time the power drop out to just after he is shut down and we sit down to supper... Clever buggers!! I am sure they wait for me to stop sending up smoke signals...that's the time for them to hit the switch!

While he was running last night I took a starlit walk around the property, man it was dark!! We were the only place with "real" power in about a 5km radius... Here and there there were the odd little lantern flickers, but on the whole it was really dark and peaceful!!

Reminds me...I gotta go and mix some sump-gunk into his tank...he's getting a bit low...

From the previous post, it looks like there aren't many guys out there running multiple genheads connected to their single DB board...or are there?

Right, time to go stir the pot and dump some oil!!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 09, 2017, 11:30:29 AM
Hey Glort... And the rest of the brethren out there too...

Apologies for being a bit "absent" of late.... I bet that my disappearance for a while has led to people staring into the distant horizons and questioning under their breath as to "whether that silly fool has blown himself up eventually and permanently as yet".... Well, bad news guys... I am still here, carrying on with a teenagers' mind in a pretty bent and buckled body!! Nothing (besides the standard blood letting in new projects) has written me off yet!!

Hows it going with the house hunting Glort? any luck yet....started packing yet?

If you read earlier up in this thread, we have had builders on site since around the beginning of the month - we are making my one workshop a bit smaller (by about 60m sq) and converting the reclaimed area into a small self contained flatlet (with sunroom and back patio overlooking the valley). I have pretty much given up on trying to keep all the odds n sods that I had lying around in my workshop... After about the millionth box/crate/armload of carrying back and forth to clear space for the builders, I eventually had an epiphany.... A mate was visiting and he had his bakkie (read that as ute, Glort, the rest of the world can read it as pickup) parked about halfway between where I was moving all the crap from, to where I was moving all the junk to.... Needless to say, 3 bakkie loads later and a good few pints to wash the dust away, we had the bulk cleared out and the builders could go and make a further mess in peace...

Here are some pics of the current progress - these chaps are quite quick, brilliant to deal with and honest as the day is long (unlike the rest of the population in this area). This is the progress after one week of going at it, bearing in mind that about half the time they have been dodging rainstorms, so I don't think they have done too badly at all!http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Flat Renovations Feb2017/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Flat Renovations Feb2017/)

Well, you might ask, what does this have to do with Lister(oid)s .... Absolutely nothing!! Except that it allowed me to sneak some new IBR sheeting into the budget to shleld TM2 from the elements....  :angel:

Keep it spinning!!

Cheers
Ed

PS - The toilet still has to be turned 90 degrees if anybody was wondering how on earth it could be used like it is!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 10, 2017, 02:32:01 PM
Hi Glort,

I must say.... I am impressed with the property: Luscombe Road Grasmere - All one level, no stairs to fall down in the dark after a few brews LOL, and plenty of space on the sides/back for little "engine houses" - Wish my spot was like that!! - A bit of a slope to the land, but not excessive either!! Very neat and in good condition too by the looks of it...!

I have come to a conclusion - Even though its a mate of mine that's the building contractor, I have had enough..... I cant wait for them to finish and move offsite so we can do the niggly cleanup bits.... Enough dust already!!

The reno's are coming along well though - still cant get to my lathe/tig/welding area yet - its being used as a temp spot to accumulate dust and wind blown sand.... When all is undercoated, and only then, will the main cleanup begin. The last 2 windows went into the flatlet today, now its only the 2 back windows on the house to do mid coming week, by then the tiling should also be completed on the flatlet too.... Then I can start playing properly.... starting with installing the electrical and plumbing into the flat.... in the words of Droopy Dog.... Woohoo....Hold me back!

On another note, the little watt/volt/current/hour meters arrived a day or so ago... The are cute and compact, lets hope they work! I might just force myself to install one in TM2 this weekend to see if it does the trick... Should be quite quick, just a little square hole to cut in his dog-kennel on the alternator and it should be done!! I will report back if I get round to it.

Other than dust, dust, dust, sand and more dust.... Nothing much has been happening... Except that in the planning on the reno's it looks like we will have enough labor time left over to include some of the semi-final work on  the structural side of the underground shooting range we are putting in below the house... Now that's a project that is coming up soon that I am really excited about!! Cant wait to use some of my single-cylinder-disposable-piston-engines down there!! (Damn...Just realized how much I hate stairs...Now this heap I live in will be 3 floors to navigate....)

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on February 11, 2017, 05:02:35 PM
Quote
She said " Put it this way, you'd never have to water the garden or lawn here, the place is floating with that many amendments and remedial work being done and it's not completed yet."

At least it's fresh water and not a sewage leak !
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 13, 2017, 09:38:21 AM
Hey Glort,

Its taken me about 10 years to "dry out" my house - The water table here is quite high, seldom does it go below about 2m down... It appears that the bulk of the water in my area seems to be from runoff, with a small subterranean stream that horseshoes around the main house and down into the open fields. Cellars were waterlogged with frogs and fish swimming around initially (No BS - Really!!)

The bulk of the problems came from when the place stood derelict about 25 years ago, since then I have repaired all the guttering, removed the tall pine trees that were overhanging the buildings and installed rainwater catch tanks - About a dozen or so 5000L tanks all in - we now harvest the water and it keeps us going for about 9 to 10 months of the year, sometimes more... This has dried the ground up and the basements are now usable for things other than breeding fish or growing mushrooms!! Interestingly, we have a pond in the back yard that has a 2" crack down the middle due to a bit of settling of the ground over the years - It is virtually impossible to empty it as the lower foot or so is in the water table pretty much all year round, a bit of an eyesore, but labelled for a "future project"!!

I am really tempted to sink a small well in the back yard - I doubt whether I will need to go down much more than a five or six metres to get a good bit of water, but then, with all the harvesting, is there really a point?

Pity about your problems you are coming up with on the spots you are looking at, but then again, you are a fussy bugger too!! (Don't worry, this is meant in the fondest of ways, and a label that has been applied to me too every now and then - The sign over my front door says it all: FIFO - it stands for "Fit In or F Off!!)

Keep on searching!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 15, 2017, 08:28:03 AM
Hey Glort....

The weather is crappy here at the moment....Bliss.... The builders have pulled off site due to the wet weather... Dust turns to mud, mud turns to an irritated owner when he looks at his workshop and all tools are a uniform brown, not just mud but rust!

I am going to have one hell of a clean up job to do when all this is done for... Any volunteers?

It appears we are mentally tele-pathetic... I am in process of getting things together while the workshops are unusable, to install the start of a "vegetable patch". We have an area of around 15m x 10m that was used many years ago - now overgrown but can be easily weeded out and re-seeded - My intention is to put some 5m poles around the thing, string up some welded mesh we have lying around to fence it off, install some temp insulators and bridge it into our electric fence which passes close by... The poles will be strong enough to be clad with shade cloth later  and roofed with it too, to create an almost tropical environment for veggies and other worm food! (there will of course be a bit of creative irrigation done from our grey water system while we are at it...) Again, what does this have to do with Listers.... Nothing.... But I will be using an old Gravely 2 wheel tractor that I redid many years ago... It has a 10hp Kohler with a rotary plow, a sickle bar mower, rotary brush cutter and a rotivator... Handy and just the right size for the job...

TM1 and TM2 are currently dozing at the moment, I have about 60L of fuel settling and waiting for TM1 - A "special blend" of "WTF is this stuff" added to a little "this looks like old turps" with a dash of "I'm sure this was the old diesel out the bulldozer". For good measure I added some "yep this is defs petrol and 2 stroke oil for the weedwhacker I mixed up 2 years ago" and its almost ready to use... (ie As soon as I can get to the fuel container and drain some out, because there is around 1000Kg of ceramic floor tiles packed in front of it waiting for the tilers to come and consume hopefully next week...)

I cant seem to find a reliable source of cheap, disposable filter cartridges for the fuel processor and lines for TM1 - When I do find a good grade/price, I get it and ask for them to order more (the buggers seem to carry only one of everything you want in stock), only to return and find a Chinasty replacement provided when I next go... Tried the Chinasty ones and of around 10 that I have used over the previous year, only about 2 of them performed per spec - the rest either disintegrated their elements or allowed dirt through after a while... Kinda sucks when it costs an IP element... Fortunately though, its only been once... The rest failed on the filtering units or other stuff less critical which was picked up later down the line and sorted... Looks like its gonna be either expensive or cheap, good or bad respectively...

Enough rambling... Good luck with finding a spot to squat in!

Keep it spinning,

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 15, 2017, 12:03:12 PM
Hey Glort...

No worries mate!!

The oil/fuel is more of a entertainment factor than a dire necessity... I keep a hundred or so in the tanks on the 3 gens in case of power out, but the excess is burnt off in the evenings to save gas and lekky while I am at it.... Always makes me have a much better shower when I use old sump gunk to run the place... I get a decidedly self-satisfied smirk on my dial for a while after!!

I must confess... I haven't been out looking for WM oil for a while now, there has just been too much going on around here to get away... Not that I get out much, I think the last time I left the premises was about a month back!! Strange...Too much going on to even consider getting cabin fever....Lol

I would love to get hands on a decent quantity of lard or veg oil... But it seems that there is just too much demand for it this side... Incidentally, one of the places that we BUY wmo from at ZAR1 per L asked us how many pigs we have as we go through so much of the stuff.... Much to the local's disgust, as when we stop there, we take all the chaps stuff and it takes him about a month to build up stock again... The locals paint their pigs with the stuff to keep pests etc at bay, rather than the more "orthodox" methods of pest control... Come to think of it, I think you can still buy "pig oilers" from some co-ops.... Interesting devices from a time largely past....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hog_oiler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hog_oiler)

Again, enough rambling...

Cheers
E
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 15, 2017, 03:49:15 PM
Hey Guys,

Bit of a report back - I sneaked up on TM2 and fitted the little generator volt/amp/watt/frequency/hour meter I got off Fleabay earlier this month... Works well so far, seems foolproof enough and pretty much agrees with the clamp on tester regarding all the things it can measure... Happiness!

Time will tell as to how long it lasts... Lets hope it outlasts the engine!!

Fitting was simple, with only the need for around a 2"x1" hole being made in the kennel on the genhead... It took longer to find a piece of sufficiently long/thick red wire to extend the gen output to loop it through the current pickup coil of the meter.... (Here's a thought...Loop the wire through the pickup coil a few turns and you can upgrade the power of your genhead by a corresponding multiplier... Much easier than trying to upgrade engines and alternators... And improves your fuel to electricity conversion ratio amazingly!! Just think...10 turns through the pickup coil gives you 10x the current measurement, efficiency of the generator must be at least 10x better.... I think I have a major breakthrough here.... Time to go throw some water in the fuel tank, I feel so lucky today, I am sure I can run this thing without fuel oil too.....  :laugh: )

Keep on BS'ing...

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 17, 2017, 07:52:12 AM
Hey Guys....

Just got back into my little office after re-routing emergency power.... Not a power failure in the normal sense of the word, the contractors had to disconnect the power to 1/2 the property to install some plug-points in the section they are renovating.... Unfortunately, the office section also draws power from that section of db board too... Bugger!!

But, as I was ambling around and hooking up some temp wiring and leads, I got to thinking.... Always a dangerous thing, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained!!

Here is what I was musing about - The little power meter I installed in TM2's doghouse has ostensibly two inputs - One is a voltage input, which it uses to power the meter itself while monitoring voltage and frequency etc at the same time. The other is a current transformer input, which it uses to monitor the current draw.... Now, here is a bit of a question regarding the BS'ing I did in the closing bits of my last post....

What if I run two power lines through the current transformer coil? (Not from the same source, but 1 from the genhead and one from the 3 phase net metering head.) Of course, there would have to be a bit of "polarity" playing, to ensure that the two sources are in phase and not 180 deg out. I wonder if this would give me a summative value of current supplied or whether they would argue with each other and give a nonsensical reading? There are three conditions available when TM2 is running - As a prime, where it is the only power source - As a net metering unit, where it is supplying power to and existing grid - As a combination, where it is in island mode and supplying its own grid, but using the 3 Phase gen as an assisting unit.... It would make life so much easier if all power could be read on a single meter, rather than installing two.... Just a thought!!

What do you guys think?

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 18, 2017, 09:09:41 AM
Hey Glort...

Glad u got the meter and its working for you... I am interested in the DC version as well.. I wonder how it measures the current from a non oscillating field? (That's if it uses a pickup coil that is...) Possibly, by oscillating the coil with a set/variable frequency, the loop picks up an inductive change with an increase in current... Who knows?

I am, in the best ZA sense of the word, "gatvol" of having the builders on site... (Pronounced "gut-foll" meaning "Had an arse full") .... Lol... International swearing courses soon available on cd!!.... Looks like the last bit of the building work will be finished by the end of the week.... Then a few days of tilers, then a week or so of painters.... Then I think  I will kick back and drink a six pack or two (of Jack Daniels) to celebrate the impending cleanup...

More a bit later....A mate has just pulled into the driveway...

Back in a mo!

Right....social call dealt with, a mate of mine just got an O-Droid unit for home use and popped round bubbling with enthusiasm as to how much more grunt its got than a pi... Sounds quite cute indeed! While he was here, we took a quick walk through the building work looking at plug-points we are installing.... I am seriously considering the "new" style plug-points with 3xeuro sockets and a few usb supplies built in.... particularly next to bedside and where any pc/cellphone will be resident during the average day/eve... Anybody had any experience with these things running on genset maybe?

Glort.... I have the same problem here as you on your existing place... We have a may of about 60A available from utility, but, for example, the flatlet alone has 10x double 15A outlets alone... all tied in as per req, but should they he pushed to the limit, it will be way more than utility power can provide.... Its never happened before though, so no red flags in the future anyway...

This mate that's just left is a highly qualified and experienced, now retired, radio/electronics tech... I bounced the idea of double sensing using a single pickup coil, off of him, and, like you, he reckons that as long as the phasing is 100% in phase, it should give a summative reading, no problem... I am not wild about dual pickup coils, more to go wrong and another switch to understand for the girls in the household... This setup is already way is bad enough..... Decompress/pump on/start button/check 220v output/throw switch/make sure A reading is less than 20 and away you go..... Add another switch and add up two numbers... Eeeek.... Just will be a bit too much for them I am afraid....

Another thing I am considering is putting in a generator "bus" line.... If we run genset, I provide the electrical power side of things for free.... Since the flatlet will have its own electrical meter for consumption monitoring, it will be unfair to charge the resident thereof for power while on gennie... I will probably install a mini auto changeover there as well. The reason I provide the free power is that everybody, at some stage, has the chore of seeking and fetching waste oil... I process and fuel the beasts, but everybody has to provide a little something towards their upkeep and running....

I foresee, in my immediate future, a few electrical panels being made up.... A replacement and better one for TM1, a new panel for TM2, a new panel for main household, a new panel for flatlet, a 3 way auto combiner for TM1,TM2 and the orange screamer.... So much for taking it easy and watching the sunset over a six pack of JD....

Damn..... I haven't even factored in the very necessary R&M for the existing DB board in the flatlet..... All this urgency... I think I will take out a 22 and go do some shooting... Maybe the nagging feeling will go away.....

Enough rambling...

Keep on plinking...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 20, 2017, 09:22:02 AM
Hey Glort...

That is quite a nice looking spot you ref'd... I looked at the plans and worked it out to be in the region of around 190 sq m at a quick look... And it went for 5 mill? Holy smoke, that's heavy!! (Does it come with a lifetime exemption of rates and taxes, free power and water, gilt taps and door handles maybe?)

This dump I own is around 320m, with about 200 additional workshops and outbuildings and on around 47000 of land.... I thought this was pricey at 1.5 ZAR.... Tell you what, get your papers together, you can come out this way and buy a mansion using your credit card!!

Here's a slightly different, and way off topic little thing from me as per usual... Although we have municipal water supply to the house, I don't use it. I have around 60Kl of tanks set up with 2x electrical, pressure on demand, type pumps... The problem with these pump things is that whether you run a full bath, or just a glass of water, the pump starts up... Solution: install a couple of "pressure accumulators" on the pressure line to take up small flow demands. I have made a couple from some old Ali fire extinguishers and Tee-d them into the pressure line. They are installed upside down and simply on a t piece. Any air bubbles in the lines keep them reasonably full of air for a good few months at a time too. When the pressure pump comes on, it compresses the trapped air in the top of the cylinder and allows for about 5L of usage before the pumps kick back in to re-pressurize the system. I have set the pumps to come on at around 1 bar and go off at around 4 bar. Now, the pumps don't go on/off for every whim and fancy.... Probably saves quite a bit of juice too.... These pumps normally last around 2 to 3 years on an average around here... (Quality is not the best.) ... So far, the one pump is already 5 years plus and the other is just over 3... I use 2 pumps to allow for a bit of redundancy - there is a gate valve between them on a common output that I just crack open slightly to allow "cross-flow" between the 2 halves of the water system for the household. If one fails, the other takes over until I can get to sorting out the problem... Also, if there is high flow demand, both pumps kick in and work together... Much better than the previous system I was using that only had a single, but bigger pump...

Again I have digressed.... Time to go fit another accumulator to the system rather than toss it in the ali scrap bin!!

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Crossword on February 23, 2017, 05:21:38 AM
Hey Guys , Find out more about Lister Diesel Engine. I have made a new blog about Lister Diesel Engine. It has some real good information that might will help you. Also mentioned about parts and all that.

Check it out https://dieselengineanditsspareparts.blogspot.in/ (https://dieselengineanditsspareparts.blogspot.in/)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 23, 2017, 12:56:49 PM
Hey Glort...

"Plumber Pete" this side.... Guess what I am doing for the next few days!  ::)

In the next little while I will be running the electricals through for the flatlet - it entails a DB board sort out and go-over as well, then about a dozen plug points to re-install, as the old ones were rusted to buggery and new style plastic housings installed in the wall... We had a major damp problem in the flatlet up until a few years back, but sorting out guttering and installing catch tanks has dried it up nicely... I managed to get a couple of those plug units that have built in USB charging as well... Going to install them in a couple of bedrooms while I am at it... There is always a problem with the "Wall Cockroach" type chargers... A minor bit of cable pull and the damn things lose contact... Here in ZA, the round pin 15A, 3 point plugs and sockets are rife, nett result is that there are always a bunch of cheezy adaptors floating around to go to euro style chargers... a right PITA because of the low quality...

Furniture has already started to arrive for the flatlet, its now filled the lounge as well as a few other rooms, I am living in a real world game of tetris... I even have to step onto the porch to change my mind....

One good thing though... The tilers are here and the 1000kg stack of ceramic floor tiles is going down rapidly! Soon I will be able to get to the fuel dryer for TM1 - He has been "off line" since they delivered the tiles due to lack of readily accessible fuel - I have cringed whenever I have turned on the shower, as the hot-on-demand gas geyser has kicked in!! (Yep, I know, I am a cheapskate at heart!!)

To get rid of a bit of water hammer, just take about 2' of 2" galv pipe, cap one end, reduce the other and tee it into your incoming water line - put the pipe upwards and if you are really pedantic, stick a schraeder valve on the top cap - pump it up every now and then using a bicycle pump as needed - that will give plenty cushioning to stop the hammer when a valve snaps shut... Easy and cheap to do too!

Our tele lines went down a couple hours ago.... Damn, I ended up with withdrawal symptoms - No forum causes major shakes!!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed

PS - Just got a copy of the hunting gazette - Looks like Hadeda Ibis is no longer a protected species in my area - They are the bane of my life with water contamination - these damn things even crap a dent into a car roof when they let go!! - Time to bring out the tools to do some pest control!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 06, 2017, 12:00:41 PM
Hey Guys...

Sorry for my absence over the last 2 weeks, I have been flat out trying to get the flatlet ready and ship shape for the tenant... I have promised myself that EVERYTHING will be on a back-burner until its done... (unfortunately, that includes playing with the Listers, cracking some oil, sorting out the workshop, servicing TM1, scrounging sump-gunk...etc etc etc....  :-[   )

All I can say is: I feel in perfect health and fitness ..... for a man of 110!

The flatlet, meanwhile, is coming out awesome!! I have made offers to the tenant to the tunes of: "Free board and lodging, full use of the main house, free food, free electricity, free .... What else can I offer? .... All to no avail!! She is so enthralled with the place and the way it is developing, I think she spies my plan of cornering the spot for myself... Bugger!!! (especially when I accidentally made mention of a bit of quick surgery with an angle grinder, install a doorway, and I have quick and easy access straight from the bedroom to my workshop!!) Pictures here.... http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Flat Renovations Feb2017 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Flat Renovations Feb2017)

On the subject of Listers... TM1 is a right PITA to start at the moment, his IP is well worn, undersized too.. It was a 10mm element which I downgraded to an 8mm for testing... It worked well, but didnt last as long as the 10mm units do - The piston has a very short "separate crown" in comparison to the 10mm units, not much leeway for wear, and they wear significantly faster because of this (I think).... There is no fuel leaking from the bottom of the pump, you just have to wind the revs up pretty high on the starter to get things creaking properly... Anybody had similar with the smaller crowned IP's maybe?

Other than that, TM1 is still thumping away quietly in the evenings for an hour or so every day (When I get a chance to run him and I am not doing F!@#$% plumbing till 10pm), still eating sump gunk, still getting steam cleaned internals, still making power and hot water... At the moment, the IP is so bad, he barely makes around 3.5 to 4Kw before he starts losing it... Not too much "rolling coal" as Glort puts it, but definitely way down on power... There is, I am sure, just not enough gunk getting into the cylinder to make him do work (I hope)... Changing the IP element is next on the list to keep him going until I can sort out the rings problem... There is a bit of blow-by, but certainly not the worst that I have seen before.... The non return valve on the IP Line also needs a bit of a look at I reckon, there is a fair bit of "bouncing" in the manometer I have on the fuel line - this generally indicates that it is not sealing properly.... I will probably just rework it and replace the IP element at the same time... Nuff' sed!

Keep it spinning!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on March 06, 2017, 02:33:44 PM
I have never seen a well water system here without an accumulator , we call it a pressure tank. Some are equipped with a rubber bladder to prevent water logging. Typical capacity is 10-25 gallons between pump cycles .
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 07, 2017, 08:04:05 AM
Hey Glort/B&D,

Glort: Methanol is a bit of a bugger to get, or was anyway.... I was always trying to get some for the R/C heli's and eventually gave up and bought from the hobby boys at ridiculous pricing... Home brew might be an option, but I would probably end up sucking it all down myself, all in an effort to alleviate frustration of dust/dust/dust/builders/dust/dust/plumbing/dust/dust/electrical/dust/dust.... Enough said!!

You are welcome to take over the flat - just deal with the existing/future tenant first!! (Man, that is something that is gonna go on youtube if it happens... She is "strong willed", "resolute" and a teacher.... Comes from farming stock too... I hope you have a bull whip and a chair, body armor and a strong will.... you are gonna need it!!)

Bummer re the house hunt, keep going and don't settle for less than you will be happy with!! (ie plenty of workshop space and neighbors a 100km away but in the heart of the city!)

B&D: We run off of harvested tank water most of the time. I have about 3 or 4 boreholes on the property but they are mostly caved-in and blocked up. The ground water is good quality, reasonably constant, and fairly close to the surface at last check. The expense of opening them up again is a bit prohibitive, not for the opening, but replacement of cables and pumps from a theft aspect - The locals here appropriate any form of copper at their will, with little or no repercussion from the law, even when you capture them red-handed!

I have a couple of small header tanks mounted at 4-5m for low pressure systems, but the bulk of the water is at ground level with pressure-on-demand type pumps, the new style without the hydrosphere/accumulator. They work well, but take a hammering in general. Gone are the days of the accumulator in this area by the looks of it, it is far more profitable for the suppliers to move replacement pumps!!

A while back I did look into getting hold of a pulley driven pump for direct coupling to TM1 or 2, the pricing was ridiculous - ZAR5k+ for a 1" fairly low pressure pump... that pricing changed my mind immediately... Interestingly, the little electrical pressure on demand units (370W/4Bar) were only around ZAR1.2k, and that included the pressure switching unit as well....

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 07, 2017, 01:28:54 PM
Hey Guys...

Here's an interesting one....

Looks like TM1 broke a ring last night during his run.... (Eventually, been expecting it since the seize a while back...) Compression is way down, LOTS of blow by, and pretty much impossible to start, even on the 220v starter... Right, so not much interesting there, but....

Here's the interesting bit:

While I was piddling aboot wif him, I quickly rebuilt the IP and installed a new element... 10min well spent as it has been long overdue anyway... I thought, what the hell, lets give him a wind over and see what he does, just for S&G....

I wound him up good and well on the starter for a few minutes, allowing the air to bleed out the IP lines (Man, a 100% duty cycle rated starter is great!!)... When I dropped the compression release, there was the "usual" sound of first firing, then knocking of note... as if he was starting on ether.... I pottered around a bit, checked IP timing, checked that there was no solvents in the lines etc, then wound him over again to see what happened... Same again, first compression stroke a nice sounding diesel event, then getting less and less as knocking got worse and worse...

Now, TM1 has a crank vent that feeds into the air intake - when I pulled the vent out of the intake, there was major ring bypass in progress.... The unburnt and partially burnt ventings that are being fed into the intake are causing him to pre-ignite as they get compressed.... Again, of interest, there has been no evidence or indication of a runaway while he was running...

Anybody else had similar??

Keep it smoking....

Cheers
Ed

Edit: Here's one for everybody to chew on.... Something was plaguing me, something I might have missed.... I took another look at the IP pump and timing on TM1 (rebuilt the pump again, just for good measure in case I missed anything)...

Interesting times....

It looks like something is squiff with the IP cam... When I set the timing to around 20 degrees BTDC, the pump bottoms out ... This is quite unusual, because I used to be able to set him up to around 25 degrees BTDC with no bottoming before...(A hint guys: when you set timing, turn the flywheel over SLOWLY and CAREFULLY by hand and feel for pump bottoming or other resistance, it could save you some $$$ and tears).

I have run a quick check on TDC marks on the flywheel by watching for the valves going "on the rock" and things are pretty much ok in that department, so flywheels haven't shifted, nor has the cam gear lost a tooth and moved either... The only thing that seems out of place is the IP timing, to the tune of about 15 degrees by a rough guestimate...

I pulled the IP plunger and had a look at roller et al... All seems fine in that department... This situation seems "quite unusual" and, barring an incident many years ago on another CS type engine, where a cotter pin snapped and allowed IP timing to vary at random this seems strange to say the least.... Looks like I will have to pull a flywheel and see whats happening behind the governor housing when I get a chance... Oh, and the major knocking saga? Looks like that with the injector timing being so retarded, the combustion chamber volume was filling up with unburnt fuel (WMO - Thanks to 220v starter and extra long cranking capabilities), compression ratios went up, and any vapors present decided to ignite a little before they should (euphemistically speaking of course....thump, crack, hammer, hammer!)

Who knows? But a quiet tear down of the governor side to poke around and have a look at seems to be the order of the day! (Any forecasts as to what I will find?)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 08, 2017, 09:12:06 AM
Hey Glort,

Actually, I do think that these engines, if set up and balanced correctly, fed good quality fuel and oil, maintained, are quite reliable - for 100yr old technology!

Feed it junk fuel, extend the oil change intervals, and be brutal with it... then they get angry and try and bite you!

We all know the Injun roids are not up to the standard of the originals, in not only dimensional aspect but in material aspect as well. I dare say that a marked improvement in either of those two aspects would lend itself to a much longer lived unit. Better materials would allow for better longevity and a more tolerable "marginally out of spec" dimensions, and vice versa...

TM2 is present and accounted for, he gets used for "emergency purposes only" TM1 is the main evening runner as such though. Neither is a critical part of our day to day life actually, just pretty handy when the lights go out and they allow us to live life with all the mod-cons while the rest of the suburb sits in darkness... Of course, TM1 has been a great toy for getting rid of the local goop, rather than having some miscreant dump it in the bush...

I am going to give TM1 a going over as soon as the flatlet is done, hopefully next week or so, it will be interesting to see what the actual problem is... I might have missed something in the rush yesterday and jumped to some rather large conclusions... Possibly there is much simpler problem to the problem indeed... Its amazing what a bit of thought can lend to the mix.... It might just be, that the non return valve on the IP is not sealing properly... if it gets really bad it doesn't hold line pressure after the injection event terminates, the line de-pressurises and as such retards the next injection event a bit... Who knows?... When I get a bit more time, I will give things a good coat of looking at and see what I can find! (This, of course, doesn't explain the reason for not being able to set the timing to 20BTDC before the pump bottoms out though...)

Keep it spinning...

Cheerz
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 22, 2017, 08:33:34 AM
Hey Guys....

And now for something completely different.... Glort, you are going to enjoy this....

Firstly an apology for my long absence.... The builders have finished and the great cleanup is in progress... I have been lurking in the sidelines reading all the happenings, most enjoyably!

Yesterday, between sorting piles of stuff and pushing brooms, I came across a pile of bits that I had put aside and earmarked for building a little waste oil burner.... my target was around 80kw, and I think it's pretty close... Being an "easily distracted" type of fellow, it was not long and the broom was tossed aside and a welder was employed instead thereof to allow for a bit of creative R&R...

Here are a few pics and vids of the first run up and test... ok, I realise its not a lister, but its still a bit of fun you guys might find interesting.... I haven't set up a fuel tank for it yet, but i did make a slight change (so as not to infringe on your patents, Glort) ... I installed a 2"T piece on the inlet where the fuel line is to be inserted .... This allows, with removal of the reducer, a handy port to stuff burning debris into, for the initial fire up... The vids were taken late evening, with a regular cel camera and no
additional lighting... It is running at about 70% or so capacity with only a little oil poured into the chamber to get it to fire and test... the air line is "loose coupled" with about a 6"gap between the inlet and the blower outlet, so there is about 50% of the draft going to waste... Still very impressive though... a cooldrink tin was held in front of the outlet and it burnt about a 1.5" hole straight through it in less than 3 seconds.... "Dragon mk1" has been born! No need to paint it.... Incandescent white seems to be a natural running colour........

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Vapourising Oil Burner 20170421 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Vapourising Oil Burner 20170421)

Enjoy!

Keep it smoking....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 23, 2017, 08:35:51 PM
Hey Glort....

Nice score on the blower today... Well done, its amazing what some guys throw out for the silliest of reasons... Tell me more about the Raptor type nozzle... I am not familiar with the term...

I have finished the fuel inlet and flame/fuel control side of the burner now. I ran it up to about 75% power and it looks like I wasn't too far off my target of 100kw... At 75% it uses up about 12L of WMO / hr, so I am guessing thats about 120Kw or so... I reckon I could have pushed the output up a bit, but it wasn't 100% safe to do it under the workshop roof in close-ish proximity to some plastic drums of WMO that I didn't feel like moving... plus there was a thunderstorm on the way and I didn't feel like moving the dragon outside away from the oil either.... Next task is to install a small heat shield to protect the fuel line a bit and it should be pretty much complete... This baby is side inlet, but can be run either vertically with an elbow, or horizontally with a straight outlet or even inverted with a downwards outlet if needed... The fuel line is 5mm, and with about only 1m head, it flows quite fine... No need for pump as yet. I did play one little trick, and that was to have the inlet pipe in the center of the airflow, with a 90 degree bend and having the exit on the leeward side after a couple of inches  of straight run with the airstream.

To make for easy lighting, I have used a 2" pipe coupling that the "ïnjector pipe" is coupled to and then only hand tightened for running... The 2" inlet into the T piece allows for more than enough opening to stick a piece of rag  and slosh some kero into to fire things up... I don't even turn on the fan when its in vertical mode during light up... The chimney effect is more than enough to get the air pulled into the combustion chamber to start things going... Once everything is warmed up, I crack open the valve about 1/4 turn an dribble a bit of oil in until it starts to black smoke... Give it a couple of minutes then start the blower with reduced input, and away it goes...

I took a couple of vids of it running at 75% output, they are in the same folder as the link in my previous post, take a look and give me a second opinion... In the last vid I took, I was running about 20% throttle or so, and even then, it was holding combustion chamber temp and stability very nicely...

I think this unit will do well on a small forge as well as a small furnace to smelt some small amounts of ali for casting some trinkets and Lister accessories.... Woohoo ... Slipped in the L word so I can say this is pertinent to the board....

Again I ramble...

Keep on burning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 24, 2017, 09:16:46 AM
Hey Glort....

Ok... Gotcha regarding the Raptor nozzles... For the life of me, all I could think of was Jurassic Park and a dinosaur puking flames...  ;D

Then again... I also pictured an eagle doing similar... Doesn't help to think in pictures if you are watching the wrong scene!!

I think I hit the magic numbers on this flamer that I have built - the fuel inlet seems to be at just the right position/size/ratio by luck.... The more you wind up the air, the more it "carburates" and draws more fuel in too.... Only when you pull back the air to a trickle do you need to close the fuel valve a bit otherwise it runs a bit "rich" and the flame oranges and reds and it gets a bit dirty on the burn.... Nice for a carburising flame though, particularly for keeping surface carbon content up in the forging department I reckon.....

I need to make a better way to start it though, as occasionally I get a small amount of dribble back towards the fan while priming... Easily overcome by canting the inlet downward slightly, but easily forgotten too! (I haven't canted the inlet downwards, in favour of better gas dynamics and combustion expansion restriction - Easily adjusted should I find need to, nothing like a bulldozer blade lowered gently down on the inlet junction to change its angle....Permanently!)

I didn't obey the rules entirely with this unit's build - I still need to do a minor mod to the output side (Make it bigger) as I didn't have a spare 3" fitting while I was glueing things together... I also use as much of an induced spin in the inlet air as I can - the inlet radius is almost "outside" the circumference of the combustion chamber (Or it would be with another 1/4" or so!) - Like the old machinists adage - Never let the ID exceed the OD!! The way these things operate is basically the same as a Ram Jet - add air through a small hole, add fuel in the middle, exhaust out a bigger hole - pressure at inlet and exhaust are similar, difference in area of the two openings x pressure = thrust....... Hmmm.... Now, I have a Honda Silverwing.... I wonder if Mach 3 is a viable option.... Might not be entirely safe, but what a rush!!!

Keep it flaming....

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 28, 2017, 10:41:11 AM
Hey Glort...

You often make me think and rethink a method or process.... This is another time.... THANKS!

Your comments "inspired" me to relook at the fuel inlet system and I think I have come up with a fairly simple idea...

One of the problems with these burners is that the harder you rev them from an air point of view, the higher the back-pressure on the fuel inlet, hence with an unpressurized fuel tank, gravity fed, gravity gets overcome by the pressure in the inlet manifold and eventually fuel supply dwindles to zero and you flame out.... One way to overcome this, is to put a low pressure on top of the fuel from, say, an air compressor, regulated to 1/2 bar or less.... This makes a big difference in controllability et al, to say the least... The disadvantage of this though, is that you have to run a compressor in the background, albeit very intermittantly, to maintain fuel pressure... Another way, is of course using a metered fuel pump... Both of which, while effective, could lead to overfuelling quite quickly should your main air blower lose efficiency or stop.....

Now, what about this: Pipe a line from the manifold, right at fan inlet from the blower to the top of your fuel tank... As back pressure increases, so does fuel pressure, and vice-versa... No compressor needed, no dosing pump either.... Just a thought... Kiss at its best I reckon.... Have you tried this yet?

The reason I am now looking at a low pressure tank system, is that I am testing on some really nasty thick waterlogged gunk (about 60W or slightly more at a guess) - I don't want to refine or preheat it, the less I handle it, the better! I have found that with this stuff, flow to the combustion chamber is a problem - it runs nicely, but heat output is way down in comparison to a few other thinner tankfulls I have put through.....

Just a thought...

Oh, and the relevance to Listers?.... I am hoping to use this setup to trial crack and still some fuel for my beasties!!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 29, 2017, 11:02:11 PM
Damn.....

And here I was, the student, hoping I could teach the teacher..... even just a little trick....!

 ::)

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 02, 2017, 11:29:11 AM
Hey Glort,

I played around with the burner a bit and got it going quite nicely now.... I am a tad under 60L/hr on 3/4 throttle.... I guess that makes it about 600kw or so?

I installed a shutter on the blower to regulate airflow and a slotted exhaust tube to allow for easy insertion of things into the flame path... This was tested out (of course) with an old pc hard drive.... solid to liquid in about 20 secs or so... (Still peeling solidified Ali off the driveway) .... All in all, I am pretty happy with that... Oh yes - Also increased the outlet from 2" to 4" and changed the fuel inlet pipe to fire straight with the air stream....

I did get a call from the neighbour.... (600m+ away from us... he knows I play with strange stuff and he politely asked if I had got hold of a jet engine... The orange white glow over the property in the evening/dusk and the roar of the exhaust had him convinced there was a Mirage chained down and being run up with an afterburner test!!)

To get a good blast out of it, I eventually relented and just pressuruised the tank (An old refrigerant disposi can) - about 20psi - Less than that and I can run it way lean, more than that and it seems pointless - The fuel delivery nozzle is 6mm diameter and it can really squirt it in when you pull out the stops...

Today if I get a chance, I am going to try and re-purpose a bit of 12" ID ceramic pipe I have lying around and try and make a furnace receiver to test out the contained heating aspect of the beast... Up to now it has all been open flame testing, and while impressive, pretty pointless was a hell of a lot of fun!!

After these containment tests I will try and see how well it smelts things, that should be a blast!!

There are a couple of vids here:  http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Vapourising Oil Burner 20170421 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Vapourising Oil Burner 20170421) ... Take a look towards the end of the folder, the latest few are there....

If you listen in the background, you will hear my housemate belting the snot outta a piece of bar.... As soon as I started the burner, he stuck a piece of steel into the flame and ran to find a hammer.... A budding blacksmith I reckon!

Keep on flaming!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 02, 2017, 10:32:26 PM
Hey Glort...

To measure consumption it has been a bit of a thumb suck.... Fill tank to 13L mark, warm up the beast with some kero, ease on the gunk slowly and keep it clean flaming, measuring the time taken to empty the tank and an average consumption is reached... it runs just under 1/4hr on one tank at fair throttle, not at full steam though, I am still playing around a bit, but bear in mind, the first couple of minutes are fairly slow to start with until the thing starts cooking properly... This eve, while messing around with the output semi contained, we got about 2hrs out of the 13L tank with enough usable heat to smelt the ali debris easily and the burner just ticking over... Containing the heat is a big plus... I couldnt rev it too much more, as the crucible we were using had the bottom brazed on and i didnt want to destroy it. I think it was originally intended for lead casting until JP spotted it and hauled it into the fireplace...

As you probably gather, we built a temp fireplace with some bricks and the ceramic pipe.... The pipe held up quite well, it did crack, but is still in one piece. As to the pipe being an advantage, of this I am not sure, the next few tests will be standard red bricks only to see how they hold up.... Two layers of bricks, yellow hot in the inside, and you can almost hold your hand against the outside... I think that will be good enough for what I need to do... Take a look in the vids of the previous link, there is a brief flash of the pile of mud pies we used to contain things today... I added it to the list this evening...

My main interest with this creature will be brass/bronze and copper casting, maybe a bit of glass casting too if i can get round to it. I love making miniature cannons in brass and gunmetal, but hate to machine 80% of it away in making the barrels, only to stick trunions on afterward... I have cast ornamental cannons before in brass, but had to do it on the sly using the exhaust heat from a kiln when I was in the vitrified department of a grinding wheel manufacturing company... now and then I managed to have a bit of surplus bronze from a bearing casting job, how fortunate, in its molten state, and I always kept a mold or two ready, just in case!

Believe it or not, I think that elbow I am using is off a fire sprinkler system too, a plumber mate brought round a crate of assorted fittings and the 4" stuff is a bit big for my oxy-hydride exploits so they have been relegated to the "alternate use" category... mini crucibles, flame directors, neighbour pacifying missiles etc....

I did a small test on the fuel flow using water and pressurizing at a few different readings... The minimum usable pressure is around 5psi for the small 5mm pipe, most effective at around 15psi, and little to be gained above that... Using a small diameter pipe makes handling so much easier, 1/2"is nice, but a pain in the ass as it is just too stiff to lie relaxed and stay out of the way... Plus, 5mm is much cheaper and above all, I ended up with a 30m roll of it somehow....

Regarding the angle and positioning of the fuel inlet - I played with angles and position a bit and found that with the fuel exit at center of air-stream, about 6 to 8" from the entrance to the combustion chamber, I am getting pretty good results. It seems that if you go closer to the chamber, you get a stream of oil that hits the far side and pools too easily, causing surging. move it further than 8" from the chamber, and you get the oil adhering more to the sides of the inlet pipe, again causing puddling and surging. Stick within 6 to 8" and it breaks up the stream of fuel but doesn't have the sticking to the sides problem either... the inlet pipe is 2" dia and the blower is also of the jumping castle variety.... Maybe I am just lucky, or then again, a bit of playing with fluid dynamics in my earlier years actually taught me some things that I have remembered... Or was it a holiday of water skiing... No matter, its still fluid dynamics after all...

Today I made the ingot mold, tomorrow will probably be some fire tongs, ladles, scrapers or casting hooks... while melting a few more bits into ingots and prepping materials...

Who knows, next week I might even get a chance to crack some oil for my LISTERoid... Cant flame me now guys, its a LISTER related post!!!

So much fun, so little time!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 05, 2017, 09:49:29 AM
Hey Glort...

Here's one for the records....

I installed a 1/4" delivery needle valve on the tank outlet for the burner.... Only to have it blocked up by debris in the oil... So much so that I eventually took it off and went back to a regular old 1/2" brass stop cock.... I am trying to make this thing burn as much of the gunk that I can...

Gives an idea of the (lack of) quality of the oil before filtering... And according to the chap I got the oil from, "This stuff shouldn't even need settling, there is no coolant and it comes straight from the sumps" - Well, that may be so, but it looks like it was kept in an open pan, in the rain, under a tree shedding leaves in autumn!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 06, 2017, 02:40:08 AM
Hey Glort,

We had a similar problem with what seemed to be hair being present in filtered waste oil... I initially put it down to the outgoing side of the filter dissolving/breaking up and being caught up in the inlet side on the next pass through... I am not so sure now though, I wonder if it could possibly be one of those anaerobic/hydrocarbon type bacterial growths happening... I have seen it in both wvo and wmo on occasion... Please chip in lads, there are a good few of you out there that have been in the oil and refining business a long while... Your remarks would be valued immensely!

I ran the fire blaster up again today after repacking the bricks round the temp furnace to give 5 sided closure with an open front. 1100+ C was not a problem to reach and this we did in less than about 30 minutes and were able to hold it there quite successfully whilst stocking the crucible under fire. I do think that a closed front would aid the system a hell of a lot and speed things up with the smelting as well... The nett result is that we cast a couple of ingots of (about 5 to 6kg) copper that originated from various scrapped plumbing fittings and piping scraps that were taking up space in the scrap bins... I am pleased with the results indeed...

We also managed to make up a few basic tools to help - a pouring handle, a set of fire tongs, a couple of crucibles and pointy scrapy stirry things as well... It was great fun!

I was surprised at how quickly the molten copper became "gooey" after being removed from the furnace... a light breeze on a delta-t of 1070C makes energy disappear fast!

One last test to do today, melting brass and keeping the temp in the right region, not too high, to stop the Zn from fizzling off.... I have successfully burnt off the zinc a few times now while playing with the loud pedal... Fortunately we have a good 50kg or so of brass 9mm/.38 shell casings to play with before we start playing with the good stuff...

Once we have got the easy stuff out the way, I am going to concentrate on the cracker... That will be plenty of fun, it seems the bigger and hotter you go, the easier it gets... The challenge is going to be keeping the heat down for the oil stilling and fracturing I think.... Can't  wait!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 10, 2017, 01:23:21 PM
Hey Guys,

This post is more of a test (for myself) to see if I can upload a basic thumbnail into my post....

Some pics of ingots cast using the "cracking burner" I have made while we were testing heat output and the like...

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed

Yep... I screwed it up... Gonna test again, sorry to bore all of you!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 10, 2017, 01:27:44 PM
Test#2....

Amazing how it helps when you actually read the screen....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on May 11, 2017, 09:14:46 PM
So is that a gold bar there next to the silver one?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 12, 2017, 09:13:15 AM
Hey Tom,

I so wish it was..... Brass and Ali.... Almost as much in demand in this area (By local miscreants).... You need as much security to prevent it from wandering off!

Regds
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 12, 2017, 04:40:17 PM
 :police:

Unfortunately...... I am representative of "a minority race" in the community..... Kinda like living on the "Endangered Species" list....

 :police:
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on May 12, 2017, 05:36:30 PM
That'll be the affirmative action in action then!

Cheers Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 15, 2017, 10:28:35 AM
Hi all currently disadvantaged and previously advantaged readers!

Here are a couple of pics of some pulleys and guide rollers I cast and machined up this weekend...

Nothing much to do with listers, I am afraid, just a general bit of info for those interested... The hand lock wheels and thin/wide rollers were cast in old bevvie cans, casting in an 8mm bolt where required. The larger rollers, approx130mm dia were cast in old coffee tins, stripped off and then machined. The ali wasn't degassed before the pour, so there are a few minor pinholes in the casting, no problem for pulleys as such. There were little, if any voids in the casting that were noticed during machining... All in all, a successful couple of days playing around with a "Glortburner" and some scrap.

@Glort - Looks like I can wind this thing to just under 1.2MW output - Around 2 L per minute - Scary!!!!

Enough rambling, I gotta go and recycle some recycled ali - The lathe is almost invisible under the ali swarf - Yippee!! More ali to cast with!! only 2 or three more wheels to make!!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 15, 2017, 03:38:25 PM
Hey Glort...

Nope, dont worry.... not a peeing contest...LOL...

Let me know how the swirl drum works, its about the best way I can think of too, to get small "castable marble" bits for topping off the crucible...

I am running about 2" in with 4" out and a somewhat "customized" JC blower... A few additional fins on the blade and reshaped the volute... Removed a bit of clearance here and there and upped the motor size +1 when it burnt out (with the original setup fan etc)  some years ago... I was going to use it on an ejector system for woodchips/sawdust extraction in the woodworking workshop and just havent got round to it...

Fuel oil needs to be 20PSI to feed the thing properly too....

Considerate...... A new word for you to learn!!

Cheers and let me know how the swirl cooling works!!

Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: AdeV on May 15, 2017, 04:46:18 PM
What you need is one of these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Shot_Tower (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Shot_Tower)

Presuming you don't happen to have a 40 meter tower in your locality, then perhaps a large ladder and a calm day would suffice? A swimming pool would be handy too. And a metal sieve...  ;D
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 16, 2017, 10:09:49 AM
Hi Ade...

Well, I've got a 35m tower, extendable, surplus from the "Jupiter Project" or something that may do the trick, fitting the spiral staircase might be a problem though.... Was gonna use it for mounting my TH6 beam on to get it above the damn HT power lines that run past the front of my property.... The RF interference from the things swamps the front end of my HF rigs and unless I use a DSP and crank the narrow band filters in, things are crappy.... Oh wait, this is Lister not a Ham forum....Bugger....Got it screwed up again..

On the subject of shot towers though, I have had fair success rolling the molten lead through a diesel oil sloped bottom bath... It cools a bit slower and gives a fair bit of success, but its twitchy, and VERY temperature and flow sensitive... Making frangible rounds from lead powder(Basically spray painting with molten lead to make a powder) is also a lot of fun and a fair success has been attained with the pressing of the lead powder into jackets.... Just a dirty messy job, but fun, nevertheless...Oh wait, this is Lister not a Reloading forum....Bugger....Got it screwed up again..

But back to the subject at hand... Which is nothing to do with Listers either... Last night I employed the band saw and cut up the lump of "Unicorn Poo" into crucible sized chunks and smelted it down to make (hopefully) the last pulley needed (until the next one) for the belt grinder I am making... Now to go and clean the lathe up and take all the swarf to the furnace ready for the next pulley/roller I don't need to make!!

@Glort - Running this fire breathing beast at high output chewed up the exhaust on the burner... Time to make up another combustion chamber.... But it was fun though!! I am still having problems getting an even regulation of fuel into the burner. I am going to go back to a "needle valve" for regulation and up the fuel pressure to about 100PSI. The valve and tank I have will easily go well beyond that, they are rated at 30Bar working - Hopefully any small bitso shitso will extrude through the aperture at that pressure and things will start to smooth out. Of course, I will do rudimentary straining of the fuel in future to prevent stix an rox an catz from being forced through little holez!

Believe it or not, as much as I digress on a post to post basis, a lot of the "playing around" with the various odds and ends is actually Lister related... well except for the shot tower.... and the HF Beam... and the Grinder I am building... and the ... Oh what the hell... Its all fun!! But really though... Once I can get a 100% stable output from the burner, the oil cracker is gonna get a go!!

Keep it oily....

Cheers
Ed

PS: Here's a pic of the "Last" guide roller I cast and machined yesterday eve....

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on May 16, 2017, 02:22:44 PM
Ref the last bit of of your post,

I like the diversity of the Chronicles thread, my life rarely stays 'on topic' so why should anything else be restricted?
If there are any truly disinterested members out there they can skip the 'boring bits' personally I even read the long posts!

Cheers Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Thob on May 17, 2017, 01:46:18 AM
"How to run a lathe" by South Bend lathes comes recommended:

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1617/5795.pdf

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: AdeV on May 17, 2017, 07:54:29 AM

I'd probably have to find a course to learn about metal lathes which wouldn't be easy because they are all trade courses here or I'd have to figure out some other way. Maybe one of the new Neighbors is an old Fitter and turner or something and will show me the ropes?
Brother in law has the machinery now but he would make a very poor teacher and one of us would not walk out of the shed under our own steam if I got him to show me anything.

Maybe I should just go out and buy a lathe and set up a computer right beside it so I can watch Youtube and follow along as it plays.  :0)

Do it. Just do it! You'll never ever regret it. If you can, buy an old lathe, either an English or American one if you can (or domestic, I presume there were toolmakers in Aus, to my shame I don't know the names of any). Check out lathes.co.uk for info on any old make. Worst case scenario, yes, buy a Chinese import, just be aware that you may have to do some "fettling" in order to get decent accuracy and longevity out of it. Always buy bigger (WAY bigger) than you think you might need... as someone once said, you can turn small things on a big lathe, but you can't turn big things on small lathe...

I taught myself how to use a lathe, with some help from Youtube, the madmodder's forum (http://madmodder.net), and a bunch of videos a guy on this forum sent to me, I'll try to dig out the name (and next week, I'll try to find the actual videos), they taught me a shitload of useful stuff.

Lathes are dangerous, of that there is no doubt. I nearly did myself a serious injury on mine when I forgot to take a parallel out of the chuck - when I started the spindle up it fired itself out at high velocity - backwards, fortunately, had it come out of the front I'd have probably caught it with my face... it could easily have killed me. I've never made THAT mistake again.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: AdeV on May 17, 2017, 08:15:34 AM
Aha! Here they are: http://www.agivideos.com/preview/?id=2

I'll see if I can't dig out my copies, I have the lathe & mill videos, they were absolutely excellent. In fact, when I bought by Bridgeport, as a result of those videos, I felt like I already knew the machine intimately. Had the damn thing 8 years now.... time flies...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on May 19, 2017, 06:11:59 AM

@Glort - Looks like I can wind this thing to just under 1.2MW output - Around 2 L per minute - Scary!!!!

I am going to run the molten metal into a half drum of water I have put a nozzle in to make it swirl. Hopefully this should stop the ally going straight to the bottom before it's cooled properly and clumping together.

I think you need an air drop tower, to let the molten metal have enough time to coalesce into  spheres (via surface tension) before they hit the water, or the water will give you misshapen globs
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on May 19, 2017, 06:21:45 AM
Ask for me to post the Fatal Lathe Mistake pics.  Large lathe, overalls, machine did not stop till a co-worker shut it down.  Torso and 1 arm left, rest was hamburger.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: AdeV on May 19, 2017, 07:59:12 AM
Ask for me to post the Fatal Lathe Mistake pics.  Large lathe, overalls, machine did not stop till a co-worker shut it down.  Torso and 1 arm left, rest was hamburger.

Yes, I've seen that picture too. Very sobering... lathes - machine tools in general, in fact, but especially lathes - take no prisoners.

Please don't put that picture up here, though, by all means link to it, it's definitely not for the squeamish or faint-hearted.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 19, 2017, 08:23:25 AM
Hey Guys...

Back in the days of lineshafts, there were only a few fatal's that happened (relatively speaking)... It seems the more warnings and guards we install on things, the more accidents happen.... Possibly, back in the day, the Darwin Awards sorted out the stupid/ignorant/foolish early in their lives.....Now they are being allowed to breed and as such .... Well, enough said .... I gotta go and trim my fingernails on that thar hangle grindee masheen....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on May 19, 2017, 09:28:06 AM
Hey Guys...

Back in the days of lineshafts, there were only a few fatal's that happened (relatively speaking)... It seems the more warnings and guards we install on things, the more accidents happen.... Possibly, back in the day, the Darwin Awards sorted out the stupid/ignorant/foolish early in their lives.....Now they are being allowed to breed and as such .... Well, enough said .... I gotta go and trim my fingernails on that thar hangle grindee masheen....

Cheers
Ed

Yeah, but I have been a timber industry person on and off since (counts on fingers . . .) about 1974 and, in the old days, several of my foremen had only one hand.  The Darwin effect is great for taking the slow and the weak and the stupid out of the gene pool . . .but a lot of the ones it just maims still seem to manage to breed?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: AdeV on May 19, 2017, 09:33:27 AM
It seems the more warnings and guards we install on things, the more accidents happen....

I fitted some guards around my Bridgeport milling machine (mainly to keep the coolant somewhere near the machine, rather than sprayed all over the place, but I figured a bit of extra safety couldn't go amiss too). Hah! I've injured myself more bumping into the guards than I ever did using the machine! Damn things live on a shelf somewhere now...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 19, 2017, 09:42:16 AM
@Mike - How's the saying go... "Empty Barrels make the most noise...." and, usually, the empty barrels who shout the odds loudest, regardless of how nonsensical they are, seem to get promoted first.... Strange, isnt it? Kinda wish Darwinism relied more on output audio volume than deed.....

@Ade - Yeah Ade... Did the same thing on my Elliot mill too, it has a nasty habit of tossing graphite grease out of the 90 degree head or slotting/broaching Head to land directly dead center on the only piece of white clothing you are wearing... I am sure there is a "Grease Demon" somewhere on Norse Mythology we haven't discovered yet ... I think my guards were recycled as scrap eventually too.... Snap!!

Lol
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on May 19, 2017, 09:48:18 AM
It seems the more warnings and guards we install on things, the more accidents happen....

I fitted some guards around my Bridgeport milling machine (mainly to keep the coolant somewhere near the machine, rather than sprayed all over the place, but I figured a bit of extra safety couldn't go amiss too). Hah! I've injured myself more bumping into the guards than I ever did using the machine! Damn things live on a shelf somewhere now...

I guess really the difference might be between us as responsible(ish) adults taking responsibility for our own actions as against employers having to make safety decisions on behalf of a (very mixed bag of) others?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 19, 2017, 10:09:40 AM
@Ade - Come to think of it.... I've never had the "Lemming Instinct" to shove my hands knowingly into rapidly oscillating or revolving items... I know plenty of people that need instructions printed on their toothbrushes though, blenders, routers and this group of beings would make a spectacular cocktail.... Goes to show, good luck is not selective or limited, otherwise this group of the population would not make it to breeding age... Reminds me of an instruction in a booklet for a well known brand of chainsaw...."Do not stop moving chain with genitals..."

Cheers
Ed

PS - I did print a bumper sticker for a mate of mine after he almost had a serious one while "playing" with his chainsaw.... Was while setting the carb, had it balanced on a drum or stump or something, running at a very fast idle... Let go of it and stepped past forward of it to retrieve a screwdriver or something and it toppled/vibrated off, hit the ground bar first, causing it to jump forward into his calf.... The bumper sticker that I covertly put on his LDV said "A Chainsaw is NOT a Sex Toy - Don't F@#$ with it!!"
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: AdeV on May 19, 2017, 11:10:05 AM

I guess really the difference might be between us as responsible(ish) adults taking responsibility for our own actions as against employers having to make safety decisions on behalf of a (very mixed bag of) others?

ISTM that most people have their heads fairly well screwed on - but there's always some muppet out there who doesn't. There was a story in a newspaper here recently, an employer being sued because one of their employees was using emery cloth on a machine, it got wrapped up and took a couple of his fingers off. The employee wasn't doing what he was supposed to be doing, nor what he'd been trained to do... but the employer lost the case anyway, because they hadn't explicitly told the employee NOT to do what he was doing (!). This despite the judge noting that the company had an otherwise clean bill of health.


Ed - I've got a saying for you re promotions: You're always promoted to your first level of incompetence... (this is especially true in the public sector). Think about it, if you're damned good at your job, eventually you get promoted out of it & into another job. As soon as you're in one you don't do so well at.... no more promotions...

Also, yes, I think most of us have the wherewithall not to stick our hands into moving machinery, although we've all done stupid things before. Just before I came out here to China I was grinding some old knackered bolts off with a grinder, getting the angle was quite difficult and the cutter had a tendancy to dig in & spit itself out. Did I heed the warnings? No... so when the disk exploded gouging one of my knuckles near to the bone, I had only myself to blame. Still, I was wearing safety goggles, so what could possibly have gone wrong?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: AdeV on May 19, 2017, 01:04:45 PM
The silliest "over the top" H&S story that happened to me is tame by comparison - one of our clients has a TV screen mounted about 8ft up a wall. Behind it is a mini-PC device, about the size of a paperback book. I need to re-set this, but to reach it I need to go up a ladder. Now... when I say "up a ladder", what I mean is up 3-4 steps of one of those fold-out stepladders.

Oh, no, can't let you do that, unless you've got:
 - A valid "working at height" certificate (basically a piece of paper telling them I know how a ladder works!!
 - Hard hat
 - Hi-viz jacket
 - Steel toe-caps
 - A couple of hi-viz cones to prevent others from entering the "work area".

FFS. I'm a computer programmer. I haven't got any of that shit. I tell them if they can hang on a bit, I've got an orange flashing light (the type you stick on a van roof with a magnet), I can strap it to my head if that helps. And there's loads of traffic cones out on the motorway, I'll nick a couple of them... They were not amused. I told them if I could stand on a chair instead... they politely suggested I leave site & they'd sort it. Oh well, gave me time to have a nice cup of coffee on the way home...

Any H&S type would have had kittens if they'd seen me a few weeks back, 20ft up a rickety wooden ladder taking a security camera off my old workshop. It scared the bejeezus out of me too, the ladder is only about a foot wide, wooden sides & rungs with rusty steel supports (which, thanks to the rust, are probably weaker than the rungs), it wobbles all over the place. Got the job done though, and I hardly died at all. Scariest time was a few years back, I had to re-route a 440v cable from one end of a warehouse to the other (it went up in the middle, and turned left... I needed it to turn right). Same rickety wooden ladder, only this time it had its equally rickety extension piece attached as well, 30ft above some very pointy looking things on the floor, that could have been very nasty if I'd fallen off.

Dunno about you, though, I find that if the danger level is high enough, I take WAAAY more care and pay lots more attention to what I'm doing, than if it's "easy peasy".

IMHO - H&S, or OH&S or OSHA or whatever your regional brand is called, is basically attempting to legislate for common sense, then enforcing it with zealots who have no common sense themselves... I was watching one of the "Making of Dr Who" episodes a while back, so imagine a large cast & crew all wandering about the site location (a school yard IIRC), 2 people wearing hard-hats and hi-viz... yep, the H&S reps. They were also the ones fretting about making the monsters "too scary". FFS. It's Dr Who. The kids are supposed to be crying behind the sofa!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 19, 2017, 04:51:53 PM
Reminds me of a couple of years ago....and I have pictures to prove (most of) it....

We were donated a pile of 13m long poles to use at my paintball range for putting up spotlights for night games (Bad idea BTW, they lasted about a month before they were stolen, cables and all....just the wooden poles remained...the second lost didn't even see a month before they walked too....But I digress...)

Anyways, the time comes after augering and sinking them in about 1m deep into hard clay/shale to string the lights and cables up... No problem, I grab my climbing spikes and shimmy up to the top of the first couple of poles no problem... Then the wind picks up quite badly, gusting about 60km/h or so, and here I am with about 6 poles left to do.... No problem, keep going, only problem is that the damn wind keeps blowing my hammer and tools out of my work vest that I am wearing.... Stuffit, enough is enough, after catching the hammer for the umpteenth time as it tries to go into orbit, I get down and take a look around.... Everybody on the ground is green/white/just about puking - Apparently the top of the pole I was residing at was swaying about 2m each way with every gust - It didn't worry me a bit... But poor old Baz, a mate of mine, who will take on anything except a syringe needle, a spider or a climb above 3ft  was in a really bad way....he was almost comatose from stress after seeing what I was doing....

My reasoning? A climb up to about 3m is dangerous....Fall and you get badly injured or maimed.....Above that - You're dead... Someone else's problem!!

But seriously though, I have done the odd bit of comms cabling on the outside of some pretty tall buildings, antenna tower and high site work and its strange - That doesn't worry me in the least... But stand on a 2m high ladder perched on a slippery floor to change a light bulb... That scares the cr@p outta me!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Tom on May 19, 2017, 09:36:41 PM

"How to run a lathe.  January 1928"

Love it! Thank you for the link! I love old books like that and I'm sure everything in it is just as relevant today as it were back then.
I have emailed the PDF to the Mrs at work so she can print it out on her fancy Collating Photcopier and tonight I should have a nice book of it.
I have a binder myself  so I'll put it together and have it for ongoing reference.

Thanks again. Score of the day!

Since I have a 1927 South Bend lathe this guide is perfect. I've actually done a bit of production work on it lately. Been using a M2 turret adapter in the tail stock. Lots of sharp things to impale ones self with there.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on May 20, 2017, 06:48:55 AM
Safety helmet [check]
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 22, 2017, 09:03:36 AM
Hey Guys,

Interesting view of the "improvised" eye protection bucket - Having worked in the distant past for an abrasives company, the direction of cut vs rotation was not recommended.... If sh!t happens, you want the blade to climb itself out of the work piece not dig itself in deeper and snatch...

On another slightly different note, I have seen a couple of times before, particularly in the "less informed" areas, where chaps are doing welding jobs, no helmet, simply using a brown/green bottle held in front of the eyes with the free hand to do the job.... When I asked the one guy "Why?"....Answer... Its a small weld and the helmet is way over theeeere in the toolbox.....

This weekend I got quite a bit done on the toy I am making (Belt Grinder)... Motor mounted, pulleys aligned, VR pulley set up and tested, tensioner made.... Hey, its a non-electronic analogue VFD... Frequency of input shaft constant, output shaft frequency variable!!

Enough rambling... Time to finish the book work and go mount the belt tensioner....

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: AdeV on May 22, 2017, 10:59:02 AM
WTF?

How are you holding the front two pulleys/belt rollers up? Antigravity? Can't see anything between them, or going back to the machine, except the belt...

Speaking of lunatic welders:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAplLEjTriE

Enjoy!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 22, 2017, 11:12:55 AM
Hi Ade,

Look carefully in that pic of the front rollers... Just behind the belt is a 40x8mm flat bar support for them... Kinda blends in with the crap on the workbench!!

Its not antigravity.... Its my "Replatron Ray".... Thanks Mr Swift!!

Lol

Wonder what he's using for the step-down....if any?

Looks a bit like a ballast from a neon fitting....

Cheers
E
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 23, 2017, 10:38:44 AM
Hey Ade,

Here are a couple more pics of the grinder (Just realised....Its a dual input machine... Utility or Lister powered!!... See, its a Lister topic after all!!).

Last night I put in a couple of hours doing fiddly bits on it, belt backing and work rest to be precise...

You mentioned lunatic welders in a previous post, well, I wish I had a camera over the welding bench yesterday...

This was "Comedy Central" on another level... I first managed to scald my fingers with the arc flame, then when hanging the handle of the rod holder on the nearest convenient projection, I managed to contact the spring on the variable pulley with the tip of the rod, effectively stuffing the spring up, I then grabbed it and hung it on the edge of the bench, where it then found my scribe and burnt the tip off... Grabbed it again and hung it further down the bench, turned round to stick the still smoking fingernails into a bucket of water and bumped the lead to the welder... It then proceeded to weld a stripe across the handles of a set of tin-snips, I spun round, and in grabbing it, manged to scald my other hand slightly on the now "warm" equipment on the bench.... Which turned out to be a 500mm stainless ruler/straight edge that had somehow got involved with the "earthing saga"..... I ended up tossing the electrode on the floor, tripping up on the cables, and plunging both hands into the cold water... The entire time there was a haze of deep blue language tinting the arc laden air.... Ending with a sigh of pleasure as I got the fingertips cooled..... The entire episode lasted about about 5 seconds, no major damage done, just the ego..... At this point, I figured the best first aid would be holding on to an ice cold beverage of choice, which duly ensued.....

Some half hour later, I managed to drag myself to the lathe and continue machining the crown on a pulley I started earlier on in the day... I then lost the chuck key while working... Searched for it for 20min and found it in plain sight where I had put it..... Another beverage was needed to calm the nerves....

Another half hour later, I actually got the bits done that I intended.... All in all...2 hours of stuffing around and 1/2 an hour constructive!!

I think my workshop hates me.....

Keep on funning!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on May 23, 2017, 03:02:43 PM
There is a middle and practical ground between the extremes of no regard for safety and being so safety conscious to the point of being impractical  or actually causing a hazard.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 23, 2017, 04:28:17 PM
Hey Guys....

So true... Of all the things I've lost.... I miss my mind the most!!

Glort: If you do end up chasing the jackhammer around the place.... Remember: What happens on DVR, Stays on Youtube!! (I wanna see it!!)

B&D: If only those of little wit and wisdom could see that!! Rules are to be followed, true, but believe me, any rule is or should be a guideline from those of experience and knowledge to those of lesser.... So often, rules are taken to the extreme as we have all seen, with little regard to the spirit/actual meaning of the rule... Lawyers twist them, others bolster them and eventually you have the good old story of "I present unto you the apple, wholly not excluding pith, including flesh, pips and skin, for you to do with as you see fit with, whether to dispose of, consume or bequeath to another..." .... Instead of just saying... "Here's an apple...Do what you want with it.."

Sometimes the middle of the road isn't quite as easy to see for some as we would all hope!! (Even during the middle of the day with high beams on!)

Keep on chuckling...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: buickanddeere on May 24, 2017, 12:48:19 AM
  I work in the nuclear industry. You should see the rules that workers have to follow , that the managers and engineers have imagined to protect the paper pushers from liability.   
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: Thob on May 24, 2017, 02:38:35 AM
Many years as a hobby welder and I also have had several mishaps with an electrode in the electrode holder.  Recently I was watching youtube videos attempting to improve my welding, and I noticed the weldor always removed the electrode from the holder prior to setting the holder down.  I didn't think much of it at the time, but I've started doing it and found it was much easier than I expected, and much less prone to disasters.  I thought it would be a hassle, but having done it a few times I find myself wondering why I didn't learn that years ago.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 25, 2017, 10:22:08 AM
Hey Guys,

Good tip regarding removing the electrode - Particularly handy if you are well set up and doing a fair amount... Tried it last night and while it worked 50% of the time for me, it became a bit of a chore whilst working alone and tacking up the job prior to doing the main welding itself...

I actually made some progress last night on the little beast... Managed to get the speed control/variable belt tensioner not only made, but fitted as well... Works a treat too... Had a good few laughs while I was at it... Every now and then I needed to sand down and round the odd corner for aesthetics... Found myself plugging in the machine and staring at a spinning motor with no belt on, thinking "What an Idiot!!" .... cant use the machine to make its own parts while its half stripped down!!

But...Nuff sed!!

Here's a couple of pics of the tensioner in a few positions/ratios showing how its set up to work...

Cheers
Ed

PS: Ade, and all you other admins that have put the forum together - The inclusion of attachments is AWESOME!!! Thank you!!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 30, 2017, 08:55:31 AM
Hey Guys...

While on the subject of grinders....

This project is almost complete (Grinder), just the drive belt guard, buffing attachment, motor cover with switch and a few minor odds and ends to do....and paint..... Then I can climb in and re-ring the roid...

I am pretty sure the piston is worn to buggery, was thinking of  laying down a bit of ali with the TiG to build it up and then machine it to fit the bore.... Haven't done that in years! Last one I rebuilt was on a Honda 1000/6 that kept eating cyl 2 or 3's piston...

Anybody done similar lately?

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on June 07, 2017, 01:11:22 AM
I had my worst accident lately by wearing a pair of "crocs" on a wet porch and steps. I walked out the door with steaks in a tupperware bowl....and then I was lying on the steps and stone landing with the steaks beside me, still upright! I evidently kicked the grill 'way out in the yard, it's still there as I'm still mad at it.  I felt like a cartoon, you know how when they step on a banana peel and  rise in the air until they are at a level equal to their height, all the while attaining a completely horizontal position  then fall? That was me. The Doc says 800mg Ibuprofen and muscle relaxers for a while and I'll live.
  I also did the carb adjustment on a stump on a running chainsaw, only cost me a big notch outta my  big toe. :-\
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 07, 2017, 10:12:25 AM
Hmmmmm....

We got some real heavy weather, storms and wind forecast for the next 24hrs+.... I might have to change my postal code if the "earth moves for me"...

Cape Town has had a fairly heavy time, the wind and storms have been lighter in PE from what I have heard, but don't actually know how hard they are being/were hit yet.... The winds are picking up here already, gusting about 40 to 60km per hour... The temp is over 30C and it seems like there is a major front on the way... Been on this property for about 25 years or so and this is the strangest weather I have encountered so far... Really weird!

For some reason, due to the topology of the property, I can have hi winds and thunderstorms with heavy rain... Yet the neighbors, a scant 5-800m away, have no rain or winds... Vice-versa too.... My residence is smack bang on the top of a small rise/hill, pretty much natural vegetation on 3 sides sloping into small valleys, all the nearby places are slightly lower than here... Looks like I will have a bird's eye view of things to come!!

Hold thumbs guys!!

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on June 19, 2017, 06:49:10 AM
I hope you don't get tornadoes or the equivalent thereof "down under"! It sorta sounded like pre-tornadic weather you were describing. They can make for a very tense time and extended cleanup, not to mention the cost of replacing all your "stuff" if you survive the main event.
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 19, 2017, 11:58:40 AM
Hey Guys....

Sorry to keep you all in suspense!! That was not the intention at all!!

We survived the storm that didn't really arrive, only for me to go down health-wise with a suspected dose of "knee moan hear"..... (At least it wasn't Small-cox!!)

I been a bit rough lately and making the best of it, playing on everybody's sympathies and getting multiple cups of coffee delivered to close proximity with only a doleful look being required.... I think they are wising up to it now though, the coffee is getting more and more difficult to procure.....

I have been taking it slow, waiting for my system to get back to its normal "abused" self before I jump into the workshop and start throwing bits of steel around properly... The lungs aren't functioning so well and I end up taking about 2 days to do a 2 minute task... Last week I needed to move a sheet of 20mmx2mx1.2m steel plate into a new storage spot and after 5 minutes of work over a 4 hour period, I finally got it done.... Bloody frustrating!!

With all the "taking it easy" though, I have had a bit of fun with the belt grinder I built, made a few sharp, cutty things as tests and they got some commendable oohs and aahs from the family.... And as a bonus, I still have all my appendages intact, no blood offering to the gods of engineering were needed for a change!!

The belt grinder has also been demoted from "Project" to "Tool" status....Its now mounted to the wall on its swing bracket, hooked to the power and fully functional... There is only one or two tiny things that are needed in the attachment arena, but they can wait and will be made as and when they are needed! I did have to do a quick rethink of things while mounting it up.... There are quite a few accessories that were made and the machine went from a simple grinder to quite a complicated basket of bits overnight....

Enough Rambling...

Some 5 minute cutty things and a pic of the whole grinder thingy in its place of rest....

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: AdeV on June 24, 2017, 11:32:39 AM

We survived the storm that didn't really arrive, only for me to go down health-wise with a suspected dose of "knee moan hear"..... (At least it wasn't Small-cox!!)


Nasty.... I had a dose of that back in 2011 - whilst working away in Turkey for a week. By the time I got back to the UK I could barely walk 20 yards without being out of puff. One night in hospital dosed up to the eyeballs in antibiotics and a week of bed rest and I was more or less OK... but a couple of months later it was back, pneumonia+pleurisy this time, spent 3 weeks in hospital, I was climbing the walls by the time I got out.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on June 25, 2017, 06:37:43 PM
Chemtrails Glort! "They" are spraying us from unmarked airplanes with a noxious concoction designed to make us all sick! ::)
"taking off my tinfoil hat now"
All kidding aside, as I am alone most of the time, the things I have been sick with are pinkeye a couple times, and upper respiratory "krud" it seems for a solid year.
I have been attributing my afflictions to the close proximity of my 2yo Granddaughter. Since she goes to a sitter, preschool really, with 20 other kids she, and in turn I catch all the colds and crap that toddlers seem to keep. Well I'm 55, and haven't been around young'uns for a looong time and my resistance is pretty much nil.
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 31, 2017, 09:08:41 AM
Hey Glort!

Glad to see someone is missing me!! Big dollar, Love you long time!!

I'm still here... The kneeemoanhere hammered me quite badly, but I am pretty much up to about 60% speed again, so I have been burning the candle at both ends to try and catch up with the little chores I needed to do, as well as incidental ones that cropped up in the interim...

Lets see... 2xCategory 2 600x600x1800 safes cracked and then 1 restored, the other returned to owner.... Now I just have to find a convenient way of getting this 400kg behemoth up a few stairs and into the house....

Mini fuel cracking/stilling plant assembled, tested, proof of concept done.... Stilled off about 80L of diesel in various grades during the testing, 100% successful, but a smelly yechhy task.... a lot of fun to play with, but not something I would want to do on a regular basis....(For  a living anyway..)

Building another few Babbington burners, I am going to try and incorporate "hybrid" tech in as much as making them gas or oil fired, with the option of switching across to a vaporizing oil burner for longer runs... Ultimate goal for these is a heat treatment furnace and a small knife/blade forge/furnace for my housemate...

I have picked up 2 anvils (figuratively)..... one, a small 1877 farriers anvil with integral vice has been restored and mounted, complete. The other, a 2 1/2 cwt (130kg) John Brooks, has been mounted and chained, but needs the top edge rebuild and a good dressing, this still needs to be done...

That's what I was up to last week....Anything before that kinda pales into insignificance....

The Listeroids....Yep, they are still there.... I run TM2 every now and then as needed, TM1 needs some attention still since his fit (aka seizure)... I will get around to him once the decks are cleared a bit...

The flatlet reno's are pretty much completed on stage one.... Stage two which is the replacement and extension of the little sunroom/porch roof, can wait a bit... I am not quite as steady as I would like to be and the ladder height falls right in my "scares the crap outa me" zone.... (Up to 1.5m, no problem, fall off and bruise. 1.5-4m, big problem, major injury or lifetime disability in store, this is the "scare the crap outa me" zone. 4m and up, no problem, you fall off, you are dead, someone else's problem...Lol)

Enough rambling....

Time to carry on playing "ketchup"...

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 11, 2017, 11:34:19 AM
Hey Glort,

Are you into your new place yet? Powerlines and utilities suitably disconnected? Listers and Changfas and Cogen and Solar and Oil heaters up and running? Borehole sunk and Wind turbine up yet? Lounge and diningroom converted to workshop and indoor shooting range yet? Neighbors moved out because of "that nutter next door is gonna level the suburb" yet?

All is kewl here...or hot, depanding on the proximity to the burners I built.... I had forgotten how self-satisfying it was to go out to the forge in the evening, frosty in hand, fire it up.... Gaze lovingly at the whispy romantic flames licking gently out the opening while warming a piece of EN45 to a nice cuddly white hot glow..... Then beating the living snot outta the bugger to the faint memories of the day's troubles disappearing into the task at hand.... Can't wait for the housing development to start alongside to the farm...I will have about 2000 surprised faces at 10pm looking out of windows wondering how the industrial revolution suddenly got revived!!

I have been "tinkering" around a bit lately and sorting out the workshop this side too... A lot of the "junk" that has been lying around it has been "consolidated" into working kit... For example: Old pipe fittings+Old Gas Bottle=Forge, Old hydraulic tank+Old submersible coolant pump=Fuel supply for forge, Old pipe fittings+Old brass cupboard door handles+some old 1/4" copper pipe=Burners for forge.... Old offcuts of EN45+Forge+Small hardwood block offcuts=Some pretty useful kitchen knives and other bladed things... Old crowbar(with broken end)+forge=New crowbar!! The list goes on and on...So much fun, so little time!

I did relent and buy a replacement wood band saw the other day.... Stupidly, some years back, I gave mine to a mate who was starting a small business... Also managed to pick up a little electric scroll saw for finicky things...

TM1...? Well, he is still sitting and staring at me dolefully while I been hammering out the some toys...I will get around to sorting him out soon....(I Hope)...

On a slightly different note, but one of joint interest, the burners I made up are "hybrid" if that's the correct term, Babbington and Vaporizing burners... I haven't got round to running them at full tilt on a larger task yet, but initial tests look great. They are conventional Bab's with the capability of forced air from the rear - Light em up on the Bab's and once warmed up (If long burner tubes or a combustion chamber is used), switch off the air flow to the Bab section and turn on the blower while still feeding in fuel over the Bab ball... this juice then gets carried into the heated chamber and really gets the temp up.... How's that one for different? .... Oh, btw, they also can run as propane burners too.... Just shut down the oil flow and switch from compressed air to LPG... The rear vent holes draw enough air in to get things working quite well!! The only fiddly bit in making them up was getting a hole size that suits the average of air/gas flow for dual operation.... It ended up to be a nice round figure of .75mm diameter in the Bab ball....

Here's a pic of the thing being test fired and a couple of pics of the burners and the fuel tank with pump (The rear air feed adapters aren't in place on the burners, I re-appropriated the fittings for another task..).... (And a little one hour free form toy blade I made from scratch, forged, ground and then furnished!....which I cant attach because it goes past the 4 file limit....)

Lol...i will sneak in a solitary pic on the next post .... Man, the admins are such tolerant, brilliant guys to allow topic drift!! I wish all the forums I have ambled around were like this one!!

Ade & Co. - Thanks for the leniency!! (And it goes without saying, thanks heaps for all the admin you put in to keep this an enjoyable little cyber-nook!)

Keep on thumping...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 11, 2017, 11:39:25 AM
That little "sneak pic" post I alluded to in previous post...

Sorry about the pic quality.... Good camera on phone, bad eyes on operator!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 15, 2017, 09:45:36 AM
Hey Glort,

One of the most stressful things for a guy is moving house and home.... I feel for you!!

On the bright side, look at all the lovely stuff you have rediscovered!! I get that everytime I walk into a storeroom round here.... Although, the other day, I was moaning about a large woodworking vice that I was looking for and couldnt track down.... The chap I was chatting to got a perplexed look on his face and said...."But you gave that vice to me about 10years ago, remember, when you moved office...." ..... Sure enough, it sparked off a twinkle of light in the dim, distant past and I remembered passing it on to him..... Sheepishly, I changed tack and found something else to moan about losing.... Luckily, there was nobody present that had been given given the next item!!

Currently I am "Consolidating Projects" .... That is a larny way of saying of putting scrap bits together to make another pile of scrap, sometimes usable, mostly interesting, but at least all the little scrap bits get put together into a single, easily portable unit! Last night, for example, I put together the basic chassis and bits to make a "Hot Roller" for my housemate. If it works according to my plan, it will be a manual hot steel roller to draw out stock to make blade blanks for some knife-smithing he wants to do.... The parts came from various old scrap piles and I was surprised at the lack of new parts requirement for the little, but heavy beast.... Unfortunately, there is no way to test the concept for me without pretty much completing the little bugger... But hey, if it doesn't work, it will make a very interesting mechanised anchor.... Its heavy enough!!

Steam Punk Bathroom..... Brings to mind "Bloody Stupid Johnson's" invention at the Unseen University.... All hail Pratchett!! .... I have a small and pretty much unused balcony leading off of my main bedroom... I have been collecting antique bathware to install an old CI ball and claw bath with exposed copper piping and the like ... I thought I was the only nutter around....

Enough rambling....

Time to try and earn a few bucks to feed the various mechanical habits I have....

Keep on splashing.....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 15, 2017, 10:00:15 AM
Hey Guys,

In the spirit of being way off topic... (as usual)... and recycling all the bitso junk I have around here, I put together an interesting device over the last couple of weeks in my spare time...

It started off with the "great workshop clean out" and is the continuation of the consolidation of piles of scrap into the little projects I have had in mind over the last while (read that as 25 years worth of collecting crap and clogging the basements)...

After tripping over hydraulic rams and piping, off cut 20mm steel plate, and an old "knuckle press" in the one storeroom, I finally had enough and decided to put them together into something that required less than a gallon of sweat to operate and put to use. What I came up with was a cute and compact little 300kg block of welded bits that puts out about 15000kg of press force on low setting at 75mm stroke on low setting and goodness knows how much force at about 40mm of stroke at high setting (Haven't played in this arena yet)... All in a compact bench top unit about 1/2m tall and less in width and depth.

I have needed a decent press for a while now, the bodily joints are playing up and its kinda painful even working the chuck on the lathe, embarrassing to say the least!! Hammer work gives me aches and pains for days after, the elbows et al are not what they used to be!!

The press itself is a hydro-mechanical unit, with a "rocker arm" with 2 positions for the fulcrum. This effectively doubles the force but halves the stroke. The ram runs at 150mm stroke and is about 4" in diameter, the working pressure I am limiting it to is around 80bar, but I have tested it to 110bar with no ill effect. The power pack/tank unit is one that has been lying around for ages and can be coupled to anything needing a squirt of oil to get moving, I only need to install a pair of quick-couplers still to make it fully portable.

I do see, in the not too distant future, a small mod coming up on TM2 that will incorporate a hydraulic pump and compressor into his workings, to allow for full workshop operation off grid, something that I had not accounted for in his initial put-together. Has anybody on the forum done similar yet?

Here are a couple of pics of ELP (Evil Little Press) before I paint him up and hide all my crappy welding!!

And here is a link to a folder where there are a couple of vids of him squashing various things during testing... Sorry about the "jitters" but my camera lady was one of the daughters... She is quite "jumpy" (having been living here for the past few years, I wonder why?)... http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/ELP 20170915 (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/ELP 20170915)

An interesting little toy to have access to, and something that has been way overdue....

As to TM1, he stares dolefully at me, still waiting for me to do his rings and cylinder...... But hey, Rome wasn't built in a day!!

Keep on squishing!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 22, 2018, 11:46:40 AM
Hey Guys,

After a looooong absence from the keyboard, I have finally got something more in line to post... Okay, not a Lister(oid) type post, but at least, not like my more recent ramblings, something to do with diesel engines and gensets....

I finally (after I guess about 3 years) got down to rebuilding my DEK5000 auto-start silent runner diesel genset. Uncle Dek got a major belting by a ground lightning strike quite a while back - It took out the alternator, some of the switching hardware and generally made him quite grumpy and useless!!

This past weekend I wheeled him out to the workshop and did a full post-mortem on him... (bear in mind that he went to two local emporiums for refurbishment as was required by insurance, and both of them pronounced him DOA and not worth the mixed weight of scrap metal... Which of course prompted me to build TM1 a good while ago.)

Well, what an interesting weekend it was... Yes the alternator as a whole was pretty knackered, but the windings are good, no shorts to earth or leakage noted whatsoever - the problem with it (its a brushless unit) is that one of the diodes on the armature is a bit leaky and breaking down - full current is not a possibility with this going on. The second problem is that the capacitor on the exciter winding is really crappy and leaky electrically too - This causes slow energizing of the main fields etc and lack of energizing altogether if the revs drop slightly below the 50hz mark.... Both very easy problems to sort out... But hey, in for a penny... more on this later....

As to the switching hardware that got blown out....Well, Uncle Dek is not exactly standard, one of the first things to get tossed out and replaced with something decent was the crappy DPDT switch-over relay that auto switches between Mains and Gen when he gets fired up... The original shitty relay was replaced with 2x well over-rated Omron contactors on a din rail behind the front fascia.... One contact was burned out on one of them so it required moving the wires to the spare contact (3 phase contactor of which only 2 sets of contacts are used on single phase) and all is well.... While I was at it, I installed a hour/watt/amp/frequency/volt meter through the fascia so I can tell what is happening at a glance.... All good so on to the next niggly bit....

The exhaust/tailpipe was touching against and vibrating the back cover, so I took a look at that with the 10t press and got that re-aligned (Thanks mister fetch and carry courier for bending it)... An exhaust leak was fixed and sorted.... Do those little hexagonal things on the exhaust studs really have to be tightened?

On to the other side of the unit.... Hmmm....that silly little square box with thick cables bolted to it looks way too small for comfort...Extend the tray and put a smallish car battery in, a little Vaseline and it fits/slips in quite easily... Oh look, there is space on the door for a couple of female "banana sockets"... lets stick them in while we are at it so the battery can be charged and topped off without opening the thing up... Am I the only twit that has this problem? .... Aaaaah, while I am at it, and the drain is accessible, lets throw out the sump gunk and stick in some nice new syrup....done!!

Right....now that poor old alternator, what to be done here? ...(Of course, by this stage, I have confirmed that everything else, ie the niggly bits, are all in operation, engine starts and runs as well as holds revs stably )... Lo and behold, lying under my bench is an old Wally-Mart alternator that I converted to belt drive a year or 3 ago by employing a bit of band-sawery and Lathery and removed the suck-squeeze-bang-blow pieces.... I wonder if it will fit? Sure as nuts, it strips the same, bolts the same, tapers the same onto the crankshaft.... only difference is that this bugger is from a 6.5kva petrol and it has an AVR, and its brushed, and it only has one,not two 14vAc windings for internal charging/external 13.8 supply... Stuffit, close enough, in it goes!!

Well, after a good dose of genset proctology - These silent runners need a degree in plumbing to get the ducting on/off/not rattling, I got the "new alt" in and spinning - Set voltage, set frequency, load test....all ok!

A good bit of workshop social with the mates popping in and out (Naturally sporting a carry in of a couple of cold ones, they were not turned away I might add, the weather was around 38C and 95% RH...) Uncle Dek was pampered, spruced, fueled and carried back to his place of residence after a good few hours of testing...

The only thing left to do, should I decide I want to that is, is to put a fascia changeover switch in to select internal/external DC charging....Buggrit, that can wait till another day.....

I fell into the shower last night only too glad for a forthcoming restful Monday at work!!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed

PS- Guys, sorry I haven't responded directly to any of your comments and writings of late, life has just been so much fun out here in the real world, I have been a bit remiss!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 23, 2018, 12:01:09 PM
Hey Glort,

The timing on my DEk doesnt seem too far out - It has rubber engine mountings, and barring startup and shutdown, there is little shake, even for a single cyl hi speed diesel - Startup and shutdown are another matter though, the engine uses the elastic limit of the mountings to the full, the high compression and low speed make it a beast indeed....

TM1 is still staring at me dolefully from his glass castle, begging for my attention.... I tactfully and respectfully avert my eyes whenever I pass him by... TM2 loves long runs in the dark, no leash required, he is on 4xthin motorcycle tyre tread type pads, not for vibration, but to stop his footsies from getting wet as there is a thin sheet of water that trickles through underneath him when it rains... He is well behaved, has 2x sets of flywheels on as mentioned previously, and runs at a mere 650 rpm or so(Hardly any flicker on the lights, and the APC ups's like him too)... I regularly draw 3 to 4kw from him and have yet to have him roll the coal properly.... His cooling is a 200L drum, thermosyphon, with cooling jackets on the exhaust as well... The longest I have run him was around 12hrs at a single stretch, the coolant wasnt boiling even though it was a fairly warm day/evening, but he runs on demon-dyno and seems to like it ....

Currently I am playing yo-yo with a ladder, me being the yo-yo, the ladder being the string....My damn room aircon has decided that the best place to deposit condensed water is directly over one of my "ornament shelves" in the main bedroom... A right PITA as the "ornaments" happen to be some of my more pricey, not the cheap shitty, Gamo and SamYung PCP and underlever springer 4.5 an 5.5mm air rifles...Grrrr...lotsa cleaning and oiling in my immediate future... well, at least the predicted thunderstorms arent here while I am replacing the piping on the outside wall.... Until I unspool the electric lead and get the drill out... Surefire way to get it to rain!! (While I am at it, I am installing a small catch tank to catch the distilled condensed water from the aircon, I am sure that it will be a bit better for topping off batteries and the like than rainwater....

Right....let me get to it.... Enough of this rambling...time to fix my comfort cooler!!

Keep it spinning

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on January 24, 2018, 05:14:57 PM
.............I want to test an idea for putting a " wetback" on a panel. Thinking of getting some wood strips and silicone them on to the back of a panel.  Coat copiously in waterproof marine varnish and put a lid on it with an in and out fitting and some wood strips in the middle to make the water travel .
Should heat the water and keep the panel cooler.  Water could go through a HE for domestic hot water or through a radiator for home heating.
Reckon there could be a lot of energy to be gained in something like that. 

Don't be surprised if it's a looser.  You are not the first to think of it.  Several points to think through:
Water mixed with electricity
power usage of the pump
thermal losses
corrosion issues with PV panel vs cooling fluid
extra weight
failure modes - loosing coolant or pump power
thermal expansion of different materials causing stress
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on January 25, 2018, 02:34:07 AM
it's been done before:    google : hybrid PV water heater panels


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_thermal_hybrid_solar_collector
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261915010958
http://www.tessolarwater.com/zeuspv-t.html

But nobody makes any with long term success, that are affordable.

The tedlar (white plastic back sheet) has a very thin EVA adhesive that directly glues it to the backside of the silicon wafers.  How much extra weight that can carry is unknown.

Good luck, you know what to look out for.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 09, 2018, 04:39:06 PM
Honey.....I'm Home!!

Well, after TM1 dolefully staring at me over the last few months, I finally decided to whip off his lid and take a look see at what is ailing him... (Guys - don't die of shock, I am still around, still kicking, still blowing things up for fun!!)

Sum total of interesting observances so far - (Haven't opened the bottom end up yet, so maybe a bit more to come...)

Exhaust valve - not seating properly, much hissing, wheezing and blowing... Probably the greatest reason for non starting.
Head and IDI chamber - Well and truly gunked up, lots of wet carbon deposits - bad combustion was happening for sure.
Cylinder walls - very smooth, no scoring immediately evident, but the top section has some definite nasties happening around where the last inch or so of the travel for the top ring(s) do their thing - It is usable, but I think I will resleeve it for good measure and drop in a new piston as well... I will probably be able to rebore the cylinder and I have a couple of fancy-schmancy ideas I want to try and incorporate on the piston - things like raised lands adjoining the ring grooves, teflon button/strips on the piston skirt to name but a couple, but also, just maybe, I might try and make up a steel insert to hold the top ring in place for shitz and giggles, kinda goes with the whole "crude fuel" theme... Depends on how much time I find to play!! (Anything done to it will only make it better than it currently is...)

I have just got word from my spares supplier, cost of spares for the upper rebuild (Head Gasket, Piston. Sleeve, Rings and Small End bushing come to about 25% of a new engine... Not overly cheap, but would rather have my modded sub assembly over a new one - Hands down!

Well, Lets see what tomorrow brings - I am going to pull off the cyl and take a good gander at the mod I did to the piston (I added a double top ring to see how it would stand up to crewdfewl...). Unfortunately, due to the seize when the oil pump packed up, the wear would be "somewhat accelerated". But, that being said, TM1 still laboured on digesting nasty stuff for a good couple of hours after being unceremoniously unseized by farm style levers and a good dollop of lube down his nose!!

Enough rambling - time to go do something different for a while(Water the garden).... Oh yes, I have been quite busy - a goodly sized veggie garden has been bush cleared, ploughed, rotivated, planted, irrigated weeded, irrigated, weeded, irrigated, irrigated irrigated, weeded, irrigated and is now being harvested....

Holy shite.... Time flies!!

Keep on harvesting...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 10, 2018, 09:15:32 AM
Hey Glort,

Was running WI until the last stroke... He seized due to a oil pump problem and wasnt the same compression wise after the unceremonious levering with a crow bar to get him moving again... Compression was a "bit down" and he started to roll coal through incomplete combustion - no amount of WI could keep him alive after that and he just gradually carboned up and got too difficult to start, even with an electric starter - too much blow by....

I am gonna take him back to standard rings/sleeve config, then play with the worn stuff and rebuild them if I can... will be interesting I think... I have done teflon/ptfe piston guide buttons before, also in 2 strokes, removes a lot of side clatter but did wear after a while, they were hot runners on methanol/nitro mix - scary power and revs from 125 size machines... The scariest was a 50cc Yamahaha engine we got up to about 20k rpm... a real screamer!!

TM2 is on DemonD - recyclyed and reclaimed from previously water contaminated, going well and used in a  backup power roll....

Get those wheels spinning properly! Once you get them off I can give you a few hints to get the beast running smoother than ever, at various rpm - well worth it too  - It seems a daunting task, but I have found, once done, its almost easier to pop the wheels off before moving the machine in fact!

Keep it spinning,

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 10, 2018, 03:19:26 PM
Hey Guys,

Right...so went to play with the toys and took the head apart, the exhaust seating valve seating was a bit crappy/leaky... Interesting!

The exhaust valve itself is not in bad shape, a bit of stem wear, but nothing too serious. The seat on the other hand, is BAD! (With a capital F!!)

The seat is crazed and pitted, way beyond what I would call usable (Bear in mind, usable to me is a pretty lenient term!) I have just called up a local bunch and asked them for a quote to cut out and reseat it, will find out in a few minutes...

The inlet on the other hand, is perfect, hardly any wear, little to no evidence of any nasties at all... I think, that the goop TM1 has been running on probably has not only a solid residue in the form of fine abrasive when burnt, but might also be somewhat acidic in nature once gone boom... The exhaust seat has bad corrosion and is starting to back into the head, around one mm in fact...

A year or 2 back, TM1 had a similar problem before... I simply put TM2's head on and kept going, subsequently, the original head was refurbished and installed on TM2, no problems since... but... then again, he only runs intermittently on DemonD anyway... It seems as if the CI on both the heads I have is not particularly strong and fine....very large grained and high in carbon to boot... Also, one must remember, the by-products of the goopfuel are pretty nasty, so a bit of leeway is in order...

Ah, the local boys have just called with a quote... ZAR470 to cut out and replace the seat... a bit steep I think, but hey, someone has borrowed my seat cutter and they haven't returned it yet (and I cant remember who it was anyway), so stuffit, contract it out!!

Right.... Still haven't gotten round to pulling the cyl off yet...I am almost tempted to redo the head and slap it back on for a bit of a trial run to see if he will start and run for a while... There is not much that can be stuffed up further than it is, barring the bottom end which is at a greater risk standing open than closed up anyway....(An oil/filter/fuel filter change and flush wouldn't be a bad idea too..)

In the meantime, I think I will go over the injector and pump, setup the timing and check the IP lobe... There might be a bit of a problem there, but hey, all good fun! Plenty to tinker with!! (Not to mention the leak in the radiator which is going to be a real PITA to get to!)

Lets see what the whims and fancies lead me to.....

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on May 10, 2018, 10:00:54 PM
Sat here listing to the Toy Dolls and reading stuff like this, whilst putting away the last of the Captain Morgans makes me wish the fingernails I'm chewing had more of a diesel flavour................

Cheers Ed

Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 16, 2018, 12:58:05 PM
Hey Guys....

Some more musings and ramblings from "Darkest Afrique".....

Anybody not interested in non-Lister, choose another channel.... Well maybe not, I might be able to squeeze in the "L-Word" somewhere I suppose....

Parts ordered (Sleeve/Piston/Rings/Head Gasket), exhaust valve seat cut out and new fitted, I now sit back, licking my wallet-wounds and when my strength returns, I will assemble the head and wait for the rest of the parts....but.......meantime.......In a land far, far away, not as far as "Down Under" I'll admit, but far, far away (Compared to the rest of the civilized world anyway), there once was an old chap, young at heart, who decided to put waste crud to good use.... (Old engine oil, specifically...).... He has had a reasonable amount of success, some interesting things, and, to boot, a lot of fun doing it, but I digress...

Ultimately, I have found out that having a fuel filter fail on a waste oil powered engine, leads to interesting and very speedy wear on any part that is in contact with said waste fuel, whether it be sliding or slipping or rotating in a coating of this unholy gunk! What I initially thought was residual damage from an earlier seize (Lets not get too deep into this again!) seems to be of a somewhat different nature. There is no galling or scraping or metal deposit type damage evident, but what is evident, is wear.... Lots of it!! All of this excessive wear seems to be located in the upper regions of the old chap - Valve stems, particularly exhaust valve, cylinder - particularly the upper section in the combustion area, injector - tip mainly, polished/recalibrated and salvaged, injector pump - element quite badly worn, particularly the lower section of stroke, IP non-return valve - seat and plunger showing abrasive wear, injector pipe - fine solids, black/brown/dark and of almost "talcum powder" grain size found while rinsing out, fuel line 1(Diesel reserve tank) - nice and clean, little, if any nasties found, Fuel line 2(Day tank, recycled goop) .... well, lets just say that I will toss it away, too much crap in tow.... Everything is pointing at my super duper disposable element, bought off the "specialists", 1 micron filter having failed and let through some good old sandy shite.....

Time to change the plan of attack, and go back to a way earlier idea for the beast involved.... (that's besides tossing out the POS filter system and going back to a regular diesel filter)

Some long while back, in the internet time scale of things (Pre dinosaur relatively speaking.), I endeavored to still some oil using the exhaust gas energy  - not really successful, because while there was enough "energy" to get the whole thing almost working, the energy was too widely dispersed by the exhaust gas and not concentrated enough to be of worthwhile use for the task... I subsequently, after a bit of dallying about, made up an independent "oil still" and very successfully stilled off a good bit of fuel... About 100L or thereabouts if I remember correctly, but don't quote me on this...  It was a fair return too... about 75 to 85% recovery, sometimes a bit less, sometimes a bit more depending on what goop got fed into the reactor/boiler chamber... the 15 to 25% or so overhead was from running the burner, as the burner was fueled from the same waste stock as the boiler feed...

While dallying about over the past recent while, I have slowly been collecting bitso shitso to put together a more reliable, easier to operate, and hopefully safer method of stilling the fuel from the gunk... A good few "improvements" have been made to the mechanism - The only original parts of the old still that have been retained are the boiler/reactor tank, heat shroud and burner - I will "upgrade" the burner a little to give a bit better consumption and operation, heat from it is way more than enough, even as it now stands....

One of the most "concerning" features of the original still was an open to air "float" bowl to maintain a constant level... This was prone to flash combustion as the feed stock warmed up, and, depending on the volatility of the stock (lighter petroleum concentration) there was a risk of the bowl flaming and requiring extinguishing... not difficult, not particularly dangerous either if caught soon enough, but far from ideal, as it could possibly develop quite a blaze and most definitely would be able to burn off fuel feed hoses et al, leading to a way more serious situation than I would want....

I hopefully, have now (still to test), managed to make up an enclosed float bowl capable of ingesting and metering pretty much any liquid that I feed it. It is made from an old self emptying water trap that was used on a steam line, with inverting it and changing the flow direction, adding a few pipes and a bit of "dark art" engineering (The blood sacrifice to the gods of levers, cogs and pipes when I nicked the side of my hand on a #36 belt on the belt grinder...), I think I might be on the way to a semi unattended type of processor...

If it pans out, I think there will be the small addition of a belted compressor and tank added to TM1(to run the burner).... So TM1 will be consuming sump gunk(main task), making hot water(main product), making electricity(secondary product), making compressed air(Burner running), generating distillate fuel oil(always handy to have a bit extra around as well as running himself on it)....and....above all... Having fun!!

Keep it Spinning/Cooking/Pumping/Heating....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 22, 2018, 12:00:07 PM
Hey Glort...

Sorry it took so long to reply...been busy playing....

The filter failure was on the engine side, its a last ditch guard for particle contamination that could make its way through the fuel processing bits... I think there were actually a combination of errors, and the last trap failed as well...no matter, all fun!

I have a sneaking suspicion that some of the WMO that I had included in the process line was actually WICOFBSG (Waste Industrial Coolant Oil From a Bloody Surface Grinder) - Laden with what appears to be Aluminium oxide and Silicon Carbide grinding wheel residue.... then again, maybe some lazy SOB just took the shop floor sweepings and dropped them into the waste oil collection drum... Who knows! (School fees - A more thorough method of processing will be required!!)

I have almost completed my small scale oil stilling plant, man oh man, it is made up of some really "diverse" bits of plumbing and junk - not a pretty toy, but quite effective to say the least! There is one last bit of plumbing to install, and that is to drain the main hot tank to flush out the solids during operation.... I have worked out a way to do it, now just to implement and install it...

Running the creature seems, at this stage, pretty unspectacular, which is a good thing, I DONT like surprises when handling 3 to 500C oil... The duller life is, the better!

I have found that the only "interesting times" are during initial startup, thick, fresh, mildly water contaminated oil - As the first bit of product warms up, water starts to condense on the inside of the cold chamber and pools in small quantities causing small pockets of flash steam - the chip fryer effect - and that causes a bit of the "pucker factor" to develop - once it has come up to temp though, the bulk of the water is dropped in the line and can be drained during operation - I also suspect, that with the piping layout as I am scheming (and muddling) it through, is that once the feed line is near fully filled with water, due to the higher SG of water vs Oil, the feed bowl will shut off and prevent further ingress of mixed goop to the reactor chamber....

In a nutshell, the basic description of the machine is as follows:

1 - Feedstock Inlet control (via a float level to maintain a constant head of goop to supply the heated chamber) - This has a valve to cut off supply, a drain valve to drain any sedimentary moisture, an overflow vent for if the level of the float becomes erratic, a breather vent to atmosphere on the top of the level control chamber to prevent any siphoning effect and a "mid level" outfeed that is above the bottom of the float chamber to avoid settled water..

2 - Long U-Shaped feed pipe that drops out of the feed bowl and slopes upward towards the boiler, the final climb to the boiler is a steep one, this allows for settling water, as the feedstock warms up, to drop away from the boiler inlet. This also has a drain cock on its lowest point, this allows for periodic checking and draining of any water during operation. One "feature" of this pipe is that it has 3 couplings on it, this allows for the seemingly "random" slopes to be set, as well as easier, more compact, storage when stripped down.

3 - The boiler+burner/reactor/pucker factor creator - this is a simple babbington type burner, operating between 1 and 6 Bar, fueled by raw waste goop - Heats a heavy wall pipe type chamber, bottom sealed with removable flange type top - The inlet to the boiler is at the bottom on the side, a 3/4" pipe, near horizontal. The exit is also 3/4", at the top, sloping slightly upward to allow boiled splash to run back into the chamber. This is elbowed vertically, reduced to 1/2" and rises about 200?mm to exit, via an elbow to the condenser. The overall height of the boiler is about 300mm and around 3"diameter. Around this gubbins is a light walled pipe to act as a flame guide and the burner fired into a small flame space below it. The clearance for the flame guide is about 10mm all the way round the boiler, the cavity below it is about 40mm..

4 - Condenser - this is a straight run of copper pipe, 1/2" dia about 4' to 5' long - it is jacketed by a 1"galv pipe filled with water - the jacket has a open reservoir tank at top and a cold water feed at the bottom, water thermo syphons in this little little loop, able to be topped up as needed... Exit temp of the condensate are around 5 degrees warmer than the coolant - so plenty of cooling capacity for what energy I am putting in to it.....

Operation - The feedstock and the fuel for the burner are from the same supply - They can be separated, easily and quickly, this is done by quick coupler.

Once oil is flowing to the works, open the air to the burner and light it up - A stable flame is attained within a minute or two, once the burner warms up.

Listen for flash steam from moisture in the boiler, if there are "chips starting to fry" - wear your brown pants, shut off the heat, wait for the popping to stop, warm it up slowly to cook of the moisture....

Once it is up to temperature, the distilled product starts flowing and it is pretty much a spectator sport thereafter. If you reach saturation point for the boiler contents and output product flow diminishes, either, (a) Step up the heat a bit to fracture the remaining product, or (b) dump the saturated product to waste for flame disposal or painting fence posts or tarring your road. Either way, but the (b) option particularly, is of high pucker factor - this is because of the possibility of introducing high moisture content oil into a reactor chamber of around 300C - BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN!!

This brings me to the next little bit of plumbing I am wanting to implement - the hot residue drain, dumping directly from the chamber to a waste reciever..... (Pucker factor is a way of life I reckon).... My idea: a co-axial drain pipe down the center of the last section of pipe that feeds the boiler....I wonder if it will work....?

Oh, you might ask...Why go to all this puckering trouble....Simple - I am LAZY! If I can distill fuel easily and effectively, no filtering or other treatment is needed, except as a cautionary procedure, a' la' the standard inline filters as are normally found...

Yes, Glort, a 'fuge would be a lovely to to have - it is on my wish-I-had-time-and-materials-to-build-it-list, I am almost there in that respect - only a few more things to get........but - distilling is so much fun, I just cant help myself!!

On another note, I picked up a lovely little v-twin compressor last Sunday, with, happily, 2x unloader poppets on the heads and an unloader regulator on the tank... This is an IDEAL candidate to add to TM1 (there is a bit of space left on his chassis)....

Ah, another thing - the replacement gaskets, cylinder, rings and piston have arrived!!

Ok, enough of my BS rambling....

Keep it Cooking!!

Cheers
Ed

PS - The usual disclaimer - don't try this at home kids!! Hot oil and the like kinda acts like a great solvent for dissolving skin, paint and life!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 24, 2018, 10:24:35 AM
Fun times....

Fitted the co-axial drain to the boiler and it works a treat....

Here is a really crappy quality video I took on my old clapped out cellphone to show a bit of its operation... Really bad quality, late evening, crappy lighting, bad operator.... etc etc etc...

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Oil Fractioning and Distilling (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Oil Fractioning and Distilling)

I have found that with the heat turned up high, a fairly good fracture occurs and the blend I am getting is akin in visco to power paraffin and the combustibility of it is quite a bit better than paraffin as well.... I rate this as a fair success, considering the feedstock is waste sump oil and tailings from various industrial applications. In appearance, the input product is thick waste "slime" akin to 80W goop, the output is a brown-hued liquid around 5W, with the residual tailings amounting to less than 5% (Guestimated, based on flow rates) being a very thick, black liquid, full of solids (Carbon, and god knows what) that is probably just slightly thinner than grease.....

If anybody is interested, I will make a daylight video of the operation and add it to the URL...

On plan is to make a small vapour trap to condense and capture some of the light ends rather than waste vent to atmosphere...

Enough rambling....

Time to do some work to pay for the toys!!

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 04, 2018, 11:46:27 PM
Hey guys...

First off.... is anybody still reading my nonsensical ramblings or do I post to "lost sectors and bad clusters"?   :o

Its been an interesting week of "raw material" processing... I have burnt/cracked/distilled my way through about 300+L of various grades of gunk, all successful, without incinerating myself or any of the household pets... A win in my books!

All in all, I currently have on hand as of this evening, 125L of cracked/distillate fuel that I need to test in TM1 when he is up and running again, as well as about 100L of distilled mineral turpentine that has come out beautifully, if I might boast a bit...(as well as about 20L of high carbon fencepole preservative)

I have found that I am getting around 25L distillate out of 35L contaminated in, with a residue of about 3L... the 7L difference being consumed by the burner to generate the required heat.

It is a tedious, boring, but somewhat rewarding process... it needs a lot of kiss and cuddle to keep running smoothly, but left to its own devices for an hour or two, all that happens is that output drops a bit, nothing spectacular, which is good!

Output volume is low, around 3 to 4L per hour when fracturing and up to 5L per hour for distilling.... I have been keeping the volumes quite low due to the small cooking chamber I am using, push it too heavily and the crud gets carried up into the condenser causing a bit of contamination, something to be avoided...

One good thing that has come of this - I have managed to knock together an interesting little burner to retrofit onto TM1's exhaust inlet... this will allow me to burn off the really bad shite and use the heat via the exchangers ... Barring a bit of carbon to be cleaned out afterwards (get the washing off the lines, ladies), it should be an interesting excercise... I am guestimating a usage of about 1 to 2L of gunk burnt a day to heat up a few hundred litres of bathing water....

On another note, we managed to get the mast up for a small wind turbine yesterday... Got a bit of wiring done on it too... Now "just" the matter of sorting out the guy wires and fitting the head and we will be in business.... We have sited it adjacent to the workshops for testing and evaluation, not the best area for wind harvesting, but by far the most convenient for testing and monitoring. If it passes the tests and come reasonably close to what I am hoping, the actual site for placement has way better aero properties and wind velocities are something to the tune of 30% better than the test location... But, no ways am I going to plough in around 50m of cabling until I am damn sure its going to be worth it!

Oooh..... Just realised it.... I don't think I mentioned the turbine before... Blasphemous I know, but hey.... Its a smallish 1/2kw unit, 3ph gen, self feathering, 24VDcBus with charge and dump controller, has facilities for 200w of solar assist built in, 600W pure sine wave inverter, came with all nuts bolts clamps, guys and poles, base included too.... just add 24v of lead acid and wires from the head to the controller and away you go... I picked it up, unused, from a mate who bought 2 and only installed one... Pulled the bubble wrap off 3 days ago and started getting it up and running... Its a 3 blader, with about 2.3m diameter.... I am keen to get it flying! Unfortunately the inverter is not a grid tie unit, nor intelligent either, for that matter, but I am busy working on a !different! method of tying it in to the household... If it works out, I shall share, if it doesn't I shall caution...

Right, enough of my inane B.S....

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on June 05, 2018, 03:19:00 AM
Bravo on the distillation, Ed. No small bit of engineering there!

I'll be interested to read of your wind turbine assessment.  I have a fantastic location for it, right next to my battery bank on top of the highest hill for miles around...and no trees.  Alas, no standard units for a 120VDC system, and in truth I've now got more PV power than I need. Very dark days in Arizona are rare.  I'd originally planned for rewinding a big truck alternator based unit built by a local wind outfit. Worst case was I'd need to cobble a 3 phase variac to adjust voltage dynamically before rectifying.


Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 05, 2018, 09:59:02 AM
@Bruce:

Hi Bruce,

Will do re the blow gennie.... 120VDc is an uncommon one indeed, but I wonder if it would be possible to stick a 3Ph txformer on and step up the voltage to 120VAc or thereabouts before rectifying and doing it that way?

Dunno how the transformer would handle the varying frequency though...interesting problem, but not insurmountable I dont think....

Thanks for the compliment too!

@Glort:

Thanks mate! A pat on the head always appreciated!!

The process is slow - Going big is easy, same in burner terms - little processes need very fine adjustments and are quite unforgiving due to the lack of "buffer" capacity that causes things to change, usually suddenly, and also generally not for the better either...

I am producing, or capable of producing, cracked and stilled fuel at a rate of roughly double that I would normally consume it (Average consumption of fuel is around 1L/Hr when running the household on TM1) - this is a "self sufficiency" type of experiment more than anything else I suppose, but it has raised the eyebrows of a few of the visitors and they have tentatively inquired as to how much I am selling the stuff for.... Lol... If I was gonna sell it, I would have gone way bigger from the start and not pissed around with this piddly little thing!

Turps distillation is "just because I have it" type scenario... Its damn expensive to buy here, ZAR40 or thereabouts per Litre... and it seems a waste to just burn it off for heat, so I will use it as a cutter as well as cleaning those special bits that come up from time to time...

...
..
.
..
...

Hmm.... A thought just surfaced from this addled cesspit of a mind that I reside in.... If I take the tailings from the cracking pot, at about 250C, feed them into the fuel line just before the burner.... No waste pot to keep checking on, a preheated fuel source for the burner, burning the junk residual for energy to keep the process going....

Damn, I thought I was finished with this thing..... It never ends, does it!!

Right, lemme go test the theory.....

Keep on Cooking....

Cheers
Ed

Edit: Just finished a mini "fuel mixing manifold" for the burner... I am now taking the tailings and mixing them into the fuel stream on a variable ratio basis... I can start from cold, using the fresh fuel from the fuel tank, then, when warmed up, start feeding in the drain from the cracking pot/boiler to sustain the combustion... I did a "hot swap" of the fuel manifold, the boiler was up to temperature and the machine was running while I made it. It is now running solely on the tailings coming into the burner at, I guess, around 150 to 200C - Man this stuff lights up nicely when warmed up!! Its burning better, or seems to be better, than when I am running fresh and cold contaminant down the gullet!!

Time will tell, as the return to the fuel tank contains some of the liquid tailings from the boiler (Babbington Burner, sorry Glort!!) - I have put a small "solids" trap in the boiler return line, hopefully this will prevent most of the concentrated yuckkk from going back to the fuel tank.... Lets see what happens!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 07, 2018, 09:21:02 AM
Hi Guys...

Right, a little feedback on the burner fuel mixer.... I should have done this from the start!!

The "infernal machine" as it has been now nicknamed, has run, virtually unattended, for about 9 hours the first day, and a further 12hours the second day... Chalk and cheese.... No more cuddling, no more sacrifices to the gods of fracturing, nothing.... it just runs.... The only reason I shut it down overnight was that I was not prepared to throw more gunk into the feed tank and empty the output tank in the wee hours of the morning.... It would have run itself to starvation and overflow without my intervention....

To recap, the last 2 days were distilling and separating mineral turpentine from the gunk it contained, there was a small amount of fracturing going on (you pick it up by the smell produced), but by and large, the process was fairly low temperature, estimated at around 200C - The burner was running flat out, the product dribbling out nicely, 750ml per 8 to 12 min approximately, I averaged out at about 4 to 5L per hour, sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less - over the 12hour run I got out around 60 or so liters of distillate...

As to the amount of fuel consumed during the 12hrs, I really would be guessing, but I ran the 75L feed tank to empty, with a small amount residual that the pump couldn't pick up, I guess about 3 to 4 L remaining... I did add a little stock during the run, not much and that was all the little dregs out of various containers that I had been settling for the last while... at a guess, less than 10L, so at worst guestimations, going from memory, with about 60L out, and 75 to lets say 80L in, that makes about a 75% recovery rate with 25% fuel overhead... I am satisfied with that!

The efficiency can be improved, currently the burner inlet and the outer flame shield are not insulated and the "infernal machine" is in a pretty drafty location - I think I will lag those bits and call it quits!

Until.... Of course.... I get another hare-brained idea.... such as....

Well, the "lift" pip for the boiler is a vertical section of 3/4" copper pipe about 2 to 300mm long - this forces the vapors upward after the boiler before they hit the condensing unit.... Raise or lengthen this pipe, and you get more fracturing and a more volatile/thinner/lower viscosity output product - I surmise this iis due to the heavier vapous with longer chains settling back into the crackpot during the process.... Shorten it and the opposite happens... And we are not talking about a length difference in feet, it is somewhat more sensitive, inches and centimeter differences make marked difference to the result.... I think I will make up and play with a "telescoping tube" type thingy that I can set on the fly and see what happens....

Well.... let me put some metal to the lathe and see what spins out.....

Reports later....

Keep it cooking..

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 07, 2018, 10:06:32 PM
Hey Glort,

All good fun has to start somewhere! At least, if nothing else, I am keeping your mind engrossed with new ideas, or otherwise a new look at old ideas!

I think you are right, no I am certain that you are right regarding the temp of my boiler system.... It is kinda "designed" to allow for heating along its whole height, being fairly slender, it will allow for superheating of the vapors above the boil area... I too, am not so concerned about temperature as I am about vapor volume, the creature must only operate at slightly above atmospheric pressure rather than have a high velocity jet of high pressure vapor entering the condenser stage...

I have found a few bits to start making the variable height output column, but today was an exercise in futility trying to get into some workshop work...9am-client, 10am visitor,  10h30-client... and so it went on until 16h30... I eventually got 1/2 an hour too knock up a little 2 wheel trolley base for the burner fuel tank to make it easier to drag around (75L of oil with 3mm thick steel tank and lid, 3 phase coolant pump and vfd, pipes and mains cable....a bit "unwieldy" and not designed to be portable) ... then filled it with what I thought was my Super-Duper burner fuel, only to find out otherwise....

At the risk of being long winded and repetitive, here is a copy/paste  from another thread I replied to a little while back.......

!snip!
In fact, I got caught out this evening by becoming a  little too assuming with my waste oil processing... What happened was the fueling of the burner from a 'rogue' 25L drum that somehow got mixed up in a batch of 'good' burner fuel... The 'rogue' was almost identical in smell, viscosity and appearance when i stocked the fuel tank. The burner started carboning up, running rough, and dripping oil as soon as I started introducing heated oil to the cold oil feed line... It turned out that the moisture content of the fuel was causing the water portion to boil in the line from the heat of the return oil from the other part of the process I was testing... Net result: Either run on cold fuel, or hot fuel, but don't blend... Oh, and, most importantly, up the air pressure to the burner from about 3 bar to 6 bar or more to get a clean burn.... Note: A Clean Burn!
!unsnip!

The feedback information regarding the oil return at high temperature from the boiler tailings is effectively this: As soon as you think you have found the answer to all the little irritations, some bastard thing comes along and changes all the questions!

This does prove, conclusively, that the "infernal machine" can handle water saturated oil without going supernova/icbm ... Which is a good thing! On that note, I did a quick and dirty heat of some cold gunk over the flames to boil the water off and get a rough indicator, by volume, of water content.... I almost shat myself! ... between 15 and 20% of this crap is water..... I tried it a few times, smaller and larger quantities, all scooped from the TOP of the fuel tank.... all gave roughly similar results... I didn't sample from the lower depths of the tank and I assume they would be worse still....

This was all in preparation to test the add on burner  on TM1's exhaust heat exchanger... I wanted to be reasonably sure that things were, fuel wise anyways, in good order and reasonably predictable as well... Needless to say, TM1 has his burner installed, still as yet unfired, due to the delays caused in discovering this water problem with the fuel... As a viability test, I ran off some sample batches through the cracker, 750ml at a time, individually bottled and left to settle in the order they were sampled to ensure that things will be happening in an "expected manner" when I do the heatex test tomorrow... Also, by running the tank for an hour or two with the centrifugal pump whipping everything up, I can be more certain of a decent blend and mixing of the fuel as it was poured in from separate 25L and 5L containers....

Right, enough rambling and BS from my side (A good friend of mine had an excellent saying when someone got long winded in an explanation... Either sh!t, or get off the pot!)

I now climb off the pot and go read a book!

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed

Glort: "Mans a fking genius, lets face it." ....... Uh no... if you were referring to me.... I'm an asshole.... Ask my ex wife, she will confirm it!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 08, 2018, 11:29:22 PM
Hey guys,

A quick report back.... I have installed the WMO burner onto TM1's exhaust heat  exchangers and run it up for a few hours on the most awful gunk imaginable... the 20% water contaminated crap... by an large, the results were highly satisfactory considering the fuel involved.

Smoke was almost non-existent, the exhaust was giving off plenty of steam from the burning, little to no smell at all and that was in the immediate vicinity, 3m frm outlet... The piping just after the burner was running almost yellow hot, fading to slightly red as it hit the exchanger. the temperature at that point was a nice 550C... After the heat exchanger and just outside the shed, the exhaust was about 60 - 70C... Hot to the touch but not lethal!

I brought 300 or so L of water up to 65C from a start of around 8C over the course of the evening, starting in earnest at about 5pm till about 8pm... there were quite a few stop and starts as I tweaked and adjusted things... The burner was running at 6bar air pressure, way more than I am going to settle on ultimately, this was due  to the high water content and should improve as I get deeper into this tank of fuel. I am preheating the fuel line on the burner pipe in an effort to dry the fuel and boil off some moisture while it is in operation as most of the fuel returns to tank and circulates...

Keep it warming...

Cheers
Ed

ps... another crappy video here: http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Afterburner/ (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/TM1 Afterburner/)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 09, 2018, 10:28:03 PM
Hey guys...

I did the almost final mods to the burner today,namely...

Opened up the air jet from .5mm to 1mm, an area change of 4x bigger...
Air  Line pressure is now  running at 2bar, the 250L air reservoir holds for 30 min, dropping from 150psi to 100 psi over this time.
I have lagged the pipe between burner and exchanger, pipe temp now entering the exchanger is around 500 to 600C.
After the exchangers, the exhaust expansion chamber/pre silencer is running about 80C.
Just after the burner flame front, the burner pipe is 900C or so, difficult to shoot the temp because of the lagging, but yellow hot to the eye..


Some actual data from this eve's run....
Compressor startup at 100psi, start measurement, 18h07, heat reservoir temp was 48,3C
Compressor cutout at 150psi, 18h12...
18h17 heat reservoir temp 51,9C
18h36 compressor tank at 100psi, started... Heat reservoir at 55.5C

I would have expected a more linear temp increase, but this is what I got...

Extrapolating, this would give us roughly 7C increase per 1/2hr ..... A nominal 20 to 55C trip would take around 2,5hrs... Well within parameters.

Oh yes, the heat reservoir is around 280L or so...

Another point of interest was that after shutdown of the burner, we had a nice little carbon fire going on in the exhaust stack, cross the decarboning job off the list for when TM1 is up and running again... This also leads me to surmise that there is little to no residual carbon in the burnt gasses being deposited, even with the waterlogged fuel that I am running...

Almost last job on the to do list for this project: support brackets for the burner... it appears that 2" pipes at 900C don't have much value in being self supporting.... I wonder why?

Reminds me... I must go fire up the forge and beat the snot out of some white hot steel to while away the frustrations of the day.... Nothing quite matches it!

Comments appreciated...

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 15, 2018, 09:40:05 AM
Hey Guys....

After a LOT of testing, a new circulation pump installed, and, above all, a good look at the layout....

I have changed my mind!!

It all works, it all hangs together, it all functions.... It looks like crap!

To swop from Lister to burner to go from CHP to H only, takes about 2 minutes... Quick and easy, twiddle this, fit that, close that.... Light her up and go...

Changing back is just as easy, untwiddle this, take off that, open that... Start her up and go...

But, as I have said before, I am a lazy SOB, I don't even want to open the doors on the "shed" to light the burner, so what I am going to do is mount the burner outside of the shed T-ing ont the last wall mounted silencer of the Lister, open to the elements but under basic cover... Leave it connected and at worst, plug the burner inlet when I run the Lister... The burner is of such simple design, there is virtually nothing to it.... If it rusts away in a couple of years, I will simply make another...

This does of course, mean that another heat exchanger will be needed, we are picking up the bits today... I am looking at about 750mm of piping and a few fittings to put it together... It will run on all of the existing infrastructure and simply be added to it.

The disadvantage of doing it this way means that the burner exchanger will be piped in series with the Lister exchangers, heating them up unnecessarily when the Lister is not in use and vice versa, but, it will be a much easier way to do things.... If I find that it causes too many losses, I can always bridge out one set of exchangers and run the other....

But really though... Lazy SOB I might very well be, but there were also one or two "technical reasons" to an additional bit of the infrastructure...

The Lister exchangers are Long, very Long.... About 3 to 3.5m or so... They are designed with pumped hot gas in mind, high volume, medium Low temperature(200 to 400C)... The burner is "blown" low volume, high temperature output(600 to 1800C).. Therein lies a problem, due to the low volume of heated air that is introduced, only about the first 1M of exchanger really does something, the rest acts as a glorified condenser, condensing water vapour to water and running out the bottom exhaust drain. When you wind the burner up a bit, temperatures are great, volumes are enough to prevent condensing, all is good - Except that the feed pipes to the exchangers tend to get a bit "toasty" .... hitting the 1200C mark easily and up to 1500C if not watched, causing a bit of a "meltdown".... Not very good for longevity of fittings....(Or additional fuel consumption with a lot of wasted heat)...

Not easy problems to overcome, not insurmountable, but can get twitchy! (More twiddly bits to adjust for air flow regulation etc)....

So, with just the above in mind, I think it will be easier and more reliable in the long term to add the additional exchanger!!

Comments welcome!!

Keep it cooking....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 18, 2018, 10:36:04 AM
Hey Glort/Guys...

The burner I am putting onto TM1's exhaust is for dull, dreary, oldschool water heating only... I have considered using residual heat from the still to heat household water, I may indeed eventually, but in the interim, this little baby is to use to just get cheap hot water....

Right, Tech info regarding the burner and exchanger, vague as it may be...but it was made using "This looks like it will work ok" reasoning and parts selection from the scrap pile (and, believe it or not, a few new bits too)!

Burner: 3" pipe cap, 3"M-M nipple, F-F 3" to 1.5" reducer, this screws onto the 1.5" heat exchanger fire tube.

The burner is a Babbington style with a ?30mm? or so round brass ball, .5mm dia air jet. the back end of the ball is fed by a 15mm piece of hydraulic pipe, sliding through the 3" pipe cap with a securing nut system made from a brass water fitting, so the ball position can be changed in relation to the fuel inlet pipe (1/4" dia copper), to allow for varying viscosity fuels as is found with WMO.

Air feed to the burner is a nominal 3 bar, operable from .5bar to 15bar...

The Heat exchanger consists of a 1.5" fire tube, about 3ft long. Around it, it has a water jacket of about 4"dia with weld on reducer fittings to suit (the reducers were machined open to a slide fit over the fire tube and welded in place to form the end caps for the jacket. The cold inlet is at the burner side, the hot outlet is at the exhaust side, both are brass compression type 1/2" fittings, in series with the pump and the existing infrastructure.

The burner and exchanger are sloped at approximately 22.5 degrees upwards to prevent unburnt fuel from entering the exhaust proper in the event of a flame-out and also to assist in the gravity return of the bypass fuel from the Babbington.

In the rear end of the burner, there are 2x ?22.5mm? or so holes to act as air inlets, they are 180 degrees apart, and left/right of the air pressure inlet/ball position adjuster.

A ball valve has been added with a quick coupler to the air inlet, allowing for fast shutdown and easy connection to the workshop air system.

On the fuel inlet, there is a "needle" type shutoff valve to regulate and shutdown fuel flow.

The fuel tank is an old hydraulic tank (about 80L I guess) with a "coolant" type centrifugal pump - this keeps the fuel well stirred and can run without overloading if the fuel outlet is closed. There is a "catch basket" in the well of the tank to allow sieving of fuel when filling.

All fuel pressures are very low, the return line is gravity, and the feed is less than a bar.

The inlet to the exchanger has 8 holes in a ring around the fire tube, 8mm/12.5mm alternating, to allow drawing of further air into the fire tube and an accessible area for lighting the burner.

Operation of the system is dead easy - connect airline, set to 3 bar or so, turn on fuel and water circulation pumps, open fuel and air valves then light. Set the flame via the fuel valve to give a light grey water vapour/smoke output at stack top when cold. As it warms up, the stack draws better and better, running leaner, after about 5 minutes, open the fuel valve slightly and get back to a grey.... Check after about 1/2hour and adjust fuel valve to a clear stack outlet.... go drink a beer... or two... or six...

After a few hours, 300L of water is at a good 50C or so, shut it all down and go soak!

Last evening I finished the burner/exchanger setup and did some pressure/heat/air consumption time trials - Here are the results and readings I took -

Temp measured at last brass fitting before burner heat exchanger in the gen shed.
.5mm Air Nozzle
Starting Water Temperature 22.6C
Air tank full, 150 PSI, 250L air receiver.
Water volume approx 300L, all exchangers filled.

Test Start -

3 Bar inlet Pressure
14h45 22.6C
15h25 28C (0.135C/Min)
15h55 Compressor on
16h00 Compressor off, 32C (0.114C/Min)
17h10 Comp On
17h15 Comp off, 40C (0.106C/Min)
4 Bar Inlet Pressure Test Start
18h09 Comp On
18h14 Comp Off, 45.5C (0.093C/Min)
2 Bar Inlet Pressure Test Start
19h00 48C (0.056C/Min)
19h45 Comp On
19h50 Comp off, 53.5C (0.11C/Min)
Test End

Conclusions: Best temperature increase in Deg/Min was attained with cold exchanger and water in the initial start of the test. This tailed off during the test as was to be expected. Taking this into account, an allowing for it, the best overall temperature increase was at 2bar inlet pressure, but a longer test at this pressure would be needed to substantiate. Best air economy was at 2 bar, correspondingly, fuel economy too. (Fuel usage testing will be done at a later stage.) At 2 bar, the compressor cycled every 95min, at 3 bar 75min, 4bar 60min - costing max approximately ZAR0.16 per cycle(This to be measured accurately later.) This means, at 2 bar, around .11C/minute, start temp 20C final temp 50C, 30C rise needed, time taken will be around 273minutes (Worst Case) or 4.5 hours.... This will result in the compressor cycling only three times during that period, a total max estimated cost of ZAR0.48, monthly cost of ZAR15.00 Approximately.

This IS a long time to heat only 300L of water - I do think the results are "worst case" and can be improved upon. There is no lagging on the piping and the weather is somewhat chilly at the mo, around 12C evening temperature. I am also being wasteful at present, the existing heat exchangers on TM1's exhaust are still in circuit and account for about 200Kg of steel piping that the burner is warming along with the water - these can be "switched out" of circuit at a later stage should I find it necessary...

A couple of pictures of the burner, feed piping and general arrangement will follow (please excuse the shoddy workmanship and layout and dirt, but [insert relevant excuse here]....

Keep it warming....

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 18, 2018, 11:30:31 AM
Hey Glort,

Pleasure!

More heat isn't an issue.... with a slow heat, if I forget it on for a hour or two extra, nothing will boil, that's my concern...

As to smoke, not a worry either, but, stack cleaning, while fun, causes a whinge among the womenfolk as there is usually washing on the line, about 5m from the exhaust outlet.... oops!

My big burner is 1.2MW, don't forget - If I am in urgent need of a steam clean, I am sure I could hook it up for a few minutes!!

Thumper gets the water hot enough in about 1.5 to 3 hours depending on his electrical load, day temp and starting temp of the heat store, this burner is just about in line with him...

Its taken a bit of playing around to get a reliable and easy, low heat burner together - but well worth it - big oil heat is easy as we both agree!! This burner has primary compressed air, secondary rear inlet and tertiary front inlet air - a tricky combination that took a LOT of playing with to get it balanced out, but, again, well worth it!! The burner can be removed from the exchanger easily for cleaning and for cleaning the fire tube, also a big plus when running on WMO, that stuff is full of things that create buildup!! Another plus is that the burner can be hooked to TM1's exhaust manifold on its own, to do a decarbon burnout of the whole exhaust system... A bit smokey but only for about 15mins and then its spotless, with a little loose ash to be blown out.... Well worth doing every couple of hundred hours of Thump-spinning!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 18, 2018, 01:35:45 PM
Hey Glort,

Instead of a 60L drum, what about an old fire extinguisher? 60L drums are rocking horse doodoo around here too... Extinguishers are dime a dozen at the scrappies...

Cya
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 18, 2018, 01:49:13 PM
Hey Guys,

A prelim fuel usage number just measured on the burner....

Air pressure: 2bar
Air Nozzle size: .5mm
Start Time: 12h55
End Time: 14h20
Compressor Run Time: 5 minutes (Included in above time)
Lapse Time: 1H25M, 85min
Fuel Tank: 695mmx560mm - ie 3892cm Square
Fuel Usage Measured: 4mm drop in level
Fuel Volume Calculated: 1556.8cc
Fuel Usage Rate at 2bar: 18cc per minute/1100cc per hour (Worst Case, Run Rich for this session, started from cold too)

Now, just supposing....

Start temp of water is 20C, target is 50C...

30C increase at 0.11C per minute gives us a burner run time of around 4.5hours...

About 5L of sump goop consumed and dispatched with in pretty much one of the most enviro-friendly and useful ways I can think of.....

'Nuff said....

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed

Edit: A little bit of maths...

1 Joule = 1 Watt / Second
4.186J are required to heat 1cc of water by 1deg C
300L of water, raised 1 degree, will take 300000 x 4.186Joules...
ie 1255800J of energy...
To raise the same amount of water by 0.11C will take 0.11 X 1255800, ie 138138J....
Which is the energy absorbed by the water in one minute as measured..
This gives us, when multiplied by 60, 8288280 Joules in one hour....
1 Watt being 1 Joule/Second(when reworked), the "Wattage" then works out as
divide 8288280 by 3600 seconds for one hour, gives us 2302W average for that hour...
ie 2.302KwH
Taking that 1L of oil contains about 10Kw of energy...
we are running at about 2.3 / 10 X100 % efficiency....ie 23%....Not great by any means, but within spec for improvement by lagging piping if needed, and bypassing unused heat exchangers if required......

PS - I probably cocked up the calcs, feel free to correct me!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 19, 2018, 09:11:13 AM
Hey Glort...

Agreed... but I would like to up the efficiency a bit... It might help a bit to put a s/steel "swirler" in the fire tube to radiate more heat outward, just don't know how quickly it would clog up...

Bypassing the other heatex's would also be a big plus (and some lagging of course), something I will work on too eventually... or maybe never....

First got to install the basement distribution pump, I took it off TM1's chassis and installed a circ pump in its place... I am reworking the flow lines to get better mixing while on burner and as little mixing as possible when the burner is shut down...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on June 24, 2018, 11:09:32 PM
I have seen just a flat strip of metal with a few twists in it used in gas water heater tubes here. Come to think of it, the old 5hp flathead briggs and stratton also had one in the intake manifold/carb, I guess to swirl the fuel air mix.

Keep on inventing!
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 25, 2018, 10:29:23 AM
Hey Guys!

Right, so a few days on in the world I have successfully managed to:

Make up a pressure adjuster setup with re-circulation so I don't "dead head" the circ pump (or cook it)
Fit the distribution pump in the basement/cellar.
Rewire the "Hot Water Timer" to allow only the distribution pump to operate.
Extend the "Chimney" by about 2.5m (Which is also TM1's exhaust stack)
Make and fit a "rain cap" to the chimney....before I fitted it!

And....

Have had a few good soaks in the oil fired hot water system!!

Now... Back to the oil cracking and boiling....

Last night I made up and fabricobbled a fitting for the high temp chamber outlet that is height adjustable (to easily change the stack height), hopefully I will get a chance to fit and test it today... Basically it is a tube in a tube with a 60 degree'd tapered copper ferrule type seal - loosen the clamp nut and the one pipe can slide inside the other, tighten at required length and (hopefully) it will form a gas-tight seal as part of the clamping process... Let's see what happens!

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on June 25, 2018, 04:01:50 PM
Hey Glort!

I think FabriCobbled comes from AVE's Youtube channel.... Can't remember now....

One thing I am looking for which I saw on his channel is a "Thumb Busting Nut F@#%er" ... Basically a shifting spanner with a hammer face protrusion on it.... I gotta get me one of those for sure!!

Been doing the slip fit compression fittings for ages too... Had to do a bit of fancy footwork on the last one with the copper gasket compression ring... there are pics below...

I have the beer keg....currently using it for reserve fuel, nicely sealed, but I am a bit scared to boil 20 or so L of gunk at a time... I almost have a squirt attack when the crackernator coughs... and that is only about 500ml or maybe a bit more in process at a time.... (Also, not wild about the stainless cracking from heat on the keg....)

TM's HE is a tube in tube... on both his outlet pipe and the burner HE as well... On TM1's coolant side I use a coiled copper HE, just because.... well actually, really because there is little to no chance of fouling as it is a liquid/liquid exchanger....

I have been running the crackernator pretty much the whole day, playing with piping to the burner and the drain lines, sorting things out to make it more idiot proof in its operation... The output has been almost orange, kinda like a bad kidney output, but nice and clear... A change from the bright yellow stuff I have been pulling mostly... The output tower is at its minimum height, I might have to butcher it and drop it down some more, I am trying to up the viscosity a bit more than it currently is....

Do yourself a favour and get a lathe.... the weird sh!t I have to make from repurposed bits would cost a fortune if I didn't have one!

Keep it cooking...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 02, 2018, 03:52:31 PM
Hi Guys....

Another weekend in paradise is over...Sore muscles, aches and pains to show for all the fun I had...

The BJG1 (Blow-Job-Gennie #1) is up and running, not doing anything more constructive than charging batteries x 2 (638 Tractor/Car batteries) at the moment... It is scaring the living sh!te out of me at the moment though... We are currently experiencing winds of around 60km/h gusting up to about 120km/h... The pucker factor is...well...XP (Extremely Puckering)... This will test out the installation a bit, I reckon... The damn thing sounds like a C160
prop when the wind hits a decent rate!!

I have just ordered another 2x 638 batteries to parallel onto the existing two, the system uses a 24VDC buss... That will allow me to disconnect 2x batteries at a time, or 2 + 2, as and when I need to, to use them in the farming toys, but still have them for added reserve when they are not running mowers, augers and bush cutters etc...

I am currently pondering the easiest way to integrate this mess of cabling and fan into the household wiring, the inverter I have on hand is non-grid-tie, so an interesting solution is being thought up... What I am looking to do, is to stick this inverter onto the "Server/DVR/Pabx/Alarm" household circuit, dedicating it to that (it has a nominal 24/7 300W draw), but, as always, the wind is not a "reliable source" for energy... At some stage its going to fall short (pretty soon too, I would think!)...

My idea is pretty simple... Stick a 24VDC intelligent charger onto the batteries that can hold around 20A max... Turn the charge voltage down a wee bit (By adding a couple of heavy duty diodes in the line to the battery to drop the voltage) and let it idle along, only coming into play when the BJ drops a bit and is not making enough for the output draw... This takes care of the incoming side to the batteries quite well, I would think! The outgoing side is easy... one by 500W true sine wave inverter, directly coupled to the required plug circuit, and Bob's your uncle... (Or was it Aunty? Has he been for that op yet?)

Any of you bright lads done similar maybe?

Aaaaah.... A lull in the wind.... It's suddenly gone extremely quiet.. Scary!!

At the moment out data/telephone lines are down, giving me a chance to catch up you lads on the things happening in darkest Afrique...(Typing this "offline" to be updated later.)

On a slightly different note, the oil burner/heat exchanger that I made up seems to be running quite well.. The only problem that has really been experienced is that, as it's middle of winter and evening temperatures are "brisk" (Right down to about 10C at night, eat your heart out you chilly buggers in the rest of the world!), the WMO in the tanks tends to thicken a bit, causing a few minor problems with the gravity return lines, a problem soon to be remedied by installing the largest rubber hoses I can get cheaply! Consumption of fuel looks to be in the order of between 3 to 5L per day, maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less, depending on how cold the users are and how long they sterilize themselves in the wash bays!!

Combustion through the burner, once warmed up, yields only a slightly visible grey smoke, more evident at night in the cold air, leading me to believe that most of the output is water vapour...

One minor change I have made to the burner set is the addition of a stainless steel "swirler" in the fire tube - Once up and running, glowing a nice yellow, any vaporized oil hitting it, combusts immediately, and this seems to have evened out the burn quite nicely. I have found though, adding a bit of distillate thinning to the WMO 90W gunk, makes a huge difference to flowability, combustibility and carbon output... I am currently running about 2L distillate to 5L gunk for a reliable output... This is quite high, but until I can get a thicker return line on the burner, I will have to stick to it.. No matter, I can distill 2L in an hour of running the Crackernator (Thanks for the name, Glort), and I still have a couple of hundred liters batched up anyway...

On the Lister front, TM1 is still sitting there sans head, head on the workbench,
ready to be assembled and pressed back into service....

Right, Enough rambling...

Keep it spinning, cooking, blowing and.....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 03, 2018, 03:56:56 PM
Hey Glort,

The bushcutters I have are:
40" - Tractor pulled - 80hp Gearbox on it so its a little big for a Fergie 35 GoldBelly
72" - 3 Blade - Yazoo Mower, powered by a Wisconsin twin inline at around a guess of 25Hp
Brush Cutters are small, 80cc 2 stroke ?Marijama? and a no name of about 40cc... My 2xStihl 38's got "liberated" a few years back....bastards!!

The alternator is a 3Ph 24v direct drive unit on the BJG, it's a Chinesium thing, purpose built... Pushes about 20 to 30 A in a good blow (Like yesterday)...  Looks like it does it around 1000RPM (or more) or so, but I wasn't prepared to go piss with it in the gales we were having... I was "apprehensive" during the period, I have great respect (and fear) of 100+ MPH scythes 1.1m long....

I will feed a single circuit on the household ultimately... Use the original circuit to power a 24v battery charger which will be able to keep the batteries just above low threshold and then hook the inverter and wind charger to the batteries too... The output from the inverter will then feed the kit that was originally powered by that single circuit... Nice thing about this circuit, is that it is a constant draw not exceeding 400W .... The inverter can power it easily, and it should make a nice "wind dent" in the power bill over a reasonable time....

Good luck with the WMO burner... This creature I have set up changes the rules quite "interestingly" from batch to batch of WMO that I am fuelling with... (or fooling with...)... The damn thing loves to piss me around in the evening, it loves attention, but I am now on a grudge match with it - I WILL make it do what I want...!

To that end, I installed a small extension of around 6" between the burner proper and the auxilliary air inlet before the heatex - this allows for any goop to vaporise and recombust just past the air inlet...

Keep it Spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 06, 2018, 09:57:32 AM
Hey Guys,

A small report back...

After the small extension to the burner tube had been installed, the difference was "night and day"... Reliability has increased dramatically, quality of burn has improved no end and flame-outs have been reduced substantially... It is also way less sensitive to air/fuel mixture ratio, with a much wider adjustment range now...

A further small addition to it subsequently, is the adding of a 3" Gate valve on the bottom of the "chimney riser"  -  The burner enters the final riser on TM1's exhaust from the side at about a 22 degree upward angle, around 12" above the inlet from the lister's inlet. Previously, the exhaust entered via an elbow, this has now been changed to a T, with the lister entering from the left and I have installed the gate valve below this allowing me to regulate "stack bypass draught" to clean up stack emissions during cold starts and thick fuel goop.... Once everything is up to temperature from cold (it takes a bit of fuel mixture juggling to keep it clean while its warming up), the bypass draught can be closed virtually completely and the final mixture trimmed for an absolutely clear exhaust emission. A further advantage of the bypass adjuster, is the ability to overfuel the burner, encouraging controlled burning in the stack to decarbon the whole works without creating a smog bank!

Enough rambling....

Keep it flaming....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 10, 2018, 09:47:41 AM
Hey Guys...

Right, post#1 - The BJG (Blow Job Gennie) is, at current altitude, a waste of time... It is currently mounted on a mast about 5m tall, amongst Workshop, House and Office prefabs. The topography, if that's the right word, doesn't allow it to get a 360 degree blow.. There are "avenues" of wind available, but the restrictions of the building roofs are just a bit much... Couple this to the fact that this property was chosen because of its peculiar wind characteristics (Being on the dead center of a lowish almost "dome" shaped hill, there is very little low altitude surface wind due to the slope deflecting it... It causes an updraft/low pressure cell under medium low wind conditions). This choice was for playing around with my radio towers/tracking dishes and for flying model heli's amidst all the other nonsense I get up to...

So, the long and the short of it is.... raise the altitude by a few meters to see if I can get a better yield... (6m of 3"pipe on order, I will remove the lower 2.5m section of mast and replace it with a 6, giving about 8.5 to 9m to rotor center....).... More on this later....

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 10, 2018, 10:07:40 AM
Hey Guys...

Right, post#2 - Somewhere around this site I commented on a drip fed burner that I was thinking about, self regulating, easy, virtually spill-proof etc etc etc..

I have been collecting parts for it while pissing around with the other projects, but the one part I have been most keen on "finding", was a valve to regulate the drip flow to the burner proper, that could be "gravity" or weight activated...

For those that didn't see the previous thread, a basic explanation is as follows...

Low pressure, gravity fed oil is fed to a "control/regulator" valve.
This oil, after passing through the valve, is dripped into a small cup shaped container in the burner chamber.
As the cup fills, the increased weight of the cup, via a balance bar, closes off the valve to maintain its level.
Light the oil in the cup, as it is consumed, the cup gets lighter and the valve opens to allow more oil in...
When the cup is carboned up, the oil flow stops due to the carbon deposit weight, burner runs out of oil, flames out. Remove carbon cake and start again...

Now, the most daunting factor for most people is this wee little control valve... Well, Eureka! I stumbled across just what was needed while replacing the mains lead on my compressor last night...

The unloader valve on the pressure controlled motor switch is EXACTLY what this little burner requires. Seeing that the electric motor on my compressor has way more than enough starting torque to get things going, I have never coupled up the unloader valve anyway... so... it was "retasked" and placed in the little pile of bits I am accumulating for the gravity fed drip burner...

Note: For those who don't know what an unloader valve is - This is a small air valve that discharges the air pressure from the air piping between the air compressor head and the tank. It is activated/deactivated mechanically by a tab on the pressure switch of some compressors, or centrifugally by the crankshaft on the larger ones. When activated, it allows the compressor motor to start much "easier" due to a lower head pressure.....

Enough Rambling...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 10, 2018, 12:31:23 PM
Glort....

I have an old EOS450 with macro/tele lenses, ring and remote flashes, bipods, monopods, tripods et al.... Will that do?

I'll take the photies, send you the memcard, you resize, and photoshop them, send memcard back and I will post the pics to the thread...

Might take a week or two between sessions, but what'ya think?

Lol
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 10, 2018, 03:42:04 PM
Smart arse!!

Ok ... you got me snookered now!

Lol
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 12, 2018, 09:48:25 PM
Hey Guys...

Another small bit of Listerambling this eve...

Over the past few days I have been going over, sorting and repairing the little v twin Aeraspray compressor I picked up for a song... Now I know why too.... It managed to ingest its inlet valve poppet springs some time in the distant past... the cylinders are, shall we say "questionable" on the one, whilst the other is "reasonable" .... No matter, it should be ok for what i am going to put it through...

 Every bit and piece I have checked over so far, it was a "full" electric powered belt driven unit with tank etc, has needed more than a coat of paint to get basically serviceable... So far I have redone the valves, sorted the unloader pots, honed one cylinder to take out the worst of the ploughlines, made and fitted a dipstick, made new diaphragms for the unloaders, made a new spindle and adjuster for one unloader that was snapped, sorted, stripped, made new diaphragm for the unloader control valve, made new sealing disks for it too(damn, old tractor rear tubes are handy things), stripped, machined corroded surfaces on the water trap(a lovely aluminium, finned unit) and reassembled all of the above and tested...

Next job is to strip, clean, service and make parts and seals for the pressure regulator... judging by the stuff done so far, I thunk it will be a right PITA too...

After that, I think I will make up a long thin air receiver about 2m x 75mm dia and fit it down the one side of Tm1's chassis.... That should be enough for me to play about with I reckon...

As you probably gather, this little bj is gonna be diesel powered! I will belt it to the alternator, using the alternator as a lay shaft, there is enough space for the v-bj to sit far side of the bangy bits ....

Aah... just remembered, picked up a couple of 255w panels yesterday to muck around with, got them brand new... USD about 0.30 / watt.... Quite chuffed about that... Hooked one up to the bj gennie controller and  around midday today it was pushing about 10A with a bit of light cloud around as well... Now to try and find a decently priced grid tie inverter of about 5kw to start building up a usable array.... Suggestions welcome re a reliable, reasonably priced source....

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 19, 2018, 09:21:07 AM
Hey Guys....

Glort, you are a swine!! All of your buggering about with solar panels and inverters has been infectious!!

I have now, in my workshop under test, a 5Kw "Axpert" solar/mains inverter... The panels arrive hopefully today, 12x 335W units, which will, hopefully, soon adorn the IBR roof of my toyroom workshop...

In the driveway are 20 lengths of 25x25x3mm 6m long lengths of stainless steel angle... These will go to framing the 4 strings of three panels each (which make up the basic array) to allow for seasonal tilting....

On the front of the workshop, one of two frames has already been constructed and hung, to allow for the smaller 255W panels... One of which will be connected full time to the BJ Gennie combo, the other I am planning to use for forming some batteries if I get round to it...

....

Right, aches and pains aside (plus a small bit of tig sunburn from last night), I need to go throw some S/Steel into the sky to get the 255W panels out of harm's way while I build the bigger 3m x 2m frames.......

...

L8rs...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 19, 2018, 04:10:15 PM
Hey Glort...

A quick point for point answer... I'm buggered and I need a beer...BADLY!!

Stainless is sh!t expensive here, but works out the same to fabricate yourself in comparison to buying good quality Ali racks...

I will be roof mounting this stuff, on a roof that is slightly, about 10 degrees off N/S but S facing... I will be making frames to cater for the reverse slope to give the panels positive 33degrees north slope... (Good Spring/Summer/Autumn, a bit crappy for Winter)

The panels are brand new, ex factory... I figured with a 10year guarantee to 90% of capacity it would be worth it...

They are going to be in 4 strings of 3 panels each, my inverter MPPT is "tuned" to that voltage...

No spinny meter, it a "pay as you go" prepaid POS, but I wont be back feeding with this as yet....

Agreed re the experimentation... I might make a "wax motor" to rotate a bank or two later.... Let's see how hooked I get!

No major pics as yet, but here are the toy panels I have put up in the meantime to test out my TiG welding and get back into the swing of stainless work... Use it or lose it!!

The IBR roof in the background below the blow gennie (which gets raised another 3m tomorrow if the pipe arrives)
is going to be the base for the new array... The LDV has the pile of panels, all shiny and new, as yet unloaded...

Keep it shining....

Cheers
Ed

Edit... The pile of Stainless angle section amounts to just under ZAR10K.... Its defs not cheap here either!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 20, 2018, 08:50:25 AM
Hey Glort,

The 2 small panels are kind of "experimental" units, they will be used for playing and one to be used to hook up to the little blow gennie as it has a 24v solar input... I might use this little unit to power a linear motor or two and do the trimming on the panels, depending on what I find to be the laziest way to do things...

Roof mounting is about the only way to go for me, with the miscreant thievery and other wild animals (as well as regular yard "target practice") they wouldn't last long at ground level...

Regarding yield, I simply work to the theory that the most oblique angle to the sun, the better... 10 deg off ideal doesn't seem to make a big difference practically, but it does add up... I am glad to see that the panels have almost a non-reflective type appearance, bouncing little off at sunrise and sunset...

Watch out for steering too much light and heat particularly onto your panels via reflection, I think it would be detrimental, but not sure... one of the lads in the know can probably give us a bit of insight... I have often thought to myself that a basic parabolic reflector made of thin ali either side of the panel good give a good bit of extra morn/eve yield... These thoughts came about after cladding the flattish roofs of 3x dormer windows with 1mm polished ali to reflect the heat.... did the work during the height of summer, around midday, wearing but a T-shirt and short pants.... Well, I was in agony for the next week due to an overcooked sausage and potatoes.... Hilariously funny for the family but not for me!

Enough rambling....

Keep it shining...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on July 20, 2018, 03:52:34 PM
Thanks for mentioning PV Watts, Glort.  Interesting web site.

Many schemes of adding reflectors to increase PV output were done back when PV was so expensive.  The heat does lower voltage, but still it will increase total output.  The cost and maintenance of the reflector is the bugger.
I don't recall the use of a white (good reflection but diffusing) surface for PV.  It does work fine for flat plate solar hot water collectors.

I've thought about adding a reflector to my solar hot water panel, to increase gain in winter, but my backup gas bill ($15/mo. for 3 months)  is so low I can't justify the cost.  The wind here in spring and our notorious "dust devils" (mini tornadoes) make large lightweight surfaces problematic.

I think using PV as an added shade, privacy fence, or other architectural feature is a great idea and will no doubt be much more common in the future.  Home/roof design to optimize the local peak power season gain seems also likely. 
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 23, 2018, 09:10:56 AM
Hey Guys....

Managed to install the solar inverter and hook it to household circuits, as well as get it in the same line as the little auto start genset we have...

Didn't come out too badly, and found a nook that, while it is "exposed" to day to day operations, is out of the way and readily accessible as well, just outside the back door under the back porch and protected from the elements too....

Explanations:

1st pic: That's the inverter with the incoming mains/outgoing 220/solar panel isolator box above it.

2nd:Grey box with black lid is a manual changeover switch to isolate the gensets, the orange box is the auto changeover to switch to genset when the genset comes online, it has an auto current limiting feature that switches back to utility should the load on the genset be more than 16A for 30 seconds. Below the orange boxes are an incoming plug point from utility, a plug point from TM1 and one from TM2. Currently TM1 is disconnected and TM2 is feeding the auto switch over when he gets started.

3rd: Overall view (Starting to get a bit cramped...) with a peek in the mid left of the pic showing location of pic4. (In the lower RHS, you can see the top of the upper battery tray, there is another tray below it.)

4th:1st plug point is incoming power from db board, well after TM1/2's circuit, this feeds power to the small auto start genset. 2nd plug point is from the little auto start gennie. 3rd plug point is from the inverter/solar setup... The units are daisy-chained here so any unit can be manually removed from the chain, the black plug in the third plug point is a return to main the db board in the house... this input feeds critical circuits like lights, security system, dvr etc....

Daaaaamn... I better write a manual for the house, I don't think I will remember it all in a year or two!

Cheers
Ed

PS: Yes Glort, the pictures are crappy quality.... But the Canon was lying on the dining room table and it would have taken a whole 30 seconds to fetch it.... way quicker than typing this PS out come to think of it....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: cujet on July 26, 2018, 01:05:06 AM
I'm simply here to say, this is an epic thread!

I've been enjoying the very wordy and very interesting posts.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 26, 2018, 08:29:06 AM
Awww.....Cujet.... A fan!!

I just want to give you a big hug!!

Love you long time!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 31, 2018, 11:38:55 AM
Hey Glort....

U don't count.... U are as close in mannerisms and outlook that I rate you as family..... Sorry to drop your gene pool by the drastic amount I have, by including myself into your bloodline.....

They say a picture is worth 1000 words... So here you go Glort, a post to rival your own!

The solar install is just about complete to the point of "next upgrade", the only job left to do is to raise the last bank of panels to the correct angle, which can only be done after I lift the blow gennie another 3m by extending its mast... The guy wires at the current height get in the way of the panel bank....

These pics are of frames lying folded down then erected on the roof of the workshop...

Nuff sed....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 31, 2018, 11:42:39 AM
Another 3000 Words in pictures....

Panels in place, connected up and starting to duct pixies through the little pipes in single file....

(The frames/struts are made of 304 stainless, Tigged together where needed, all support bolts are stainless too..)

Enough rambling...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: 38ac on July 31, 2018, 01:03:32 PM
Another 3000 Words in pictures....



Enough rambling...

Cheers
Ed

By the time I got 3000 legible words typed earth would be past solar and on to matter/anti matter power generation, pictures are great!  LOL
Ramble on please. I dont post on this thread but the read is first rate!
Butch
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 31, 2018, 01:07:51 PM
Hey Glort....

Sheeeesh.....Me as a family member and you reckon it would improve your gene pool...... Daaaaamn Boy!..... You must have a low regard for your bloodline!! (Most of mine disowned me!!)

Panel lifting wasn't bad, there are only 12 and its barely 3m up.... I knelt on the roof and my housemate passed them up to me... They're only about 30kg each...I think... Went nice and quick, we had to pull finger to do it before the midday breeze came up, that's what I was worried about....

Once the racking is up, the panels are a doddle... Just time consuming to bolt them in, but a small battery drill wif a 10mm socket does wonders...

I still have my concerns about the panel mountings, albeit they are quite substantial... The rear of the panels face a downward slope which is very wind prone - Lets see what the next gale does!!

Currently I only have a DC breaker at the inverter, I will need to upgrade it as it is only about 20 to 25A, no matter for the moment, good enough, but when I wire more load to the inverter I will need to replace it... I must have a scratch round, I might have a decently capable 80 to 100A industrial switch which will do the job....

Thanks for the compliments!!

Appreciated!!

Cheers
Ed

PS - Arrange the flight and I'll be there to lend a hand for sure!! (I was thinking of visiting a mate in NZ - But he's moved onto a little blow boat.... A bit cramped for him and I don't want to stress him out!!)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on July 31, 2018, 04:06:36 PM
Hey Glort...

The panels are in 4 banks of 3 panels each, these banks are in parallel so a max of around 40 to 50 amps will be evident at best season... Hence the need to upgrade the panel trips.... The panels are rated 335W at around 30V, so I guess, more accurately, the current will be around 11.5A per bank x4 = 46A....

Circuit breakers I am not really worried about, I am sure I will scrounge up a few serviceables, hopefully not too ugly so they don't make the breakout box look too crappy.....

DC is funny stuff... I was playing with it on the weekend..... I like it much more than AC... I grabbed hold of the panel buss bars a few times whilst they were idling at around 95V and didn't even feel a tickle - try that with AC and you will be flat on your back... I am quite lucky in that since an early age, my skin (on my hands anyway) has been quite dry, so my skin resistance is quite high... Up to about 100VAC I can touch and get a close guess as to voltage flowing, above that I steer clear... DC I can guestimate to about 130V with no discomfort.... Not to be tried with wet hands while lounging in the wet bar I must add......

On circuit breakers, as long as they have a good, quick, reliable, repeatable and widish points opening, they are more likely to last on DC... The slower the gaps open, the more arc, the quicker they burn out with use.... The main reason for "series-ing" the contacts, is, if they start to burn closed, there is another one in the string to break the circuit. There is no advantage in individual small gaps, as the plasma in the arc forms pretty much a 0 ohm resistance when it presents itself, the gaps are not cumulative to any large degree, but, a single large gap of 6 times the individual smaller gaps as is present on a standard breaker would require something like 40x the energy to sustain the arc..... Easy way round it is simply to wire up the circuit breaker and dangle it in a container of dry oil, its amazing how much more can be switched with puny little contacts and a bit of cooling and plasma reduction.....

Enough BS Rambling from me....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on July 31, 2018, 05:14:11 PM
I also like working with DC..and find the discomfort about 1/4 that of AC for any given voltage.  I got a good hit of 140VDC a couple days ago- I was rewiring some power distribution for an inverter jury rig test, switched of the breaker and forgot about the capacitors in a big facility filter used for my house power. (No bleed resistor, intentionally, for an off grid battery power situation.) Not really painful but reminded me that I'd screwed up and had forgotten to discharge the line!

I'd like to take exception with the notion that multiple gaps make no difference in arc extinguishing.  Cascading contacts are often employed for high voltage and current, DC rated breakers. There is more going on that just more chances to not have contacts welded shut. (Although that would certainly help for on time only.)  Midnight Solar makes DC rated breakers that I use regularly. The  300V version is just two 150V breakers in series...which makes me confident that total arc length does matter. Both the 150 and the 300V DC rated breakers are also rated for use as a switch, meaning rated for decent contact life with many, many openings.  I haven't found a comprehensive engineering primer on the physics of DC breakers, but if you've seen one that makes you think multiple gaps are not doing what I think they are, let me know, please.  Permanent magnets are commonly employed on higher power/voltage DC switches and relays to bend the arc to lengthen it's path, which I find intriguing.

There are DIN rail type DC rated breakers here in the US, with 150 and 300V ratings. They are cheap, so I use those instead of going to the work of testing AC rated breakers.  If I couldn't get DC breakers I'd have to get serious about testing at above intended voltage to make sure, or have some reliable data from someone else's testing.  I fried a $200 collection of six different heavy duty AC only rated switches on 120VDC one afternoon, switching a 4 amp load of lamps.  Same load, Leviton rotary lamp type replacement switch, no trouble at all. 

I am seeing more higher voltage (125V) DC rated switches at Digikey now, just got a small toggle switch for capacitor discharge for my inverter install for a few bucks.  DC is starting it's comeback.











Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on August 01, 2018, 08:34:00 AM
Midnight Solar has 150V DC switch rated breakers for about $20 US.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 01, 2018, 10:25:41 AM
Hi Guys,

I stand corrected for my incomplete posting regarding multi gaps for DC.... Here is my experience and a little of my own home brewed "folk lore" to clarify....

AC breakers generally have a fairly weak return spring on the lower voltage, lower current stuff, the 110 to 380V, 5 to 80A, in particular..... The intermittent arc caused by AC has natural 0 point crossings where the arc falls away and the plasma stops/slows in forming.... This allows for a slower opening contact to be effective and breaking the arc/plasma gap...

Once a plasma bridge has been formed, it can sustain fairly easily on DC, much more so than on AC. Glort's playing around, mine too, for example creating a mini arc at 30V DC with a 10A panel is a fair example.... This is quite difficult to sustain to the same gap with an AC supply...

If you use an AC breaker for switching Highish current DC, albeit at a reduced voltage, in general I have found to get a decent life from the device, a rating of between 2 to 4 times the current capacity is required in the contact area side of things. Lets face it, 20A is 20A, the actual carrying capacity of the device is not affected,  DC or AC. The difference in life is caused by the switching time... If you use a slowly opening set of contacts that allow an arc to draw on DC, the life is diminished drastically. Multiple contacts opening simultaneously on a slowly activating device will help to a small degree, but not a dramatic one (my experience here) .... A somewhat more "beefier" contactor, with a faster opening time, makes a huge difference in longevity. Whilst the contact and conductor sectional areas are well above what is required for the carrying of the load, they are not what is of consequence... The opening time and opening gap is....

But hey, feel free to agree or disagree, I am simply relating what I have found and what has worked for me... (With my own twisted logic involved to explain it.... Lol...)

Incidentally, I was forced into using an AC contactor that was only just within rating for carrying current capacity some years back on a DC panel...(Size restraint, availability and budget...don't ask).... My solution was quite "different".... Stripped the contactor down, pulled out the return spring and put in one that was so hard that the contactor could only just pull in on the coil.... Opened much faster and way less arcing after that.... Downside: it buzzed a bit when held in, but not too badly....

Multiple gaps will improve matters slightly, as will compressed air blown between the contacts during opening, or even oil bath contacts. Another easy and simple way is to put a capacitor across the contact to reduce the opening arc, a la points and condenser...

Regarding opening gaps - the "sustainability" of an arc in free air, is (if I remember correctly) roughly inversely proportional to the square of the distance the arc has to travel.... (Way out of my comfort zone her, so I might be talking crap)... If I understand this correctly, founded on my "zero-based stochastic estimate", in a 6 contact arc break of 1mm travel, we end up with a factor of  (1/(1^2))/6 =  1/6..... A single pair of contacts opening 6mm would give us a factor of 1/(6^2) = 1/36 likelihood of sustaining an arc.... Granted, probably mostly BS and a lot of rambling.... but hey, hasn't failed me yet!

Regarding DC dangers and my BS relating to it.... AC lets you know from a much lower starting voltage that bad shit is about to happen from a discomfort POV due to the oscillating cycle and nervous reaction thereto... because DC doesn't have the oscillating effect on the nerves, much less discomfort is felt initially. When skin resistance meets its match in the DC arena, muscular spasm causing one to grab hold tightly onto the exposed conductor, thereby lowering resistance still further and the "solid" contraction on the muscles involved....well, I don't think we need go much further, especially if the body forming the bridge has the current flowing across the chest area.... There is one vital organ that needs intermittent nervous stimulation to keep pumping.... block that stimulation out with more than about 30ma and suddenly it all goes dark...

The most likely injuries to be found, I would think, in DC engineering would be of a "burn" nature... Most of the "WTF was I doing" instances come from lower voltage, high current short circuits - the wedding ring that cauterizes a finger, the metal watch strap that forms a neat bridge on the DC buss, the bling chain making a neck worn gold fuse, the 10mm spanner that forms a wonderful high current fuse while held in the palm of your hand, or, maybe even, that bit of gaseous copper that coats your safety glasses (we all wear them right?) after snipping off that last sticky-outy-piece which homes like a guided missile towards and between the buss bars yet again.... Simple, easily occurring injuries that could easily be avoided...

Regarding the arcing, or lack thereof when disconnecting or connecting parallel banks: Easy to understand - For an arc or spark to form, there must be enough voltage differential across the gap to initiate it. The current alone would not be sufficient at the levels we are concerned with... When a parallel bank is disconnected from the array, yes, the buss voltage does drop slightly, but not to 0. A typical voltage drop would be in the region of a few volts, probably less than 5. The free panel voltage would rise a few volts, but probably not too much either. The nett voltage across the contact would probably be less than 10v... Lower voltage, less arc, littler bang! .... Again my (il)logical explanation that keeps me going....

Glort, are you crazy? 300V of DC into a Hydrogen generator!! Hydrogen will kill you! So will 300V! The world is going to end!! Let me get my will organized! When are you going to do it so I can turn on my seismic monitoring plant? Have you let NASA know what you are doing so they can reschedule their launch windows?.... .... ... ... . . . Uhhhh.....Nope! Have fun and let me know how it goes!! Are you doing separation of H2 or simply generating Browne's gas?

Ah well.... Enough rambling and BS (from me anyway)....  Those in the know, please comment, correct, and set me straight!

Keep it shining....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on August 01, 2018, 11:21:14 AM
Hey Glort, if you are playing with Browns gas be careful, I did some experimenting ten years back and managed to blow the windows out of my garage despite having the doors open, lost some hair and both eyebrows couldn`t hear for several hours. Best to separate the hydrogen and vent the oxygen to atmosphere. Failing that you can significantly reduce the explosive nature of the beast by diluting it with regular air before compressing it for later use.

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 01, 2018, 03:11:39 PM
Hey Glort....

About the only lasting injury that messed me around happened while working on a tractor front end .... I had split it and wheeled the back end away, was doing the clutch.... Another joker had to do the lights on the front end, and without my knowledge, he hooked up the battery.... All was well until I reached up onto the tappet cover while leaning on the ring gear and had some metal tool fall squarely across the starter motor solenoid terminals.... dragged the end of my right thumb through the loose bendix/ring gear.... All of a sudden having part of an extremity turned to minced sausage meat certainly brings new and unique vocabulary to an audible level.... I think I carried on for about an hour....WITHOUT repeating myself....

A band aid, piece of splint and a couple of weeks of discomfort and all was well eventually... I did go to the doctor initially, but he mentioned words like "Lets just trim off the ragged bits, they'll never heal into anything useful anyway....".... A long story short, I told him to go forth and multiply, wrapped my hand up and set sail.... Still have a whole right thumb that is 100% serviceable these days, just a bit bigger than the left!! (being slightly bigger it seems to attract hammer blows more frequently..)

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 01, 2018, 06:12:20 PM
Hey Glort....

The only way they get me into hospital is unconscious, in a straight jacket.... The best method of sedation would probably be a tranqu gun! The jacket would be required from creating merry hell as I escape...

Realistically though, the only time I generally see a doc is to stitch something up that I cant reach on my own.... Where crazy glue wont stop the insides from becoming involuntary outsides....

I have been very ??lucky?? so far in my life, no chronic meds etc, and a fairly high pain threshold.... Kinda baffled my doc when I went to him with a mild stomach discomfort.... The bastard hit me with a strong pain killer type thing and then asked me to meet him at the local hospital after work to just check me over.... he was doing an afternoon shift there.... Bugger grabbed me, stuffed me on a gurney and wheeled me into theater.....   Appendicitis quite badly i was told...When I came to later that eve he asked me, while I was still high on anesthetic, what I thought of my new me, now that he had done the sex change..... I jumped bolt upright, carefully feeling for my manly bits and proceeded to try and vacate the premises.... RAPIDLY... Was all a good laugh... and the fasterest I have sobered up ever!!!!!

A couple of weeks after that he gave me a call to come and get the stitches taken out.... Too late I announced to him, I had removed them myself a few days prior....

All good fun, I like wearing my clothes out from the inside! (Which will probably be the death of me one day, but then again, I am to dumb too die from normal means I reckon.... With a life goal of being shot to death by a jealous husband while I am at the age of 95 or more....what would any normal body expect.....)

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 04, 2018, 09:41:58 AM
Hey Glort....

I have a very strange financial life goal.... I loathe and detest money, unfortunately its a necessary evil as we all know, it is needed for critical things, generally when you can least afford it...

My financial life goal is to have no money or need thereof..... Weird one, isn't it....

Every time in the past I have accumulated funds, life has become a misery... No sooner did I take another step towards the moneyless goal by purchasing materials, than someone, sometime, steps out of the woodpile to try and relieve you of the funds you have left that you have worked so hard to accumulate...

Now, in general, I try and use as much throwaway by others material as possible to further a project... There are exceptions, of course. Certain things are just not available and have to be bought new, those items take a fair amount of consideration before they are purchased...

Point in case... I have nearly completed my solar power setup, self made to the highest specification my skills and savings would allow... The nett goal is not to go completely off grid, but to minimise electricity costs as far as possible... savings were estimated and calculated to determine viability and advantage... The nominal break even will be around 2 to 5 years, assuming I can manage it correctly... Well, those plans are now out the window... The bastards at our local municipality have decided, due to their absolutely blatant mismanagement, thieving and pure ignorance, property rates of smallholdings and farmsteads have been increased to residential rates (an increase of about 300%)....  ie, subsistence farming is no longer an option, we are being taxed on property areas that, while unsuitable for housing due to lack of services and security, are nevertheless going to cost way more than previous... Couple that with a government that has passed laws legalising property appropriation without compensation, a president that has publicly chanted his willful desire to kill the white population...... Not a great place to be I reckon.....

I certainly hope nobody else elsewhere ends up on the endangered species list...

Enough ranting....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on August 04, 2018, 11:04:28 AM
Don't panic, Ed, outspan the oxen, there's room for one more up here........

Gesig noord, kop vorentoe, as my shipmate 'Corbus used to say.

Cheers Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 04, 2018, 11:15:47 AM
K noord V voort....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 08, 2018, 12:05:04 PM
Hey Guys...

While NOT on the subject of Listers....

Pretty much finished the solar installation yesterday, gale force winds forecast for the next couple of days.... Let's see if them thar panels are still up on Monday.....

Also got the mast extension and lifting tackle mounted for the blow gennie, extended guy cables should be here in the next couple of hours or so.... Went a bit OCD on the guys.... 6mm stainless cable, crimped eyes etc... Should last long enough to be my kids problem one day....

Below is a "1000 words" of the pretty much completed install so far....

I am going to move the Blow gennie ultimately, it casts a mast shadow over the panels, just want to see if it performs any better at 10m than its previous and will be worthwhile in this general area before I go around and cast foundation blocks for it....

Comments?

Keep it shining....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 08, 2018, 11:06:03 PM
Hey Glort...

Thanx for the compliment!

I was also a bit skeptical of tec screws into the ali chassis of the panel, your latest blow confirmed my worries... I have used 8x 6mm stainless bolts to hold each panel, they are through the mounting hole of the ali frame of the panel, then with either a square tab or a body washer, they clamp down on the angle section frames... my only concern is that the ali deflects one way and the frame the other, things might get interesting, I hope not...

Test shading with about an A4 size shadow on a test array, I saw a remarkable drop off on array output... Unfortunately I cannot determine whether the result was spurious or general, as my current power usage during peak daytime is about 1,5kw, so a little over 1 and a bit's worth of rack's of panels... I will only be able to really see a real difference if I push the load up...

Tomorrow sees me painting the mast and reinstalling the blow gennie if the weather holds back on the wind for a while, weird, isn't it.... I have to wait for the wind to die so I can drop the mast, then wait for it to die so I can up it again... while its up, the damn thing sits there looking at me with not a breath of wind.... Until I want to drop it or change a guy wire... then its hurricane time.... At least the sun shine fairly regularly...

Interestingly, the quickest way to get it to rain here is to take out an electric lead and drill... downpour initiates before job completion....

Enough rambling....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 10, 2018, 12:28:09 PM
Hey Guys....

The previous comments about electric extension leads, drilling machines and the inevitable downpour resulting from the readying thereof have proven themselves true, yet again!

Winds of 40-50km/h and thunderstorms have hit us this midday.... A welcome respite from the dry post-winter weather we are having, so with somewhat mixed feelings of appreciation and being somewhat irked at not being able to get the blow gennie up to its new position, I dolefully, but gleefully watch the rains fall....

Yesterday was a day of cardio workout for me, 10 steps up and 10 steps down the average ladder climb, with about 5 to 10 trips for each of 4 guy wires, amounts to a fair workout!! Add to that lugging drills et al, tugging on cables, no wonder I am knackered today..... The guy wires are now fully secured (6mm Braided Stainless cable with Galv'd chains and fittings at ground tie points), the winch is fully mounted, the lift pulleys and supporting brackets, as well as the top section of the mast have been painted, just the genhead to fit! (and paint the spool of the winch a dashing silver, as the previous spool got a dose of salt water during a loan and rusted away by the time it was returned...)

So far, touch wood, the lovely lightning conductor that is sitting at 10m hasn't attracted any attention from Thor.... I hope it stays that way! The closest strike was about 2km away so far....

Enough Rambling... Here is another crappy pic I took yesterday of the mast and guys.... The grey dismal weather can be clearly seen in the background....

Keep on pouring....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on August 10, 2018, 04:01:45 PM
I was asked to do a post-mortem on an off grid system. They'd had a lightning storm and both generator and top end inverter/charger system died. 

The grounding of the wind generator mast to a single rod in dry soil was itty bitty- 10 AWG.  I found the lightning visibly scorched over from that connection to the power cable leading to the inverter generator.  Blew the lightning suppression unit, the inverter/charger and from there headed to the autostart generator controller.  A clean sweep, I think she said over $25K in repairs (paid by insurance).  This was all top of the line gear.   

The size of the grounding conductor and the earth connection impedance DOES matter when you put a metal spike way up with the wind genny calling "hit me".  I lived in a home built in 1828 with the original standing seam metal roof and lightning rod system.  Massive copper cables on glass isolated metal stand offs running accross the ridge, and down both gable ends (equivalent of 3 modern stories tall).  The earth end was buried copper plates, 1/8" thick, about 8x8', about 4 foot deep.  The house was directly hit about 4 times a year since it was at the highest point for miles around.  The only damage was the much later addition of a phone line interface box in the basement- it was blown off the basement wall a couple times in the 4 years I lived there.

For modern lightning grounding, 00 or 000 bare copper cable laid in ground enhancement material (GEM) in a trench is now well proven and commonly used in the power industry.  The GEM or 98% carbon/cement mix acts to provide a huge increase in surface area to the soil.  A very thin layer with a thickening around the copper is used to conserve the GEM.  It's done dry, and the soil above watered after it is shaded carefully with dirt.

If you don't give it a good low resistance path to earth, it will find other ways you may not like.








Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 10, 2018, 05:01:40 PM
Hey guys...

@Glort: Up until about 10years ago, my back was quite good... Nowadays, things are getting to EOL I reckon, time to start putting bits back in, but that I am putting off until the very last.... Bending down, working at low levels does worry me a wee bit, but its the getting back up on my back feet that screws me over!

@Bruce: We have taken some notable strikes here in the past 25years, memorable ones indeed... The worst ones that come to mind are an instance when the Northern peak of the roof took a direct hit... that blew out every damn piece of kit in the place, including 2 fridges, tv's, microwave, entire network, pabx plus much, much more... Coupled with that, the ?air pressure? caved in a short section of roof on an adjoiner to that pitch as well.... That day I was on the upper floor and the hit was about 2m from where I was standing, fortunately no physical damage, except that I now here aliens singing when I don't wear my tinfoil hat...

The second one I remember clearly, was a ground strike about 75m from the house... At that stage we didn't have our own transformer on the pole outside, the neutral was bonded about 500m away, the earth neutral bonding at the pole had rotted away just below ground level apparently... Well, needless to say, about 20 zillion volts made its way up through my pristine db board and all of a sudden N/E differed by more than the household kit could handle.... Auto start gennie, network, pabx, microwave, you name it up in smoke....

After that I got a bit pissed off, naturally, and tied E to N in my board, in each board in fact (there is one main db board and 4 separate sub boards on the premises) .... I have also tied E/N on each of the 3 permanently connected gensets too..

I know this is not the best thing to do, but so far, a few ground strikes later, nothing major blown.... Oh yes, I neglected to mention that way before these strikes I had installed db board surge suppressors, at insistence of the insurance company, fat lot of good they did.. Having said that, its time to put on the tinfoil hat again....

Keep it sparking....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on August 10, 2018, 05:26:10 PM
Multiple hard grounding of neutral to earth may help but usually causes greatly elevated magnetic fields that's not so good for your health and can cause some serious "ground loop" problems for connected electronics.  When AC current has alternate paths instead of on it's mated neutral, even tiny amounts of current can "light up" the whole house. A single 60W bulb can make 8 milligaus over an entire portion of the house that way, easily. Naturally, I learned that the hard way.

The best solution for electronics it to put them all on an isolation transformer; then you can provide a new isolated earth connection for that gear and besides the better protection, will have no stray neutral current.  Avoiding long wired data cables (from building to building) by using fiber instead  is also very helpful; lightning causes hundreds of volts change  in DC earth potential between two locations.  I violated this rule for my remote engine shed, running cat5 cable in the metal conduit.  Bit me once- opto isolator on the end and resistors feeding it fried after a lightning storm.  For short runs I use plastic fiber (under 200 feet or so), multimode glass fiber with ST connectors for the long ones.  Glass fiber interfaces are more expansive and putting on the connectors and polishing the ends and checking via microscope is tedious.

Lightning does seem to have preferred locations.  I had one neighbor on the top of a hill who had the same power pole and transformer hit and destroyed 3x in 3 years.  The power co. put  an extended lightning rod on the pole and a big fat down-lead and grounding system for that pole.  That did the trick.


 
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 10, 2018, 08:28:15 PM
Hey Bruce...

I'm kinda stuck with multi NE at the moment... if and when I ever move, I will certainly plan the new domicile a bit better than this one is... This house, conduiting and associated electrical is circa 1940... there have been various owners over the years, and barring the original builder, I have been the longest single owner, and, scarily, that's for the last  25 years only.... It has been a bit of a nightmare trying, and still trying to in some places, sort out the various handyman/tenant/owner repairs of the last multiple decades.... Invariably a small job ends up to be a major exercise with several layers of quick and crappy fixes to be removed before I can do a reasonably robust repair or bit of maintenance...

Enough biaatching though, I should be almost finished just before I die..  :)

Unfortunately fiber wasn't available when I wired this place to UTP specs.... No way I'm going to change that... probably ever! (Somewhere around 50 network ports on the switches occupied, a dedicated room, tiny that it may be, for my linux web/mail/samba servers, not counting 3x household AP's and a few outside ones too).... I am kinda tied into the whole mess... Damn, I forgot the hardwired pabx, 24 extensions, alarm system, 70 something hardwired zones, and then a couple of hard wired dvr systems with 20 something cameras hardwired...

No wonder I need a tinfoil hat and my coffee keeps boiling over if I set it on the kitchen table in a tin mug.... This is not a very healthy environment for your style ailments.... In fact I'm surprised I don't pick up any symptoms myself.... Must be my misspent youth spent in hi current ac/dc welding environments and burning lots of nitro and the holy black that's killed off all the sensory bits that matter....

Keep it smiling...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on August 10, 2018, 09:18:54 PM
Nothing like many layers and decades of successive homeowner/handyman electrical work to keep you guessing! 
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 11, 2018, 10:55:01 PM
Hey Glort,

Don't worry.... I did think of that.... I am taking a different approach, thin wires! They slow the electricity down and it shows they are working properly because they are staying nice and warm. I get hot when I work hard, so the wires should too...... I have also put the batteries in a big deep freeze, they take much longer to charge at -40C, so therefore they must be holding more electricity now... also, because it is a top loading freezer, when you open the lid slowly and carefully in damp weather, you can see a sort of white smoke in there... I am sure thats the magic smoke that lives inside all the darksuckers that I have... Everybody else calls them light bulbs, but they are wrong. They are DARKSUCKERS. When they get full of dark, you have to throw them away and get new ones... Take a close look and you will notice when they are full that they go black inside and stop sucking up more dark...

We know the speed of light, but dark is so fast that nobody has measured it...

Keep it smiling...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on August 12, 2018, 08:57:30 AM
I'm sure you two will find further helpful information in the library of the Unseen University, a bunch of bananas will go a long way with the bloke what runs ...............

Cheers Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on August 12, 2018, 08:03:02 PM
"   Oook  "
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 13, 2018, 09:11:59 AM
Fortunately, being a dedicated chelonaut doesn't seem to put me out of place here at all....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 13, 2018, 10:53:57 AM
Hey Guys....

Report back:

Finally got a chance to get the Blow Gennie up to 10m this weekend, having finished and painted mast last week. All pulleys, lifting tackle (Not related whatsoever to wedding tackle, Glort) cabling, guys and winch are done and dusted, Cables have been re-routed to a more permanent, temporary route, just the winch cover to make and put in place. I have included a "drip pulley" routing the 5mm stainless cable away from the winch drum on the downward leg of its route, around it, and back up to the drum. this prevents rain from saturating the spool of cable and rusting it to buggery.... To raise and lower, you unhitch it from the drip pulley and take up the slack prior to doing windey-windey...

Raising the mast by another 3 to 4m has made a marked difference in performance. I would like to go higher, but to go beyond the 10m mark would mean replacing the lower 3" mast with at least 4 to 5" diameter pipe, way beyond my finances at the moment...

Performance is about 3x what it was previously, in very light breeze at ground level, about 50 to 100W is generated - when it picks up a bit, the output hits the 200 to 300W mark with little effort. Bear in mind that this is a "toy" 500W wind installation, in less than ideal situation for wind, but ideally situated for access. The single 250W panel connected to the little toy generates probably 300% more power than the turbine itself overall... This unit would be best utilized in a higher relative geographical location and one with a good view of a regular off-the-sea breeze probably....

Enough said, it does what it was intended to do, namely running a few lights in the workshop and will be further utilized to keep batteries topped up for tractors, tillers and the like.... (Possibly even providing power for the forming of lead-acid cells that I hope to get a chance to make soon....)

Here's a link to a small vid one of the girls took of the layout so far.... Bound to make you a little giddy, the camera was turned 90 degrees during the filming... Professional camera operators are so hard to come by these days.... Glort, COME TAKE PICTURES!!

http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Blow Gennie (http://www.warriorpaintball.co.za/private/Blow Gennie)

Keep on blowing....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 22, 2018, 11:54:18 AM
Hey all...

Been a bit down in the dumps lately...Dunno why.... but had a nice "brightner upper"  today... A mate sent a surprise gift of 3x5000L water tanks .....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 23, 2018, 08:35:55 AM
Hey Glort...

These are brand new, unused units... A mate owns the factory that makes them and they were surplus to a special order....

A lovely gift indeed, that has brightened my mood somewhat... I spent the evening yesterday getting my PL3203 USB-Serial adaptor working on my Win10 tablet... Going to hack and change the firmware a bit on the inverter I installed this coming weekend...

Sheeeesh..... Now I remember why I hate Win I.T. ...... No sooner has something stabilized then the great BG releases a new "upgrade" to the OS and you gotta start all over...

'Nuff sed....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 30, 2018, 10:47:19 AM
Hey Guys,

some info on what's been happening, some musings, some rambling.....and....well....just general BS too.....

So far the solar and wind projects have gone pretty well (Read that as "Not too much smoke escaped during installs!")

Wind/Solar combo power: Looks cute, looks interesting, spins and makes lovely sounds....doesn't make much power....on wind anyway... Best I have seen to get the 500W rated out of it, at 24V that's around 20A, was during the gale force winds a month or two back... The property location just doesn't lend itself to wind generation on a small scale. I daresay that if I elevated it another 20m or so, taking it to a 30m total hub height, things would be a bit more "lively" .... and "interesting" too... The solar side of the combo set works reliably and well, generating 250W from around 9am to about 4pm with little break in between, only cloud cover, obviously.... The wind does bolster it, don't get me wrong, but its spurious at best, with a power supply well below 50W on average... This little SHTF system is hooked up to keep my tractor batteries in charge, and runs the welding bay/machine shop lighting on a day to day basis, around a max of 300W draw for about 4 to 8hrs a day on average. Unfortunately there is little to no natural lighting in those areas, so daytime lighting is in order for any work(Playing and building sh!t) to happen there...

Straight Solar Power installation: Working very well so far - I have got all of the batteries I need for the moment racked up and installed, along with some HA-02 4 port battery balancers to keep things in the land of the living for as long as possible in that department. Yep, I know, 638SMF vehicle batteries are NOT the right things to be using, but at last check they were about the best bang for buck to use in the short term, Now, a bunch of supercaps would be loverrrrly, sniff, sniff....

A few notes on power usage - We have dropped down from a max60kWh, ave50kWh per day down to ave15kWh per day from the monkeypality supply... A fair cost saving indeed!

As has been mentioned more than once around this forum, there is way more to power cost saving/gen/solar/wind implementation than simply putting in a system and expecting the dollhairs to start flowing in. It takes a little scheming and planning to use the power when its available, ie when the sun is shining in the solar sense of the plan... To this effect, I have made some pretty simple changes that are (generally) quite easy to implement, only a little growling and barking to get the residents to play along, especially when I point out that its largely to their financial benefit... to summarize:

Deep Freeze: On timer to start it up at 10am and turn it off at 5pm - Don't piss about and stand there with the top open trying to decide what you want to eat in 10 minutes time... Keep the bugger closed till the next morning, take out the stuff you want to cook and put it in the fridge till the evening....Not only will it defrost slowly and remain fresh, but it will help the fridge a bit too!

Grey Water Pump: These are also on timer, set to come on at around 11am where they will replenish the header tank for the toilet cisterns... If you run out of cistern supply in the evening, use a bucket to flush it... In any event, how the f!@# did you manage to deplete 300L of grey water in an evening anyway(toilet cisterns have been adjusted to use a max of around 12L per flushfill)? Was it fun to stand there flushing the toilet incessantly?

Fridges: Some, soon all, are to be on timers, going off around midnight and coming on around 9am.... It is not required that the fridge be opened in the early morning hours to check if the stuff's still there... There are far better things to do than see if the fridge light is working at 2am....go watch a movie if you can't sleep!

Home network, servers, security systems, pabx.... on power 24/7, but since the inverter has a battery supply, it acts as a ups anyway, so there is no need for a separate ups to be there....same applies to the home offices, all ups's have been put in storage, saving about another 150w of overhead per unit, maybe a bit less, but it all adds up...especially when there are 3 or 4 units running....

Heavy duty home electrical appliances: Iron, chip fryer, dishwasher, hair dryer.... I have provided a single heavy duty outlet in the scullery for playing with these things - Now you can even iron while you watch TV/listen to 2gigawatts of sound power from the adjoining kitchen entertainment system, how thoughtful of me! Oh, by the way, there is only one plug so please select whether you want to iron, fry chips, wash dishes, or dry your hair.... Actually works quite well - I see very little of the iron being left on while the clothes are being fetched/packed away or the smell of something "hot" emanating from a bedroom, like when curling tongs get forgotten on for 2 to 3 hours until the red glow finally attracts someone...Way more too my liking, but I did get a "bit" of opposition with this choice...

Enough ranting... on to some tech type stuff explaining how it all hangs together, the power systems as such...

Power comes in from municipal feed and hits my pay-as-you-go meter. It then hits the "Heavy duty stuff" like the dishwasher plug, the double oven, the electric hob, the metal workshop DB, the wood workshop db. From there it heads towards my Heath-Robinson "auto mains dump" contactors which are controlled by my Lister (See it is a Lister post!!). If I run either of my Listers, they take over mains supply automatically and supply downstream from here. After that, it heads to a couple of "non essential" items, that seldom get used and draw little power when they do. Next it heads to my little auto start 5kVa diesel gennie, this kicks in if the utility power fails, after a few seconds of startup delay. In short order it heads directly to the solar inverter utility input, then back from the solar inverter/ups to the DB board to power the more "critical" things as required (Like fridges, Tv's, Network, Offices, Home entertainment systems, Sound systems, bedroom plugs, Microwave and just about anything else I can squeeze into the 5kVa limit of inverter and gennie....)

The inverter and the little gennie are "plugged" into each other via surface mount plugs... If one or both gives shit, it can be bypassed without even opening the DB board, simply unplug and put the plug in one step closer to the supply....

Right....enough of my idiotic rambling....time to go play and see if I can let the smoke out....

Cheers
Ed

PS: Glort - The babbington powered heat exchanger is still running like a charm, with the odd flame out here and there due to wind or water in the fuel.... Averaging about 3L of waste oil per day on the 300L water supply heatup.....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 30, 2018, 01:20:00 PM
Hey Glort....

I think I might have to write a fairly in-depth manual on the place before I shuffle off... I will, of course, demand payment for said manual, preferably in burgers and cough mixture, other creature comforts will be negotiated if required. The manual will be in audio form, personally related, by the designer, on demand(of said creature comforts!) This manual will be updated at least once a week, requiring a (remaining lifetime's) demand of said subscription fees.... There may also, of course, only be one person "tuned in" to the audio book at any given time.... I will just shut up as another, second body presents itself....

The power co will probably come visit, I hope they do.... I had the waterboys here a while back, they kind of left with their tails between their legs when I finished with them.... No holds barred!!

We are lucky to get away with 15Kl a month, comparable to your 500L a day, that's including grey water recycling, the ladies looooove the water, no doubt about it! Before the grey system was installed, we were at about 20-25Kl, sometimes more... But then again, there were 3 guys and 5 gals on the scene, kids and boyfriends thereof....

Fridges: Run the buggers when its hot and bright, drawing off solar, they can coast the night/off hours through, the house is cool evenings anyway... There is pretty much an excess of solar during the day for us, the batteries are damn near full by 17h00 anyways, even with limiting the charge currents to 50A max across 4 banks, ie 13A per bank, each bank 70AH rated, so around 20% of AH rating for charge....

Regarding the heavy duty plug..... In full view from where I sit in the kitchen having dinner..... Ain't no sodding power splitter going in there while I'm around!!

I have had many, many occurrences of implements being left on and unattended.... My standard procedure is: First occurrence-Turn it off and warn offender, Second-Same as first, Third-Don't turn it off and call offender, stand present, tapping foot and glaring while they turn it off, Forth-Unplug device and leave a sarky note, Fifth-Unplug device and make a cup of coffee, place plug in coffee and leave it in there, when question is asked as to why, well, that's where I get creative with explanations.... Sixth-Side cutters on cord at device side..... But that's only happened once so far....

Babbington Heatex: Nope, none of the TM's involved, except by sharing an exhaust stack as a chimney... Bab's pretty much ok, just like to flame out every now and then when I least want it to... (When I'm on the sh!tter or drinking a frosty, or eating a steak, or chatting on the phone, or watching a movie, or eyeing out some beauty....) As long as I'm doing stuff I'm dying to take a break from, it runs faultlessly!

Keep it smiling!!

Cheers
Ed

PS - I did manage to let the smoke out (almost).... One 7Ah gel cell is now ovoid.... It was a "what can I do with these damn things, lets put them on the 24v blowgennie and get some use outta them".... scenario
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on August 30, 2018, 03:40:17 PM
Bravo, Ed, on your huge energy project.  Shifting loads to sunny hours when PV power is in excess takes some seriously good planning...and you have done it well.

I expect that adding some phase change materials (PCM) in panels on the interior walls of the refrigerator, especially, might some day be a common add on.

This UK company has organic PCM they call A6 which freezes at 6 C.
http://www.pcmproducts.net/files/PCM%20Summary%202013-A.pdf
Perhaps something similar available there in ZA?

Only dairy is fussy about temperature, and your freezer to fridge defrost does the same...keeping the fridge cooler overnight.

Great project, Ed!




Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on August 31, 2018, 12:27:42 PM
Thanks Bruce!!

Dunno if that stuff is available on the local market.... Not that I know of, I have chatted to a few mates in the aircon/refrig line over similar in the past and it was never mentioned...

Now on to the next project...Looks like my damn deepfreeze is going legs up because the thermal insulation has broken down...eventually... Well, can't really complain, got it second hand for a song about 20 years ago, its had a good innings, probably best to lay it to rest!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on August 31, 2018, 06:21:40 PM
I found a great use for retired chest freezers.  I put mine outside the shop, and store all my paints, glues, solvents, grease, etc. in it.  It reduced the stink in my closed up shop greatly. It's amazing how ferocious the chemical cloud is when you first open the freezer, even though all those containers are closed and sealed. 

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 01, 2018, 09:06:37 AM
A good many years ago, I used to have 2 smaller chest freezers...one was left unplugged, and was used to store dry goods, the other was used for its intended purpose. Once a year, or when required, the dry goods unit was unpacked, plugged in and the contents transferred from the other... When the first was fully defrosted and cleaned, it was left off and the dry goods packed into it... That worked extremely well... The insulation had plenty of time to dry out and get back up to spec... Part of the price of living in a damp environment.. Moved to a new house, dryer suburb, the ex decided......well lets just say that not all plans are acceptable to everyone...

Anybody looking for a large chest freezer that could double as a well insulated bedroom....?

Lol
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 03, 2018, 11:46:31 AM
Hey Guys...

A quick checklist....

Handy largish solar power install....Done
Small combo wind/solar install....Done
New water tanks arrived...Yep
Fittings ordered to install tanks...Yep
.
..
...
....
Power Failed...Yep
Solar Batteries flat...Yep
Overcast and not charging...Yep
Pissing with rain...Yep
Wind howling and generating 2 million terrawatts on my 500W blow gennie...Yep
Blow gennie connected to house...Nope!
....
...
..
.
Prepared to go out into the rain and install the damn tanks...Nope!
Prepared to piss around in the rain and stick a 48V charger on the house from the wind gennie...Nope!
Running on Lister Power ... Yep  ;D
.
..
.
Contingency Planning at its best.... The more contingencies you plan for, the less prepared you will be!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 03, 2018, 12:55:15 PM
Hey Glort!

Bwahahahahaaaaaaaa.....

I thought I was the only one with the "Sadim" touch.....the opposite of Midas.....

Actually, what I was saying was, stuff solar, stuff wind, stuff diesel, stuff hydro...and....stuff the monkeypality services too! A grass hut in the Savannah with a nice wood fire going to keep me warm....No....stuff that too, 'cos I'm gonna have to chop wood and carry water....I think I'll just move in with one of the kids and they can do the worrying after that!! (Hey junior, when's supper...I'm hungry!!)

Keep it spinning!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 03, 2018, 02:58:58 PM
I must admit....I wouldn't mind an old stationery steam engine to tinker with....Would be good fun!!

I've seen a few episodes on his channel, steeplejack of note!

Reminds me when I was asked if I was scared of climbing my antenna tower, roof etc.... Simple answer...No...Less than 3m scares the crap out of me, above that I'm dead, someone else's problem....

Could just picture the scene if I move in with the kids, Junior gets home to a nice home cooked meal, freshly hunted turkey compliments fly..... A knock on the door and the local po-po's are there to arrest me....discharging a shotgun in a supermarket....

Lol
Ed

PS - I'm too young to be a grandfather, you, girlie, keep your legs crossed, you sonny, keep it zipped up!!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on September 03, 2018, 04:38:11 PM
Hi Guys

I met Fred Dibnah years back at the Great Dorset Steam Fair (It had it's 50th last week), he was driving an ex army lightweight Land Rover, can't remember what he was doing there, nice bloke, just the same in real life as on the tv.


Not been too bad a day here, only 7 hours to change the starter motor on the Series III Landy. I poked a 200TDI from a Discovery up it last winter, the only difficult bit is the turbo, it's very close to the chassis rail if you use the Disco exhaust manifol, so close it buggers up access to the starter so I fitted a new one to avoid future imbuggerance.............

The Sadim touch running world wide?

The patron Saint for today is St Gregory, patron saint of students, teachers and musicians, where was Saint Pat when we needed him?

Cheers
Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on September 03, 2018, 08:20:42 PM
I must admit....I wouldn't mind an old stationery steam engine to tinker with....Would be good fun!!

I've seen a few episodes on his channel, steeplejack of note!

Reminds me when I was asked if I was scared of climbing my antenna tower, roof etc.... Simple answer...No...Less than 3m scares the crap out of me, above that I'm dead, someone else's problem....

Could just picture the scene if I move in with the kids, Junior gets home to a nice home cooked meal, freshly hunted turkey compliments fly..... A knock on the door and the local po-po's are there to arrest me....discharging a shotgun in a supermarket....

Lol
Ed

PS - I'm too young to be a grandfather, you, girlie, keep your legs crossed, you sonny, keep it zipped up!!


The grandad years are the best years so far :)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 06, 2018, 12:36:22 PM
Hey Guys...

Sitting hunched and shivering over my laptop and a cuppa coffee in my fridge office... At my desk its 12.5C... I'm frucking fozen....

Weather is overcast, miserable and raining, I don't know how you buggers can handle the snow, sleet and slush... You can keep it!

Been playing with some demo software on the solar/inverter system for the past few days - ICC (Inverter Control Center) - Its basically a nice dashboard/front end with data logging facilities for the Axpert 5KVA unit I've got hooked up.. Runs on a RaspberryPi and seems pretty damn stable and usable! I think I'll save up a bit and stick some money their way, looks more than capable for what I need...

Interestingly, with the logger running, I have been able to plot my power harvest curves and make a couple of minor tweaks to both settings and installation, power becomes usable here at around 06h30 where the 4Kw array starts picking up some rays and gets about 200-500W flowing into the batteries. The batteries get out of bed at about 08h00 when they have a bit of juice in them and their voltage gets above the threshold I have set, allowing the inverter to come on and start doing some work... This continues through the day, running pretty much the entire place (if there's sun of course...unlike today when its miserable and shitty)... Peak solar I have measured over the past few days has been around 3Kw, enough to run the whole place, offices included, as well as the old power hungry dishwasher... I'm happy with that!

Evening power drops below self sustenance at around 16h00 and it starts being aided by the batteries, this continues on till around 17h30, then the system goes to sleep and we run on the grid... Time to start working on some decent lead acid battery making soon, I think...  But, there is one wee little thing I am planning on before I beef up the DC bottles... I am planning on one more solar string, wasn't sure whether I should make it a morning or evening string, but from the logging I have done, it looks like it will be an afternoon/evening facing string that will come out tops.... Anybody done this yet? Faced a string upwards at midday to see max yield and then horizon West in the evening to see potential capabilities from the same string? C'mon Glort, at least you should be able to gimme an answer!!

If I can extend another hour or so at a Pv output of about 1.2Kw out of the system, I think I will have met my goal!

Enough rambling...

Coffees' getting cold....

Cheers
Ed

PS - My new (old) toy has arrived... An old Landini tractor I am going to rebuild (not restore) and get running again, a largish one... Mechanically, most bits seem present, bodywork is best described as "15 000 rust holes moving in close formation"...

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 06, 2018, 02:17:00 PM
Hey Glort...

Thanx for coming back to me...

A bit of a "custom" setup I wanna do.... Then again, when have I ever been considered to be "conformist"...

I am happy with the 12 panels facing N at about 30o tilt from horizontal, they work well for the daily power... My power needs are most during the day, about 2kw ave draw (anything that can be bulk pumped, cooled, heated or stirred is on daytime timers to use the sun)... The next little hurdle I am looking at is the "everybody gets home after work" hump... It amounts to about 1.5kw draw total from 17h00 to 22h00 or so...well, no sun at night, so I am trying to scheme my way around getting the last bit of sunset yield, around 16h30 till 18h00 or so as the sun sinks away... I tried going onto www.pvwatts.com but my virus/malware scanner went bonkers, so I just backed out quietly....

The panels I am looking at putting in, in addition to my N facing ones, would be facing WNW approximately at about 20o from vertical/70 from horizontal... Latitude is around 33 deg S, so anybody who can give me a pointer as to what to expect power wise from 3x 335W panels from about 2 hours before sunset through to sunset would be a kind person indeed!...

Overall yield from the "evening panels" is not an issue, they would be purely for sunset harvest....

I wonder if there's any "prediction graph" from that site that would give me an idea of what to expect...?

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 06, 2018, 03:43:55 PM
Thanx Glort,

Got onto the site and did some tinkering at various angles and bearings....

Yep, you're right.... The falloff is too steep to warrant the cost of the install.... Now, if I wound up the Lister every day at 5pm and hooked a spotlight shining onto a mirror, which reflects onto another which illuminates a string of panels..... Naah....would take too long to clean the mirrors each day.......

Lol
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 21, 2018, 02:16:12 PM
Hey guys....

Started working on SCFM a few nights ago... (Scary Candy Floss Machine)....

A small bowl, high G centrifuge... If my calcs are right, I should be able to get a max of around 40 000g out of a 95mm dia bowl... The bowl will be doing around 36 000 RPM at that G output....  The containment casing is good 10mm steel, capable of stopping a 9mm or even a 357mag round... I know, I tested it!

The separation forces on the bowl at flat out are about 12 000 Kg, the tensile strength of soft ali is about 20 000kg or so, so it should hold together ok, if not, it will simply make a loud bang and turn to gravel...

The working revs I will be targeting will be around the 18 000rpm mark or lower, sep forces will be about 3000kg, which I am a bit more comfortable with...

Interesting observation...12000 kg sep force at 36000 rpm.... that equates to my bulldozer traveling at 600 fps... well, not quite, but still scary!

At the 18000rpm mark, there is still 10 000g available to play with, even on this small bowl.... It should be quite "interesting"...

If all pans out ok, once I have seen the results of the tests, I will cast and machine up a larger ali bowl, around the 200mm diameter mark. Remember, g forces are proportional to increase in diameter and in square proportion to revs!

So much fun, so little time!!

Here are a few 1000 words to look at....

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 21, 2018, 02:17:06 PM
And a few more...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on September 22, 2018, 03:10:30 AM
I would worry  (ok, I do worry) about a home cast, thick aluminum bowl having casting voids.  You can't magnaflux for that, how do you inspect for it ?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 27, 2018, 10:08:06 PM
Hey Guys...

And now, as per usual, something completely different and way off track....

As you might remember, I set up a small solar/pv/wind/bunchashite system a little while back....

Here is a temporary gateway into the monitoring and logging system that will give live feeds, I don't know(as per usual) if it will work, but give it a prod to see what's happening...


http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view?id=12 (http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view?id=12) for Simple View
http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view?id=13 (http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view?id=13) for Quick View
http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view?id=14 (http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view?id=14) for Lotsa Gauges
http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view?id=15 (http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view?id=15)  for Graphs and Trends
http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view?id=16 (http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view?id=16)  for Graphs and Gauges

I don't know how bandwidth will hold up, I don't know if you will be able to access it, I don't know whether ....etc, etc, etc.... But I do know it works on my internal network, hope you can see it too!

Be kind about the graphs and layout, its still a work in progress.... Ah, what the h3ll.... Give it to me straight, I think I can handle it!

Keep on shining...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on September 27, 2018, 10:32:13 PM
Ed, it works perfectly.

it's a work of art and a thing of beauty

If it opens OK with out steam-driven internet down here at the Bottom of the World - then it's probably visible everywhere

(Right now I would guess some National Energy Taxation Agency is searching for your street address . . . .)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 27, 2018, 10:38:40 PM
Thanx Mike!

Compliments graciously accepted!

One thing I can't understand though, is the lack of pv during the night.... The earth is round and turning, that's why there's day and night... The sun is always shining somewhere....why can't the panels just get it right?

Cheers
E
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: broncodriver99 on September 28, 2018, 01:27:25 AM
That is one slick setup. Nice work!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on September 28, 2018, 08:38:18 AM
Hey Guys,

The inverter I am using is an "AXPERT" 5kva - It is a glorified mains/solar input ups. Besides the regular solar stuff type connections, it has a serial as well as a usb port...

For logging, I am using a RaspberryPI 3B? (The bloody versions of those things confuse the sh!t out of me) ... It is the RPi with the built in wifi... A 16gb micro Card for O/S and data as well as a 16Gb USB for backup...

The software is all open source, SolPipLog for the data collector, and Emoncms for the database and dashboards... It was a bit tricky to set up, but well worth it in the end... (Even a lugnut like me managed to puzzle my way through it after a couple of hours...)

That's about it!

There is lots of invo and vids about setup and doing the "Dashboards" .... Have Fun!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dax021 on September 28, 2018, 03:30:10 PM
Hi Ed, if you haven't come across this site yet, it's worth a look. powerforum.co.za.  Lots of good stuff, but I suggest Glort refrains from this forum as it will drive him batshit.  Too much anal 'follow the leader" norms.  In saying this, I have learnt a shitload by wading through the relevant stuff.  I also run an Axpert, the 3Kva version though.  I think they're called PIP 4048 in Australia   
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on September 28, 2018, 06:15:30 PM
Great data charting, Ed.  It points out one mystery-  what is the source of your 1000 watt baseline load 24/7?   It's so consistent it's baffling.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: veggie on September 30, 2018, 02:23:14 AM
what is the source of your 1000 watt baseline load 24/7?   It's so consistent it's baffling.

 Heated toilet seat !   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 01, 2018, 10:52:26 AM
@Dax: I am a member there....agreed, re the point of Glort not signing up.... What's the bet he does!! (Ok if he does, how long do you think it will take to become a "black sheep"....  :angel: )

@Bruce: Off the top off my head: 150W to 250W of vivarium heaters, 250 to 500W of servers+security+surveillance+pabx, Multiple, probably dozens of wall-cockroach cell chargers left plugged in and idling by the girls, 3xTV/Entertainment systems on idle, 2 fridges and a large chest freezer, one flatlet with multiple electronic gizmos and a fridge... To name but a few!! If it was just me, probably an idle wattage of around 200-400W.....MAX!

@Veggie: nope that baseline is the economized charge rate for that hidden sex automaton that's on permanent charge ... They're so easy to turn on too! (Pity I can't get it to turn into a beer and pizza at midnight though...)

@Glort: Interestingly, I am running my PIP4048 with the "AussieView" firmware patch....Works great too!

Cheers
ED
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dax021 on October 02, 2018, 08:10:04 AM
To be honest, I would love to see Glort commenting on powerforum, it would surely ruffle up some feathers! If he gets banned, no skin off his teeth, he has that great Aussie site to fall back on.  What do you call yourself there?
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 02, 2018, 08:22:14 AM
Same username as here: EdDee
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 02, 2018, 10:39:53 AM
Oi!

Don't insult my local language!! Bwahahahah....

Geyser is the local term for a water heater....you guessed right!

Most of the topics are quite basic, but there are some learned chaps there, as well as some blowhards, inevitably.... Unfortunately, its one of those sites that seems to breed questions from questions... Ask a simple question and get a myriad in reply...

Excess solar? Bank it in anything you can... Heat a pile of bricks, charge batteries, whatever.... anything that you can even get partial energy back from.... Just use your imagination and whatever you have lying around... If you have to pay to heat your water, every degree up you can put into it, is a degree you don't have to pay for.... It might not be the most cost effective method you choose, if you bought the panels and kit new, but if they are lying around doing bugger all.... well... nuff said!

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 02, 2018, 02:49:28 PM

The reality is, apart from the small technical drawback of being highly Illegal, Growing weed would be perfect.  Power intensive, low setup costs, good returns at the end.


Believe it or not.... The local governMENTAL twats have just legalized it here.... "For own consumption on your own property" ... of course...

As if the local, lazy, good for nothing, population needed another excuse to mellow out.....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: merkland on October 03, 2018, 11:17:31 AM
Silly question for Glort! If your supply company changed your meter so that you could no longer get a credit from power going to the main how would you utilise your power then?
In the UK most if not all electricity supply meters have been changed so that they do not run backwards. We have a system. which is currently being phased, out called a 'feed in tariff system'(FITS) which was introduced to encourage the installation of solar PV on properties. Every PV system has a meter which records all power produced, any of this power not used on the premises automatically feeds into the mains system. Readings from the generation meter have to be supplied every 90 days to the company operating your FITS scheme.The property owner then receives a payment(fixed by government) for every unit produced then a further payment on half the units produced, which are deemed to have been exported to the mains. This second payment is usually around a quarter of what the supply company charges for power and is paid irrespective of whether any power is actually fed to the mains. Needless to say there are various devices developed to try and ensure that all power produced can be utilised and nothing is fed back to the mains!
merkland.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on October 03, 2018, 01:01:54 PM
Hey guys, a very good and trusted friend of mine has been growing weed for his own consumption for the last thirty years. He has a terminal disease. I have never seen him wasted or impaired by his use and if it gives him some pain relief without having to pay big pharma good for him. Might consider it myself but I think my head is probably too far gone to cope with anymore drugs! (Pharmaceutical)  :laugh:

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 03, 2018, 01:42:18 PM
Hey Glort...

Wanna come round for some tea and cookies?...... As long as you don't want to take any home, it's fine!

Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on October 03, 2018, 02:04:41 PM
Many years ago a friend of mine, who was a chef, got pulled at JFK airport. They asked if he had any meat, vegetables or fruit in his luggage. His reply was: "if you want a three course dinner you`ll have to come to my restaurant". That got him the full rubber glove treatment, didn`t stop him being a smart arse, just stopped him going to America!  :laugh:

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 03, 2018, 10:45:17 PM
Hey Guys....

It rained today...my stash got wet...couldn't get it lit.... worked on software layouts a bit instead...

Take a look at: http://www.digipoint.co.za:85 (http://www.digipoint.co.za:85) and browse through the semi completed dashboards I set up for the solar stuff....feel free to tear my crappy layouts apart and set me in the right direction!

I finally found what I was looking for in banggood... a 24 to 48vdc variable input voltage/output current/output voltage, 1500W boost converter... ordered, hopefully soon to arrive... I am going to use it to hook my 24v blow gennie system as an auxilliary  charger to the 48v battery bank on the main inverter system....

Nuff sed.. time to see if my stash is dry and go read some SF....

Keep it smoking...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on October 05, 2018, 03:18:33 AM
Here in Tennesee, United States, North America, Earth, the Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, possession of weed will get your property, possessions, money etc, confiscated by Law Enfarcement, to be used in the War On Drugs. War is a Fucking Joke. Control is the correct term.
 If you have a legitimate need for THC to combat epilepsy, Parkinson's, horrible pain that the Govt sanctioned opioids (very controlled and expensive)
won't touch, then you are a criminal and as such "Shit out of Luck". I really hate the way our government has been stolen and bastardized.
Wow, I am coming across a little Bitter, sorry.
Ron.

PS. In my defense, I am under the influence of those same aforementioned opioids due to "Balloon Sinuplasty" earlier today. Yes it hurts!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on October 05, 2018, 03:42:47 AM
Many years ago a friend of mine, who was a chef, got pulled at JFK airport. They asked if he had any meat, vegetables or fruit in his luggage. His reply was: "if you want a three course dinner you`ll have to come to my restaurant". That got him the full rubber glove treatment, didn`t stop him being a smart arse, just stopped him going to America!  :laugh:

Bob

Yes.  My partner and I travelled to America just a few months after Sept 11.  Same treatment.  Missed ongoing flights.  Treated like cattle etc (To be fair the Airport Secirity folks were treating Americans just the same).  I have never gone back and don't plan to.  Travelling to Europe we just fly through Asia (where they welcome travellers) instead

Interestingly, my most vivid memory of America is waling home from the old Whiskey Ago-go at about 3 AM and crossing the street to avoid the commotion outside a cowboy bar where some six-foot-eight cowboy (stetson hat, pointed boots . . .) was engaged in kicking another to death in the gutter outside

I kinda like it down here at the Bottom of the World where the cops don't have guns and the airport secirity folks understand the "polite" part of "Firm but Polite"
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on October 07, 2018, 02:47:52 AM
Here ya go Glort.

Pot is not treated equally by all state marijuana laws. Tennessee’s marijuana laws are highlighted in the table below.

Code Section
   

39-17-401, et seq.

Possession
   

Possession or casual exchange of: Less than .5 oz.: Class A misdemeanor and attendance at drug offender school and minimum $250 fine; Casual exchange to a minor from an adult 2 yrs. his senior and adult knows minor is a minor: felony; Subsequent offense: $500 minimum; Third: $750 minimum; Two or more prior convictions, then Class E felony; 20 plants to 99 plants: Class C felony, fined up to $100,000.

Sale
   

.5 oz. to 10 lbs.: Class E felony and/or $5000; 10 lbs. + 1 g. to 70 lbs.: Class D felony and/or $50,000; 70 lbs. + 1 g.: Class B felony and/or $200,000; Over 700 lbs.: Class A felony and/or $500,000; Sale to minor under 18 or in drug-free zone: one class higher than amount required; Minimum penalty amounts: 1st drug felony offense: $2000; 2nd: $2500; 3rd: $3000


See how tolerant we are here
Ron
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 07, 2018, 10:13:13 AM
Hey guys...

Here's something off the current convo stream to add to the "pot"....

As usual, heading off at a tangent, made a few alterations to the solar monitoring software, grabbed a couple of screenshots, each worth a 1000 words or so, so I guess this is one of the longer posts... (Ron, saw you poking around in there a day or two ago!)....

This is still live at the moment: http://www.digipoint.co.za:85 (http://www.digipoint.co.za:85) for those who want to see the live monitoring of the system...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 07, 2018, 01:13:53 PM
Hey Glort,

I have only played with this particular inverter, an AXPERT 5Kva Solar/mains input so far with this software... But, that being said, Emoncms is a universal package, the dedicated bit is the Solpipmon software which talks to the inverter(and a couple of other brands too I think) and feeds the data to the Emon software database... There are numerous raspberry things out there software wise to log data... There are even "stand alone" wifi/wired type sensors that can be hooked up to the raspberry as well... Having the "driver" software for the pip4048 makes things a lot simpler and easier via SolPipMon...

The tricky bit is taking the few data streams you have, combining them, then getting unique and useful output... Just takes a bit of time away from browsing porn on the web (guns, diesel engines, new mechanical ideas....My porn!) .... and then invest said time into a bit of creative software prodding and bit bashing!

The short answer is yes, this can be used with anything from weather station data to your good old lister to log its doings.... Would I use it on a lister that I ran once a week....no... on a weather station or solar setup thats on 24/7.... Well, there the setup effort makes it worthwhile! Would i trust it to control something that could do 100's of K's worth of damage if it locked up in an unfavorable condition?...HELL NO!

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 10, 2018, 09:19:12 AM
Hey Guys....

And now for something completely different: A man with 3 ........ (Monty Python at his best!)

Did some more work on the 'fuge last night, got the cube chassis/frame welded up, the spindle mounted, made the motor mount, banged it all together and run it up to 25% speed - around 11 to 12K rpm.... Worked well, no holes in me or the roof, it was a good evening... The little VFD drive looks like it will have enough grunt to do the job, so bonus - No smoke escaped!! There was no perceptible vibration either, it was standing on a metal welding table, highly resonant, and besides a bit of noise from the motor bearings(It's well used, pre-owned, and newly recycled) the unit behaved above my expectations!

Next thing I suppose I better do is clean the rust out of the catch casing - wouldn't help to start the tests with a whole lot of frangibles in the way I suppose!

Time to get out the runcible spoon and start scratching about in there, I think!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on October 15, 2018, 10:09:26 PM
And now i feel like a Neanderthal. Again.
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 15, 2018, 10:35:05 PM
Hey Ron...

Why u feel stone-age?

Believe it or not, my basic opinion of things electronic is that they are disposable, short lived, fragile and pretty much equate to mental masturbation as far as setting up goes... Great fun to play with, instant gratification when u get it going, will you remember it as a milestone in your life in 1, 2 or 3 years time...probably not!

But...

Grab a hunk of steel, a load of bricks or even a good sized lump of wood... Spend a week or more making something from it, or hell, even 5 minutes, and there will almost definitely be some part of your skills left sometimes for generations to come!

And that cute thingy with all the flashing lights and wires....that will disappear in a puff of logic at the next lightning strike!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 15, 2018, 11:02:15 PM
I just noticed something.....

Those numbers next to this thread.... Views in particular.... Replies as well.... Are they correct? Almost 150k views of my/our BS .... Daaaaamn....

To all the infinitely tolerant moderators and admins out there, thanks for a great forum!

To all the rest of the lesser mortals who participate in the friendly banter, thanks for tolerating all my BS and being such good mates to an even lesser mortal such as myself!

Each and every one of you guys make it all worthwhile! Even old Glort, with his brash, Aussie "up yours" attitude, Dave, I hope one day to meet you face to face and shake you by the hand.


Here's to another 150k views, and another 850 replies!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on October 16, 2018, 07:38:38 AM
+1 from me!

I know it's a 'Lister forum' but 'Man cannot live by bread alone'

Actually that probably explains the continuing development of the Runcible spoon.

Cheers
Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 19, 2018, 03:20:16 PM
Hi Guys,

While of the subject of just about everything else except Lister(oids)....

I had a chance to run up the 'fuge today for a good couple of hours worth of testing!

Running around 13000 RPM, about 5500g's, 250W worth of incoming power, 1L processed in 5 to 8 minutes, product was badly contaminated with water and dust commercial diesel...... All done in a single pass, no multipass pump fitted yet....

I could not process the incoming stock at a faster rate due to the "pump effect" of the unit drawing in air, thanks to my clever stupid idea of having a open sight hole in the incoming line to visually check the incoming flow rate. Bloody clever, works well to see how fast the crap is running in, but draws enough air through it to disturb the layers in the bowl and cause sediments to mix and slip over the lip..... What a twat!

A brief description of the in and out -

Feedstock is a milky white/brown oily mess...no lumps or chunks, but certainly not something I would even clean the outside of a Lister with. The mix has been standing for 6 months in a shaded area to try and settle out water to no avail. Little to no water was evident when draining the 25L containers. It is well and truly emulsified and holding the water in suspension.

The tailings remaining after going through the fuge, contain brown slime, clay like sediment and what appears to be water. There is approximately 500ml of tailings per 10 to 15L of feedstock processed, slightly more evident in the lower reaches of the container, so it was settling, but very, very slowly. These tailings are largely incombustible, extremely difficult to light off, and major crap left after you do manage to get a weak flame for a few minutes....

Overview: The unit runs very well, considering its a single pass system, separating pretty much all of the crap out of the diesel I tested it on.... Well, you tell me.... Here is a 1000 words or so for you to judge for yourself!! The 5L container on the left contains the single processed batch, the bottle on the right is some of the tailings drawn from the bowl between runs.

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 19, 2018, 10:10:58 PM
Hey guys...

Managed to mount the feed tank this eve on the fuge... At least it's not swinging in the breeze from the gantry now... It's a repurposed 'disposi-can'that I got some refrigerant in a while back...

A bit of an update re the separation of the previous load of shite I was testing with..... Ran some finished product through the fuge for a leak test after mounting the tank and redoing the bowl outlets... About the same feed rate but slightly slower, pretty much the same RPM... On checking the bowl after about a 10 minute run and pulling about 750ml of re-reprocessed output, all is clean, it looks like 5500g is a pretty good starting point for sending the sump gunk through...Who knows, I might even get away with a single pass on that stuff too....Bugger....now I've jinxed it.... no way its gonna work!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed

PS... Bruce... I think you asked me to report back re the wind gennie performance... Well, today it worked for a change... Around sunset, the wind came up with more than a stiff breeze, just as the 250w panel lost its balls... For about 2 hours, I was charging the 24V inverter shtf system with between 10 and 12 amps... Had a steady draw of about 240W on the vfd for the fudge, a couple of 40w neons going, and the wind kept it all up and running....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on October 20, 2018, 12:16:41 AM
Good that your wind power is working well.  Wind power can work very well in some locations.  It was very popular for off grid homes here until PV prices went so low.  In the winter, we used to have big storms blow through (typically 3 days), and the loss of PV was made up for with a few days of steady day and night wind production.

That weather pattern has changed, and PV power now dominates.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 20, 2018, 08:39:09 AM
Hey Glort,

Thanks for the compliment!

I am doubtful that there will be any significant water content in the post process product, that being said, it would be worthwhile to check again. The m0st accurate way I have found to determine content is by heating and noting the rate of temperature change ... For instance, apply heat, watch temp climb... at around 50-60c it slows down as alcohols boil off...temp climbs again steadily...at 80 - 85c, petrol boils off and the curve flattens again... once done, it marches on to about 98c, where things become interesting as water boils off...it then climbs fairly steadily to about 120-130c with some small dips in rate, nothing significant....and so it pretty much ends for me. I don't have a drill that can be closely monitored at mid-high temperatures...yet!

Wind power on this site is pretty much a dead loss...yes, there are a few good days, but 90% of the time its less than 10% output...which makes it around 50W...A total waste of time so far...but...its only been up a couple of months, lets see if it is more prevalent in one season than another...

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 21, 2018, 10:26:45 PM
Hey Glort and all!

Played round with the scfm again today, interesting things indeed...

Remade the spindle from a bit of what I think is EN8 bar stock...tough as nails, a bitch to machine cleanly, and a bastard to tap threads in... Reason: the previous spindle was made up from some free cutting steel I had laying around, it was a 'concept' mock up to test with... it served its purpose but started to run out of true around to 10 000 rpm mark and caused a bit of vibration... The new shaft with the old bowl runs nicely up till around the 18 or 19000 rpm mark, but then the bearings start to complain a bit and I have to back it down to about 17500 to 18000 rpm area to keep things reasonably happy... The bottom spindle bearing is the bugbear, I remember dropping it whilst I was assembling it... it might have dimpled the raceway...

I ran some gunk through the beast, 2 x 5l cans of wmo individually... the first was from a petrol engine service, the second was from a diesel engine oil change.

Markedly different behaviors and markedly different results... The petrol wmo, after 3 passes, thinned with 500ml of diesel after the first pass, ended up slightly darker than honey, kind of like when you do an oil change on the car, nip it round the block to test drive it, get home and check the oil...that sort of colour, not new, but just recently changed... The diesel wmo after 3 passes, also thinned with about 500ml or maybe a bit more, remained very dark, but not a 'dirty' dark as in stained skin black, but considerably darker than the petrol wmo. Of interest too, was the tailings left after each run. The petrol tailings were easy to clean and more oily/greasy than the diesel. The diesel, was almost rubbery,sticky, latexy, perished rubber band type snot that needed more scraping than wiping to remove....

It seems like the limiting factor on the rpm is going to be the wallet, last check, the ultra high rpm bearings were quite exy!

Tomorrows plan.... put some covers over the pulleys and belts, then rev the cr@p out of it properly and see if I can trash it! .... Any bets as to the frag rpm of a cast and machined Ali bowl, 10mm wall thickness and 95mm od?

Lets find out!

Keep it spinning...REALLY FAST!

Cheers
Ed

PS... scfm=scary candy floss machine!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 22, 2018, 09:54:51 PM
Hey Glort...

Juice is around the ZAR15 give or take a bit, per litre...

Re the scfm, I didn't get a chance to nuke the bowl today, instead I put a sealed sight glass on the inlet to visually check without having an air vent incoming... That of course required testing, so I spun the water out of a couple of litres of hydraulic oil... That went really well... Running the beast at about 18k rpm made me a tad nervous, not for the bowl and spindle side of things, but for the drive pulley side... it's a very lightweight spoked ali pulley about 250mm, maybe a bit more, in diameter... This evil little shredder is motoring at about 3000rpm, which is about 10x more than it was designed to do, originally, on the drum of a washing machine... Now, picture the scene... 3000rpm of very flimsy Ali pulley whipping a 13mm belt around a 40 something mm spindle...all this is happening about 30mm horizontally above a nice sturdy 8mm thick steel plate welding table.... All at the perfect height to skewer the wedding tackle if something lets go en masse....

Needless to say, I got tired of placing said tackle on the far side of the vise and stretching over to adjust flow rates and the like... So I pulled digit out of rear orifice, got my waterfowl linear, and made some overlapping covers to enable a lower valium intake for the coming tests.... Now the damn thing resonates like a boom box... Gonna have to glue some foam to the insides of the outside to deaden the noise...

I did get a chance to run some well used, fully synthetic, high dollar oil through the beast to see it I could spin out the crap... Well, it's still dark, but... there's a whole shitload of crud in the bowl.... it does clean the heavy stuff and water out, but the fine carbons in suspension... a bit... but not all... which is kinda what I expected anyway...

Tomorrow, before I destruct the beast, I am going to run a 5L batch of petrol WMO through it a few times to see what it can really do... Should be quite interesting to see what it takes, and what the results are...

Keep it spinning...Fastly

Cheers
Ed

Ps...Waterfowl linearity....get the ducks in a row!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: veggie on October 25, 2018, 03:02:25 PM

Interesting project Ed,

I may have missed it earlier, ... what diameter bowl are you spinning at 17,500 rpm ?

veggie
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 26, 2018, 09:42:54 AM
Hi V,

The cup is 95OD, 75ID by about 70/80/90 or so high... I am now running it up to around 22/23000rpm for the more "interesting" tests...

As per usual fuge principles, the time spent by the medium in the cup has way more influence than slight changes in rpm... I have noticed that at double the flow, even doubling the rpm's doesn't provide similar output quality... I need to make a somewhat higher cup (and a bit bigger diameter to facilitate easier cleaning)...but that's the next on the project list... I think a double height cup would be a beaut, giving just about the right amount of additional time for the media to settle out really nicely...

Petrol engine WMO spinning at a low flow(about 5 to 6min per L) provides a pretty much re-usable lube output...well, re-usable to burn that is, and good enough to re-deploy in the sump if you're out... Spinning waterlogged milky diesel fuel at around 13K rpm gives a dry, better than store bought(estimated) clear and fully serviceable fuel output...

What is interesting though, is even with the spinning, removing water, removing sludge, removing dust and heavy metals from the WMO, the needle valve on my test burner (The one hooked up to the hot water system) still clogs up with very fine, invisible to the naked eye when in solution, what seems to be carbon dust... This burner is a touchy bastard, the feed pump is a very low pressure centrifugal one, and shows up interesting things that would be missed on a higher pressure, positive displacement unit....

I think what I should do, is finish servicing TM1 and run some of this cleaned gunk through him on a regular basis...That will surely pick up the viability aspects... IP elements are the first to suffer when there are abrasives in the fuel....

Enough rambling...

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: veggie on October 26, 2018, 02:29:41 PM


Well.... according to your bowl size, by my calculations you are creating approx 22,291 G's of force at 22000 rpm.
That's impressive.
As you stated, retention time and flow rate are critical to a good cleaning.
It would be interesting to see what happens with 2 or 3 passes through the unit.

I wonder if that debris on your burner tip is Ash rather than carbon.? Petroleum oils do have an Ash component when burned.

Nice job !

cheers !
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 26, 2018, 11:16:19 PM
Hi V,

The "dust"I pick up is in the needle valve that regulates flow to the burner, the flow control is well removed from the flame area... I am using a babbington type burner that I cobbled up out of some surplus bits... an old brass cupboard door handle, some water fittings, a bit of hydraulic pipe offcut, a few bsp water fittings and pipes, as well as two "disposi-can"type tanks for fueling... How's that for up-cycling!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 06, 2018, 08:50:14 AM
Hey Girls....

Been playing around quite a bit on the up-cycled projects...Here's a brief summary...

I removed all restrictions and flow control on the babbington burner the other day and replaced it with a direct feed from a header tank that is at about 2.4m height. In the fuel feed line to the burner, I installed a small "bleed" valve to remove any airlocks when starting. The fuel pump is now a "scavenge" pump, it empties the bottom tank into the header tank and any bypass fuel from the burner gets lifted to the top tank as it becomes available. The mixture control is now done by varying the ball depth of the babbington in the stream of oil flowing onto it, as well as the air pressure being adjustable from the air fedd of the from the compressor. The air pressure doesn't make a big difference above a certain point, this pressure point varies according to fuel temperature, mostly, and only seems to influence the level of atomisation of the fuel. Thicker fuels require higher pressures to atomize, the converse applies to thinner fuels. Once a sufficient level of atomisation is achieved, a pressure increase does little more than increase the heat output somewhat, but that is not required in this installation. There is more than enough heat to achieve objective even at lower pressures.

With the removal of the flow control needle valve, gradual blocking seems to be largely a thing of the past, the unit runs semi unattended and relatively trouble free for an hour or two at a time. There are the odd flameouts now and then, but this is mostly due to wind gusts I reckon, the poor bugger is not in the most sheltered area... Startup is a bit twitchy, requiring a richer setting to get the goods flowing, and then one or two leaning out settings as things come up to temperature, all within about 15mins of startup...

As far a the "scrap-o-fuge" is going, he's mostly completed with only a slightly (double) bigger bowl left to cast and machine up... I have now up-cycled an old 70W dishwasher/washing machine/scrap water pump and assigned it to pumping out the catch tank with an option to hook that line into the feed tank, to allow for multiple pass processing of product. It looks like the current most "rewarding" rpm to run at, where things happen relatively quietly with the fuge not sounding like a turbine ready to jet off the premises, is around the 80hz mark at about 15k or so rpm... That equates to around 10 000g or so... Little additional reward seems to be evident running it faster at this stage....(but then again, the rules change with every batch of WMO I process... The only rule that really seems to come into play, is that...Things WILL change!)

I have found an ideal use for the blow gennie with the implementation of the scrap-o-fuge... With only about 350W draw, the blow gennie supports him for pretty much the entire afternoon and well into the early evening...

Right....Enough rambling...as usual, any interesting thoughts from you ladies to add to the pot?

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed (Stalking off into the sunset to go do a Tim Curry impersonation of Rocky Horror.....)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 07, 2018, 10:10:09 PM
Hey Glort...

Yeah, been having a good time lately... I enjoy the analytical type problem solving... shut myself off from the world, tell everybody to piss off and leave me alone, growl at anybody sidling towards me unless they bring a cuppa coffee of course, and make it perfectly plain to everyone in the vicinity that I am not interested in conversation, I'm busy, leave me alone, bugger off, I will let you know when I am interested in putting up with the bullshit, until then, just bring coffee by the gallon, when I am sated and have worked all the frustrations out and spent enough quality time with some mechanical gizmo, I will let the world know when I am ready to be social.... meantime, grab me another brick of ammo, I have an appointment with some tin cans in the back yard....

All good fun actually... by recusing myself from the rest of humanity for a week or two, the world is actually a safer place... I wonder if the local population actually realise that the 6ft walls and electric fence around my property aren't for my protection, but theirs!

Ran some more waterborne diesel through the SCFM today, only about 10L or so, but it went from milky orange juice to pale yellow pee like colour in a single pass... removed about 750ml of water from 10L, not too bad methinks... I ran it through a second time for good measure, less than 5ml caught in the cup, so I think it's good to go...

Also got a 5L diesel that had been used to wash out a sump or something similar... that was interesting... first pass pulled out about 200ml water, and few solids, but it was still jet black...put it through a second time, wound up the wick a bit, ran it at about 15000rpm, and pulled out about 100ml of what looks like graphite grease out of the stuff... it's now an almost cardboard brown colour with a yellowish tinge... if I get a chance I will push it through a few more time tomorrow at highish rpm's and see what falls out of the mix... might even put it under the microscope and see if I can work out the particle sizes, if any, that remain...

You know when you think a project is done...and then another, nice to have change comes to mind... Well, 2 or 3 or 6 changes have taken place on the SCFM lately... put clear plastic pipe on the bowl to catch tank, so I can see the product flow rate and quality leaving the fuge... put a small pump on the catch tank, now if the crap needs a second pass, plug in the pump, up it goes back to the header tank... now with the pump, I am going to install some power sockets on the fuge with a couple of switches to save me tripping over electric leads... but....with a pump on the catch tank, add an old dishwasher water level pressure sensor....and voila... catch tank will fill to a point, pump comes on, pumps it to header, wash, rinse repeat... Pump wont fry itself, pump wont run dry, can be left mostly unattended to cycle the sludge... tomorrows gonna be another interesting day!

Right, enough rambling, time to hit dreamland and an sf book or two...

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 10, 2018, 06:36:17 AM
Right, so rhe SCFM is just about completed now...Added a pressure diaphragm switch to the catch tank, salvage off the same dishwasher that the pump came from... It works well!

As soon as a couple of inches of oil accumulate in the catch tank, the switch trips and turns on the pump, turns off again once the level has dropped to a settable present...

This lead me to do an 8hr test with some waste oil that had sump washings, diesel, turps, grease and god knows what in... interesting things came to light and might explain some "heated discussions"held in the dim distant past...

Things that I could identify that were extracted:
Water-Easiest to spot, comes out at moderate g forces, fairly quickly
Aromatics-comes off at higher g's, mostly as a pale mist
Silicates and oxides-dense, hardened, crusty, packed tight in lower strata in cup, medium g's, abrasive
Asphaltines- oily crude like, semi solids, mildly abrasive
Greases?-Difficult to remove fully, multiple passes needed at high g's, accumulates slowly, does not appear to be majorly abrasive, but, of this I am unsure. A trip under a microscope and a mass-spec reading would be needed here... If I remember correctly, good ole grease was made from soap, clay and oil.... Could this be the mysterious white abrasive powder that eats engine bits when run as fuel? (previously I speculated that the white powder could be ali oxide)....

I guess nobody in the area has a portable mass spec to come and play with over this side of the world....?

I have also noticed that the waste oil thins out remarkably every time I put it through the scfm, most evident on first pass, less and less evident on subsequent passes... It does not seem to thin out in proportion to the amount of sediments or contaminants removed either... Possible fractioning occurring under high g maybe? Who knows? Anybody else have experience with this?

Well, enough rambling, time to go put tools away and find something else to destroy/rebuild/break/fix then modify!

Keep it spinning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 11, 2019, 12:20:17 AM
Hi Guys...

I hope you all have had a quiet, festive, restful, peaceful Xmas!

Current status... Haven't blown anything up for the last 24hrs, survived XMas, all good... SCFM is packed away and will be taken out in a day or two to process more burner fuel...

As usual, a comment/question passed by some members had me thinking... Here we go, off at a tangent again...

Question: How to use excess solar/wind power when the batteries are full?

As to how to store it, heat water, pump water up to a raised tank, whatever, but the main question for me has been how to detect and automate it....

I have a partial solution that I have put together, not infallible, but interesting (for me anyway)...

Grabbed hold of a pre-loved Allen Bradley PLC, an old Delta 16-shades-of-grey HMI, Half a dozen 40A contactors and a good few hours of programming time...

Essentially, the PLC monitors battery voltage levels and turns on/off various loads as battery levels hit the float voltages(or whatever you preset for each output)...once voltages start falling to presets you decide, contactors unload individually and allow levels to recover, cycles start again... The box of tricks also has additional controlling capability to bring additional solar panels on line, as well as a backup, mains based charger should levels fall too low.. this is to prevent battery damage... Also hidden in the coding is current charge and discharge monitoring, as well as load dumping facilities should charger fail and the batteries hit a really low level...

Tested it out today, on the small solar/wind setup and it drew about as much out of the environment as it could, hovering the batteries around 26V (24v system)... Had it hooked up to a few workshop lighting circuits - Was quite interesting to see things coming on and off on auto mode....

The HMI is quite handy, not essential, for setting parameters and controlling the loads..(as well as to see what is actually happening)

Anybody wanting some crappy pictures of HMI screenshots to get an idea of how a simple problem can suddenly get quite complex, just pop a reply and I will find a few mins to stick them somewhere to entertain y'all.....

Keep it switching...

Cheers
Ed

PS - I did test SCFM with a larger bowl (about 200mm dia OD) ... The spindle shaft is too thin to support it... A slight bump to the frame at hi RPM results in resonance setting in and 13000RPM of 5kg rotary mass changing into a good couple of kHz worth of 5Kg oscillating mass... It tends to make motor mounts break, scares the pets, shatters spindle bearings, bend spindle, scares the ladies in the house and turns underwear brown... But SCFM now has another spindle, new bearings, repaired motor mount.... And I got new underwear out of the bargain too!
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 12, 2019, 12:58:17 PM
Hey Glort...quick reply(for a change, flat out busy recusing myself from humanity at the moment)...For me a plc is a box with built in relays, and inputs inputs-same as an ah-do-no processor, but in a more ruggedised, commercial, ready built, easier to program package (Ladder Programming) ... Not too difficult to get to grips with, but tricky to start understanding...I am sure that between the likes of the professors on here that have had years of industrial experience and a dumb sh!t like me, we could get you going on the path of understanding (or avoiding like the plague if it doesn't tickle your fancy)... If you download a free version of "RSLogix 500" from Rockwell's site, I will pm my source coding to you and you will be able to open it and take a look see...My code is quite well commented, albeit not the simplest, and it will give you an idea of whether you want to go the plc route or further the ah-do-not-no processor studies...Cya Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dax021 on January 13, 2019, 10:56:55 AM
Hi Ed, good to see you're back.  There is someone on the forum by the name of Jackie who lives in your area and needs your expertise.  Don't know if he/she has been in touch with you.  I sure wish you lived closer to me.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 13, 2019, 08:13:11 PM
Hi Dax,

He/She is welcome to contact me... "they" can send me a pm and I will respond... (another blatant marketing ploy to get another user on the forum  ;D )

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 16, 2019, 03:07:59 PM
Hey Guys...

Nothing Lister...Well not directly anyway...(Unless I hook my load controller to the battery charger on TM2)

Playing with the plc based load controller I am designing... Added a few more things...

#1 - Bloody great big manual push buttons on the front of the cabinet to allow for night time turn on by feel... (read that as "trying to squint and focus on a touch screen to turn on the sodding lights because I left my glasses in the workshop")

#2 - Daylight sensing... Code is in place, just need to install a LDR or something on one of the inputs to allow the box of tricks to sense light and act accordingly ... Pretty damn useless turning on a lighting based load during the middle of the day...

#3 - RTC functions to allow the b.o.t. to turn on a load based on time...

Interesting things will soon be able to be processed... Particularly when you start combining the parameters, which are all inter-dependent...   An example would be "If there is excess battery power left over from the day's solar/wind, turn on the pretty garden lights after 5pm and if it is dark...."

Another example that will come into operation... as soon as the damn post office pulls its digit out of orifice and delivers my 24 to 60VDC 1.5kw boost converter... I am planning to use this b.o.t. to bump some power through to my main inverter system, the main inverter is only solar boosted... In the event of available wind power overnight, or excess battery levels pre-dawn, the little b.o.t. must push some charge into the main battery bank, to get the place off the grid a little earlier than is currently happening... At the moment, we hit solar around 6am and the pre-charge and offgrid kick is around 6.30 to 7ish on a clear day...maybe I can get things rolling a bit earlier with the b.o.t..... Its gonna be a case of "suck it and see" I reckon....

Ah well... Time to go and take over the dining room table again... Prod some keyboard and partake in the "mental masturbation" of software coding....

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 16, 2019, 04:38:05 PM
Is there a PLC with a RTC (real time clock for non embedded processing types)?  How is the time set?  This is a dilema I face for embeddded micropower controllers-  I'd often rather not have all the software and hardware for manually editing date and time.

I've never used PLCs- interesting beasts but pretty pricey, new, for what you get. 

I checked, yep, for $156 and 4 watts minimum you do get a new PLC with LCD and RTC and buttons to set time.
http://us.idec.com/Common/Download.aspx?d=383668 

Not my cup of tea, as I'm "allergic" to OPS - other people's software (limitations you only find out about after a huge investment in learning time), but could be just the ticket for many applications.




 
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 17, 2019, 07:29:01 AM
Hey B...

I'm using an old Allen Bradley ML1100....12 or so in(2 of which are analog) and 8 outs, all relays, driving 220v contactors...

RTC is disabled by default to conserve battery(replaceable), enabled via programming...Setting is done online via rs232 or ethernet... I haven't looked specifically at button setting as such. I think with the industrial nature of this little beastie, it's expected by AB that you do the bulk of the button bashing via remote pc...

Wrote the RTC turn on and duration routines last night... Was tricky because of the 32768 limit on numeric registers and I didn't want to double up on the storage space for a single variable... and all the normal timers can only drop down to 1sec intervals... A day has 86400sec.... Eventually used a "minute ticker" I wrote in and a few count-down registers... Wanted up to 23H59min max on duration per load circuit to a 1min resolution...

Enough waffling...

Keep it ticking...
Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: saba on January 17, 2019, 04:45:52 PM
Heavy respect to work with plc's I had a look into it when I started to get something automated, for the expenses and the diffeculty I decided to go the arduino route.

For somebody who is not into electronics and programming I would highly recoment just to have a look at it. It's really cheap and there are so many people busy with it you can just use the code from somebody else and adapt it a little to your own needs. Now there are the esp8266 boards that are super powerfull and have wifi on board and you can program it with arduino. They cost less then 4 dollar in china.

Just a message to encourage people not to get scared away when it comes to automation,

Greetings Bernhard
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 17, 2019, 08:35:34 PM
Allen Bradley MicroLogix ML1100 looks interesting and capable. $150 for refurbished ones here in the US. They aren't particularly proud of their power consumption, I couldn't find it anywhere. Not an issue in most industrial control situations.

Go with what you've got or are most familiar with is usually wise for one off automation projects...saves a lot of time, money and frustration.  PLCs are a nifty solution, a dozen brands and types available, and more than 10x that in microcontrollers.

I've got to do some power consumption testing on the TeensyLC board- one of the things I liked about that 32 bit ARM microcontroller on board was  the seven 16 bit+ timers. It's a big jump in performance and capability from the Arduino (8 bit ATmega328).  The Teensy 3.2 even more so, with fast floating point math support and built in RTC, but it's a power hog (to me, mister micro power).
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 18, 2019, 03:52:16 AM
I could certainly manage a 4W continuous phantom load for a PLC, but I don't need to, as my former PICaxe based controller used less than 1/100th of that.  If I have to program something I'd rather program a PIC or AVR chip via C and not deal with other people's software (OPS). In my working career as engineer and project manager I saw too many projects get in serious schedule trouble with finding bugs or limitations in OPS that was supposed to save time.  So I have an allergy to learning ladder logic or whatever PLC language and would rather roll my own. 

Someone with lots of experience with one or two families of PLCs would feel just the opposite.






Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: saba on January 18, 2019, 01:00:38 PM
Hey Bruce I know you do not like other people's software but I am not smart enough to make something myself from scratch. There have been times I came close but after a small year most of my skills are gone again.
With the "new" esp8266 you can collect data send it wirelessly with mqtt to a broker and use node red to control all of it. Node red is also something to google. Really interesting. You can do your "coding"in there it's graphical.  Just like to encourage people to have a look, it's not hard even I can use it.

You mentioned the teensy board, I heard about it but am not familliar with it. I saw you can also program it with arduino ide.

In my job we have mostly siemens s7 plc's there is no ladder diagram inside (was made 2013). Nobody in the group has really the skills to really find what your looking for in the raw code. There is scada wich gives you access to certain things but at times you need to adjust a timer or such and most of the time it takes a day to find what you need to change where. I really don't know what they used for programming they have remote sessions to adjust/make changes.

So in short with mqtt and node red and some microcontrolers of your choosing you can make something complex dirt cheap and with very limited knowledge. Have fun.

Greetings Bernhard



Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 18, 2019, 04:26:24 PM
Node Red, the 10,000th attempt to make a proprietary programming language to avoid learning a standard programming language!  After watching this happen with breathless introductions of new products for the last 40 years, I'd rather wait for the AI version.

But clearly I'm the odd man out, and much of the industrial world runs on PLCs of all sorts.
There are more out there now than ever before. 

The real problem is that C and worse, object oriented C are so cryptic as to make simple solutions unintelligible.  There was a concerted effort in the early 1980's to improve code quality and to design and write code that was easily understood and modified.  Alas, it did not change things.  My experience was that many programmers should not be allowed near a keyboard. Instead of studying a problem and designing a solution, they started throwing code and then modified it until it sorta worked.  If their code had to be modified, it typically had to be completely rewritten, as it was unfathomable and full of special case itis.  As the need for more programmers grew, the bar kept getting lower. 

When I look at much of what is proudly released as "open source", I am flabbergasted that anyone would openly put their name to such piss poor code.  Object oriented languages have only made opacity (unable to see actual function) worse.   

C is a disaster, though it can be used responsibly, and is great for quasi assembly language interrupt and I/O handlers. 


Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: saba on January 19, 2019, 01:27:38 AM
Hey Bruce, the only language I "know" is C I put a lot of time and effort to master the language. At moments I came close, but after a while .... at the moment I can sort of read the code and understand what is happening, it's not so hard actually.

Mqtt is just made to send short messages or to reseave a message to do something((Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is an ISO standard (ISO/IEC PRF 20922)[3] publish-subscribe-based messaging protocol.). Small and powerfull.  Node red can do also  someting with mqtt but it's really powerfull it's not some half ass attempt. Just google or have a look on youtube.
It's standard inside raspberry pi.

Bernhard

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 19, 2019, 02:22:24 AM
There are other ISO standards for PLC logic languages, too, as I saw references to them when briefly looking at a few of the top PLC manufacturer's product portfolios to see where they were at these days. 

Here they are:

IEC 61131-3 standard

IEC 1131-3 is the international standard for programmable controller programming languages. The following is a list of programming languages specified by this standard:

    Ladder diagram (LD)
    Sequential Function Charts (SFC)
    Function Block Diagram (FBD)
    Structured Text (ST)
    Instruction List (IL)

One of the primary benefits of the standard is that it allows multiple languages to be used within the same programmable controller. This allows the program developer to select the language best suited to each particular task.
Ladder Logic

Ladder logic is the main programming method used for PLC's. As mentioned before, ladder logic has been developed to mimic relay logic. The decision to use the relay logic diagrams was a strategic one. By selecting ladder logic as the main programming method, the amount of retraining needed for engineers and trades people was greatly reduced.

The first PLC was programmed with a technique that was based on relay logic wiring schematics. This eliminated the need to teach the electricians, technicians and engineers how to program - so this programming method has stuck and it is the most common technique for programming in today's PLC.
Mnemonic Instruction

There are other methods to program PLCs. One of the earliest techniques involved mnemonic instructions. These instructions can be derived directly from the ladder logic diagrams and entered into the PLC through a simple programming terminal.
Sequential Function Charts (SFC)

SFC have been developed to accommodate the programming of more advanced systems. These are similar to flowcharts, but much more powerful. This method is much different from flowcharts because it does not have to follow a single path through the flowchart.
Structured Text (ST)

Programming has been developed as a more modern programming language. It is quite similar to languages such as BASIC and Pascal.

Structured Text (ST) is a high level textual language that is a Pascal like language. It is very flexible and intuitive for writing control algorithms.
Function Block Diagram (FBD)

FBD is another graphical programming language. The main concept is the data flow that start from inputs and passes in block(s) and generate the output.


If some of the big PLC co.s support Red Node as a standard maybe it will go somewhere.  It looks more involved with IOT and communications, and might have some nice tools for collecting and displaying data.  The structured text language (ala Pascal) looks like a good method for old programmers...I expect that's what Ed used.




Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: saba on January 19, 2019, 04:09:59 AM
Hello bruce, I will read it and have a look at it. I like this stuff so I like some new input. Come back to you later.
Bernhard
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: saba on January 19, 2019, 09:50:21 AM
Hey Bruce it was a bit late when I read your message. By the looks of it I think in the siemens s7 we have the function block diagram. There are codes and blocks with conections that don't seem to go anywhere. Now that I see your message I think I should have a look at it. I could really steel the show if I have some knowledge of it.

Node red is not a language to put in a plc, at least as far as I know, I think you can talk to it with modbus or OBD and and do a lot more with your plc.
Quick look on youtube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV78MQks6BI, just scroll past the install stuff and you can get an idea what you can do.

Greetings Bernhard
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 19, 2019, 05:14:14 PM
What will be needed for Node Red compatibility with various PLC systems will be interface support from the PLC manufacturers.  The video is pure fluff but I'm sure it's worth every penny you pay for it. ;)  The graphical display of data might be useful, as ED demonstrated very nicely with his system. I think he was using the same open source graphical display software.

Huge amounts of OPS (other peoples software), but perhaps viable if well supported with a large following.  Good luck.

My needs are much simpler.  When I need to transfer data to a remote terminal I just do it myself, via opto isolated current loop on twisted pair (CAT5 typically) or fiber optics. Using the global BLIS standard (Bruce likes it Simple).  I try to keep it as simple as possible as I must maintain it, as will someone else after I'm gone.

I've even retired my two remote fiber optic terminals to my battery bank controller (BBC);  I did a simple analog only version pf the BBC for my neighbor's system... in his house he has an analog panel meter to show battery voltage (120VDC nominal) and a second analog panel meter to show either net charge or load currents. (Two twisted pairs from the BBC for those analog signals.)  No processor at all, no software.  He loves it and says it gives him all he needs. (Our systems are designed for low DOD operation so knowing estimated SOC is not of much use.)  I switched over to the new all analog BBC board myself this last summer.  I'll add the processor module for automatic operation of the inverter and well pump and a new electric compressed air pump for surplus power use this summer...but I will make it removable with full "manual reversion" capability.  I used that strategy for my Listeroid Controller; in case of any failure of the engine controller or related remote start and monitoring hardware, you still have a normal manual Listeroid.  I even applied it for my AVR design...flip a switch and I'm back to harmonic only regulation. 













Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on January 19, 2019, 09:43:34 PM
Hi Bruce, love your keep it simple approach. Fancy programming and Plc controllers are just another thing to go wrong. The ability to manually override these systems are vital in any truly reliable system.

When I fitted the AVR to my ST5 head I fitted a new bridge rectifier at the same time, this isn`t connected to anything but would only take me a couple of minutes to rewire for harmonic regulation. How did you wire the switch to swap from AVR to harmonic? Sounds like a very worthwhile modification and one I should have thought of. I am also looking to build in a small rechargeable battery, in the event of an AVR failure I would then be able to switch back to harmonic excitation and flash the field winding by pushing a button.

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 20, 2019, 01:38:46 AM
My AVR is custom but switching the typical China AVR in and out to retain direct harmonic operation is a good idea if the harmonic is useable as-is or with a modest amount of resistance added (not with the current crop at CGG).

One pole could disconnect the field coil, another the sensed 115/230 V, and another the + Diode bridge.  I think this would work.  So a 3PDT or 4PDT pole switch of modest amps could do it with the push of a button.


Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on January 20, 2019, 02:39:19 AM
Thanks Bruce I`ll try to do up a drawing tonight and post it, I think Oldseagullman is also trying to make modifications to his ST head.

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 26, 2019, 09:00:28 AM
Hi Guys,

Been "offline" for almost 2 weeks - the organ grinder went to tea and a semi trained monkey who was left to mind the shop (read that as our local telecoms provider) pulled some wires out through sheer boredom or whatever... The result was no ADSL and a good few "mildly persuasive calls" to them to get them to check the exchange DSLAM ports and links... After numerous "the problem is on your modem" type remarks from the various "support" staff over there....well enough said...here's hoping some asshole doesn't go foraging for copper amongst my connections for a while....

A short post again... I skimmed through the previous posts and have but a few comments...

PLC - Hardware is reliable, O/S software is stable, timing, instructions and power consumption is well documented and of an industrial nature - Power consumption of this unit, driving 6 or so 40A contactor coils, is in the region of 10 to 15W - Idle draw is around 6 to 8w, a small price to pay for a reliable piece of kit. (that amounts to about 250ma on a 24Vdc battery bank, less efficiencies of course)

As to reliability and maintenance, while I love the simple liister/oids, these units would outlast a lister by a factor of 10000's at the very least - Granted, they are sensitive to power spikes a la lightning and major ESD, but in their defence, they are rugged little creatures that take little to no maintenance once set up. Like the lister, feed it clean energy, it will last longer...Way longer than the lister...

Bruce, I programmed this thing in Ladder, from start to finish, the display is an industrial HMI (human-machine interface)... The HMI has its own little bit of software to program it and get it talking to the PLC. the HMI is a touch sensitive screen, semi ruggedized for industrial app and quite simple to set up. Mostly menu driven, this old one still needs XP to run the programming software. The HMI links to the PLC via serial port, reading and interrogating the PLC register values for display, able to manipulate the registers for control..

Right, sir Glort, more of a description as to what this box of trix can do...especially since you got me thinking about it in the first place...

There are but 3 things that this toy now monitors - Battery voltage, Time, Available Light... Its amazing what can be done with these three little simple things, let's do a "for instance" in real world things to get the idea across, forgive me if I have done this earlier in the thread and I repeat myself...

Picture the scene: A lovely little garden path with cute decorative lights to pretty it up for the ladies...

Now the technical bit: The lights must only come on if there is enough "free power" reserve in the batteries, after 5pm for a couple of hours and only when it is dark..... So you set the power availability via a voltage choice - slightly above to slightly below the float value for your battery bank, set the timer for start at 17h00, set duration for 120min, and finally enable it for low light only... Walk away and it does its thing.....

Right, a guest has arrived...I will carry on with this saga a bit later....

<Back Again>
 
The saga continues...So much for it being a "short" post.... If my BS and rambling irritates, you, the reader....Ade....Kick me off the site!!

Now onto some more of the nuts, bolts and bit bashing that the PLC does... It does the roughly the same things for both charger inputs and power outlets from the battery/inverter.

The outputs have parameters that you can set up (5 outputs, each individually parameter'd)... This effectively allows for a pretty complex set of circumstances when run individually, or even capable of being series'd to allow multiple turn on/off times and controls to be set... Obviously, 2 outputs, series'd means that from a 5 output total device you will lose an individual output as it will be combined with another...

The mains battery charger output can be battery voltage controlled as well... A start voltage can be set, as well as a cutoff voltage for when charging must stop... This is particularly handy when a load is imposed on the batteries that cannot be unloaded when there is a lack of sunlight or wind... A typical example is my scary candy floss machine (fuge), that once started, is a PITA to stop halfway through a batch of processing, the mains charger kicks in and holds the batteries at just above a critical damage level until I am good and ready to turn off the peripheral devices and put everything to sleep. Of course, it is a good idea to have the auto switch-in that bring in the automatic loads(pretty lights etc) set at a cut-in battery voltage that is somewhat above the cut-out voltage for the charging... I wouldn't do to run this box of tricks as a gloried UPS now, or would it??? ...!...

All switched loads/charging parameters have a couple of individual "time factors" associated with them (even the daylight sensor)... This allows for the surface charge/drain on the plates to be catered for. For instance, if there is not a cutoff period associated, the contactors cycle when the charge voltage is a fairly narrow one, the charger or load drives or drains the batteries into the cutoff range, the contactor opens and the + or - load unloads... The cells then "spring" up or down in voltage slightly, causing the voltage monitoring to see the demand, the contactor closes, the voltage goes out of the required range and the cycling starts again... Add a custom shutdown/startup timer to precede or follow the band and it, at the very least, gives a minimum presettable on or off time for the circuit in question. Do a bit of cute watching and examination (read that as a smoke break and a pint) in front of the box, extend the timers as needed, and the charger, for instance, with a bit of shutdown delay, puts enough juice into the batteries to allow the circuit to shut down and not cycle on and off too much as it approaches target voltage (hysteresis looping 101).... but again I ramble....

As for the daylight sensor.... Well, a simple answer/example is: What if the sensor is placed in a walkway? Only a preset amount of time in shadow or light will allow it to start switching things, a typical use for this could be 10minutes after sunset, start doing something... Or an hour after sunrise, get things moving...

Now, why go to all this trouble and to-do for a silly little 1Kw wind/solar setup... Hmm... good question.... Honest answer... To see if it could be done!! And....Ultimately... to hook this silly little system into my 5kw household system so that I can get a bit of night time wind to charge the works... As well as rerouting a few "luxury" type appliance circuits from the DB board so that I don't have to have the proverbial cadenza when residents try and run dishwasher+ironing press+2xmicrowaves+aircon(and dont forget the clothes dryer and hair dryer at the same time) off the solar simultaneously... The box also has current measuring capabilities which I can easily implement (all written in and tested, just add current sensor) and then I can let it be the "bad guy" and turn off the loads until more power becomes available... Who me? Naaah.... Couldn't be.... I would never put a facility like that into play.... But come to think of it, isn't that a great idea...Lets keep it like this and see how it works out....

To put it in a nutshell, if that's at all possible, each connector to the outside world has individual settings for:

Start voltage + Start  up delay timer
Stop Voltage + Shut off delay timer
Day Sense + Start delay timer
Night sense + Stop delay timer
RTC turn on + Duration on
Automatic one button timer (press button and the corresponding output is active for its own presettable time)
Forced on mode (Manual on, controlled by PLC and will only turn off when batteries go below critical level)
Forced off mode (All automatic control disabled, only forced on is available)
Overcurrent monitoring on the global output and shutoff in the event of limit being reached
Selections to allow Light monitoring or to ignore
Selection to allow Dark monitoring or to ignore
Selection to incorporate time monitoring or to ignore

Add to that a global time monitoring control and a global light monitoring control alongside a "panic button" to kill all outputs immediately as well....... I think I have most bases covered... Oh, Bob, if it does give sh!t...easy....Its' all plugged in with M/F kettle connectors, unplug the mess, plug the connectors together and climb on the light switches to try and run it manually!

Keep it switching....

Cheers...
Ed...

P.S....due to about 30 interruptions whilst trying to post this, the author makes apologies for possible repetitions, typo's and garbled trains of thought and comment....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on January 26, 2019, 11:40:32 PM
Hi Ed, sorry to hear you have had internet access issues. We had the same thing between Christmas and new year. Phoned the telecom company and got put in a long que to talk to an operator. while waiting to talk to someone, a recorded message informed me that I was number 37 in the que and that my call was important to them but I might want to call back later when they were less busy. Alternatively I could log onto their website to report a fault!  >:(

Fitted a lot of PLCs in production systems over the years, never learned the black art of programming them. This was always done by outside contractors. If things went wrong or we needed to make changes to any processes we had to get the contractors back in. We then had a brainwave and ran a heap of cat 5 cabling and gave the programmers dial in access. Worked like a charm until we had a very serious electrical storm which blew up a heap of PLCs. Cost the management a fortune in new parts, programming and lost production.

Keep it simple stupid, fitters cost a lot less than PLCs and programmers.

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 27, 2019, 06:51:54 AM
Hey Bob...

But if you were given the plc for buggerall, if you knew how to program it, if you knew how to design the circuitry to support it, if you had all the bits and contactors in the scrap pile, if you had a system to hook it to, if you stuck it all together and it worked, if you offer your last couple of months part time work, programming, knowledge and playing to the community for free, if just one person read the outcomes of the experimentation and the depth of control that is available, and if that one person simply found it entertaining, not even useful, then I have achieved what I set out to do...

Keep it spinning...
Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 27, 2019, 03:25:56 PM
The real time clock (RTC) and integrated display/touchpad features of your PLC give it a lot of utility and save you from a lot of programming hassle, and the fully integrated power supply and relay outputs also make it just the ticket for you application.  I think it's a very well done project and in the entire history of industrial engineering, no one ever got fired for choosing a PLC for just this sort of application.  Some did get canned for schedule delays and bugs, cobbling a less elegant solution, such as an Arduino, RTC, touch screen LCD, and relays, some input conditioning hardware and a power supply.  I did just check and yes, it all is available but the input conditioning, and probably that too.  The PLC puts all that plus the  PLC language(s) software in a single well integrated and tested engineered product; which is why no one got fired. :)

Nothing wrong with either approach for a hobby application. Long term support is why the PLC wins for industrial applications.



 

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 27, 2019, 08:23:05 PM
Hey Bruce...

D'ya know of anybody on the forum that has used a cheap industrial PLC to monitor/control a Lister(oid) yet - Was just thinking...A dangerous thing for me to do...I usually get so deep into the "thinks of it" trap that I end up in the "just do it" box...

After all, a "Start-o-Matic" is pretty much the hard-wired Eniac of plc control for a thumper....

Had a quick search on fleabay and came up with this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-Glofa-LS-Programmable-Logic-Controller-G7M-DR40U-IN1053-G1T/263804114080?epid=17021269258&hash=item3d6bf354a0:g:tREAAOSw60NbQpJ3 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-Glofa-LS-Programmable-Logic-Controller-G7M-DR40U-IN1053-G1T/263804114080?epid=17021269258&hash=item3d6bf354a0:g:tREAAOSw60NbQpJ3)

At about USD200, its not too exy for you rich guys....

I have one already and am teaching my middle youngster to do a bit of programming on it... It has more than enough ins and outs to probably run a Lister with full environmental monitoring and "shatdown" control if oil pressure/temp/output overload/whatever runs awry... Nice thing about these units is that the stuff is written in ladder/plus the other two (guess which I prefer), and the software loader/compiler is freely downloadable - Granted, it does use an rs232 interface, but they do seem to work quite well with the usb-rs232 adapters available nowadays, plus, for a change, even though it is of the older style software, it runs on win10 as well....

Just thinking.... Start-o's and the like run on a 24v battery start system...these new fangly plc things are available in 24v models as well...

Dammit...

(Loud echo of imbecile slamming head in wardrobe door...several times....then muffled screams as same imbecile proceeds to place fingers in preheated ironing press to prevent obsessive compulsive software authoring for another few days....)

Cheers\
            | - Typed with elbow as hands are wrapped in bandages dripping with burn salve....
Ed       /
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 27, 2019, 09:41:25 PM
I would think many of the PLC's would do a fine job of either SOM electronics replacement or as an add on to create a remote/auto start Lister(oid).  I'll bet you could sell the code, you might get 3 customers in 2 years! :)

I did it with a Picaxe 40x chip with loads of spare I/O. All my output signals were low side mosfets, so only a gate resistor plus logic level gate mosfet for each output channel.

There are some 4 channel n-channel mosfet boards for Arduino now.

I forgot to mention- Bravo for teaching a youngster to program a PLC.  That's a skill that pays well and is easily transferred to other hardware.  I think that's the best way to teach programming-  code that physically makes things work is very rewarding.






Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on January 27, 2019, 11:11:42 PM
Hi Ed, there are a lot off ifs in your reply but I think you have persuaded me. The if that got my attention was "if you can get it for bugger all". I just happen to know an electrician with a container full of old PLCs and associated equipment. I`ll make some inquires about what he has got. Who says you can`t teach an old dog new tricks!  :laugh:

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 28, 2019, 01:00:12 AM
In my experience, the real project isn't the controller, it's the starter motor et al, decompression hardware, and rack closing hardware.  Then I also added RPM sensing, excess vibration , oil high/low, and overtemp sensing. Since I did it all with air, I also control the air compressor pneumatic unleader/pilot valve via RC servo and the main air supply valve as well as generator on/off.  I later added idle sensing by CT on the generator output and air compressor active sensing via pressure sensor (circuit sees the tiny pulses made when the compressor is actively pumping).  Also glow plug control. 

Most recently I added control of the water injection solenoid; it gets turned on after ten minutes of running with a load, and off when no load.  When I did that I didn't mind that it was still all point to point wiring, soldered by hand. 

There are plenty of PLC's now with lots of extra I/O, and some nice modular, expandable designs as well.  Fancy stuff, but mine was just a low budget homebrew job with a Picaxe chip. As far as I know, I'm still the only remote start Listeroid.  I've offered my schematic and code before, but I think it's too much of a job for most. 

A PLC engine controller would have a larger audience, since there would be no component level soldering work, etc.





Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on January 28, 2019, 08:10:06 AM
Hi Guys, I have wondered about trying to build an SOM out of my CS. Bruce has done a wonderful job of automating his with compressed air. I am reasonably well acquainted with the original electro/mechanical relay set up. I think a PLC might well be used to detect a power outage and then kick in the generator. The problem we have here is automatic breakers on the grid, when the power goes out the breakers try to re establish the grid several times over about 30 seconds. Could a PLC be programmed to allow for this and would it detect when the power comes back on, stop the generator and switch back to the grid? How much paper work would be required to get approval for such a system from the electricity distribution companies?

Might be easier to just go and crank the handle and flick the cross over switch. I can always hook up a single light bulb to the grid to tell me when it comes back on. Please bear in mind that I have a fully functional ST2 SOM so I could theoretically go off grid tomorrow. The whole purpose of the CS 6/1 and ST5 head was to ensure reliability and avoid anything electronic.

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on January 28, 2019, 11:01:09 AM
Hi Bob,

As to mains outage detection and timing it so that intermittent starts and farts on your power line...quite easy with the facilities the plc's normally provide... But, as Bruce mentioned, more often the mechanical aspects of the project can be a bit daunting - 24v Electric start with a good torquey starter motor would be the way to go here... No need to worry about decompressor as such... The rest are fairly simple things, the rack closer would be quite easy, temp measurements and the rest fairly simple, industrial lego bits could be used.... The trick would be to get the unit stable mechanically and electrically, ie starts and stops at the turn of a key... To retrofit on top of that would be first prize!!

Also, as mentioned many times before, once the basics are taken care of, they become a fallback in the event of a malfunction further down the line ... (Operator or Mechanical...)

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 28, 2019, 02:58:08 PM
Yep, a starter that can crank though compression would simplify things, though a decompressor can stop even a crankcase oil runaway.  Either way, a PLC could do the controller job.

Electric linear actuators could easily replace the two air cylinder ones I used for rack closer (needs 10+ lbs force to overcome governor springs) and valve lifter. My lifter is active and actually lifts the valve, unlike the SOM which just inserts a spacer so must be applied on shut down or the next start would fail at compression.  I had massive force available via $14 air cylinder. A well designed spacer method for the valve lifter is very low force, an RC servo could do it. 

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on January 28, 2019, 09:27:32 PM
It would be really easy if I could get my hands on one of these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fhhHdrylRA

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 28, 2019, 09:39:18 PM
Yes, those starter-alternators are a sweet solution. 

The ST heads could be electronically driven as motor, by driving the stator and field coils appropriately ala an inverter, then switched over to become an alternator.   Given the QC problems I've seen, and variations between units, I don't want to waste the time developing anything for them, until/unless some savy importer gets serious about improving their quality.

 
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on January 28, 2019, 09:46:07 PM
Hi Bruce, here`s a video showing how the original CS 8/1 worked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecEwlAmcWrU

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on January 28, 2019, 09:52:29 PM
The massive solenoid for rack and exhaust decompression valve action would be near impossible to duplicate with off the shelf components, i think.  No solenoids near that size.

A small linear motor-actuator for the rack closer and a solenoid or RC servo for the valve spacer would do it, though.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on January 28, 2019, 10:29:23 PM
They definitely built stuff to last. I might have a word with Rob at Old Timer Engines in Queensland, I know he buys a lot of old CS engines and has a large collection of used parts. He could probably source original SOM parts. Probably cost me a small fortune, so your approach is probably a better bet.

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 18, 2019, 02:44:26 PM
Hey Guys....

And now for something completely different....Generators/Solar/PLC's and why would I run them together...

To cut a long story short, or maybe not so short, well let's see how it pans out...

This past weekend, we actually had a SCHEDULED power outage...Advertised well in advance, blackout areas clearly designated, times clearly stipulated, real first world stuff... Something that's new to me!!

This actually allowed me to do "first parade" on my gensets getting them ready for the scheduled power drop, another thing that was new to me, time to do the walk-round and kick the tyres before turning the key....

At the scheduled time, 06H30, lordy-be....The power went out as it was supposed to. The auto-start kicked in as it was supposed to, somebody went to the thumpmonster and turned the switch as they were supposed to, it started up as it was supposed to, the auto-start shut down as it was supposed to, thumpmonster took the load as it was supposed to, all was happy in Darkest Afrique.... Or was it?

Well here is where things got interesting... Nothing broke down, nothing stopped turning, nothing stopped working... Everything was just too good to be true..... This kept going until I started meandering around the place, the devil finds work...etc...etc...etc....

So I started looking at power graphs and what was happening on my own little local grid. Solar was taking care of 95% of the demand, thumpmonster taking over for the 5% that was "out of design scope" for the solar.... Here I was running 10Kw of availability, split 50/50 solar and dino, with the free stuff doing most of the work. The problem is/was, the solar is upsy downsy with intermittant clouds, dino takes over for a few minutes, then demon dino just sits there spin-waiting for another cloud... Long enough to shut down for, but a right PITA to run and start up every hour or so for a few minutes....

What could I do? At the time...Nothing...Just let Demon-Dino spin thumpmonster till he was needed, a grand total of about 10 to 12 times during the day (Power came on around 19h30 or so), after looking at the graphs I could draw from the solar setup.

A solution: I have an old Siemens LOGO plc lying around, 6xdigi inputs, 4xdigi outputs....

After a bit of keyboard bashing, I came up with a little idea/package that will do as follows...

Add 2x220v coil relays on the mains circuits to and from the autostart gennie to see where there's power.
Add 1x24v coil relay on an output of the LOGO to enable the autostart facility of the gennie.
Add 3x Buttons to the PLC to allow some finger poking to do things.
Add a couple of idiot lights to show whats's doing's whats's...
Drop some keyboard time into the PLC and away we go...

The Plan:
Connect a 220v coil relay across the mains input power to the gennie, if the contacts are in the closed position, there's 220v Present.
Connect a 220v coil relay across the mains output power from the gennie, if the contacts are in the closed position, there's 220v Output Present.
Connect the "LOW BATTERY" warning contacts on the inverter to the PLC on a digital input.
Connect a 24v Coil relay to one of the PLC Outputs.

What the software does:
It looks for mains in, mains out around the gennie, and NO low battery signal from the Inverter

If power input drops, the PLC monitors the solar inverter for a low battery signal.
If a low battery signal occurs, the PLC signals the gennie to start, if the gennie doesnt start withing a prescribed time and present a 220v output to the PLC, an alarm is raised(siren/flashing lights/whatever) and the start is aborted.
If the gennie starts successfully within the preset time, the plc holds it on until the low battery signal is cleared and then for a further preset time(minimum run time I can decide on after installation)
This carries on ad infinitum, until mains utility power is restored.

The button functions are:
Alarm Clear and Restart
Disable
Enable

Idiot Light outputs are:
Control Disabled
Fault

Ran the logic through the simulator, added an additional timer for mains detection, the mains has to be on and stable for a preset time(30sec currently) for it to be recognized... This stops the gennie from shutting down on a mains impulse... Also added the facility for when mains output drops from the gennie for the preset start timer, the gennie doesn't try and restart, but fault sirens etc are triggered....Let's face it, if a diesel stops, its for a damn good reason....(Also, additional sensors can be added to this line if I want to...Low oil, overheat, low fuel....)

And that's about it!

Wonder if it will work?

Time to go and attack the junk pile for some bits and bobs...

Keep it Switching...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on February 18, 2019, 04:11:55 PM
Nice work, Ed! That should do a nice job of keeping the genny from idling. 
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mike90045 on February 18, 2019, 08:19:50 PM
2 changes.

a)  Set Grid Valid to be 2 minutes.   Generator is already running, you want the grid nice and stable when you switch over

b)  any way to have generator run for a 3 minute cool down, before shutdown ?   Gives the alternator windings a chance to get cooled by the fan airflow, lets the engine cool some before killing the system.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 19, 2019, 08:36:44 AM
Hi Mike,

Those two delays are catered for, I agree that they seem a bit short, but in practicality, the gen will shut down as soon as it's mains input is at 220, built in feature that I have no control over. The shutdown and startup delay are more for when the power is out and batteries run low, allowing the gen unit a little grace and cooling... Unfortunately, the little Logo Plc I am using is way short on programming space, not enough space left to add the instructions to control a pre-gen isolating contactor, otherwise I would put it in...(I simply linked idiot lights to the available outputs, that takes buggerall mem and I got away with the few extra links, but barely.)

Only discovered this quirk with the gennie quite late yesterday evening when I was going over the final bits before I attack the junk pile... I can rewire the gennie to make it totally plc dependent, but prefer to keep it standard and capable of non-managed self operation should the plc fry....

No doubt I will probably find some additional "quirks" with the chinesium assembly of the panel before this little bugger is installed...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 19, 2019, 08:53:58 AM
Hey Glort,

Grid tie inverter and gennie shouldn't be a problem, as long as you have a GTI that is capable of sensing feedback into your prime system and further capable of regulating its output that the actual GT feedback is 0, or near 0 power... The windings on a gen are only capable of supporting its rated load - If you are trying to push 20Kw into a little 2Kw gen, back up its line, unfortunately the smoke escapes from the little copper fuel pipes in the spinny bits, and never quite makes its way to filling the tank!

There are GTI's out there with directional current sensing - ie it senses how much power is flowing into your household and then turns up the wick until the power flow is balanced between consumption and creation - if power consumption goes up, it opens its taps a little more, converse for when its going down. These GTI's are fairly common where power meters are incapable of back winding, or where "covert" installations are done, where municipalities don't cater for or don't want consumers to back feed the grid.

Incidentally, these things are basically what I would call solid state "induction generators"  - No grid frequency to clock to, no power generation.....

I wouldn't run more than one of these GTI units on a prime gennie or inverter, the chances of feedback oscillation/cycling would be a bit worrying... Also, probably the cheapest chinesium genset would give a considerably better waveform than a pseudo-sine wave inverter as a prime... Square edges and spikey bits on what should be a clean sine wave for your GTI would defs upset the applecart a bit for your GTI to clock to.....

C'mon pal, you're the chip oil king around here...bugger the solar cr@p, sync a few small gensets together and run the neighborhood!!

Cheerz
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on February 19, 2019, 05:00:40 PM
Ed raises a good point about the potential issue of GTI compatibility with a high THD and spiky sine source.  It's yet another gotcha.  I don't think I'd be willing to risk both GTI and generator head on such an experiment, though I'd love to watch. :)


Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on February 19, 2019, 07:59:53 PM
Continuing the saga of "And now for Something Completely Different".... Otherwise known as "PLC's, Auto Start Generators and Inverters, Getting them to play nicely!"

Here is a link to the Logo Software - Demo version, fully functional with simulator et al, just cannot download a project to a PLC:

https://w3.siemens.com/mcms/programmable-logic-controller/en/logic-module-logo/demo-software/pages/default.aspx#Demo_20software (https://w3.siemens.com/mcms/programmable-logic-controller/en/logic-module-logo/demo-software/pages/default.aspx#Demo_20software)

and attached hereto is the little proggie I wrote... in zip format... The umpteenth revision thereof, shoehorned into the few memory places the little Logo has, with a few extra features I managed to include after hacking out a few things and changing some push buttons to SPST switches, allowing me to add a little more useful logic into it....

Basic info needed to run this thru the simulator is (a little imagination required here chaps):

Genset:
The genset will autostart if mains power drops away from the mains input, it will continue running until mains power re presents itself again.
The genset can be switched from auto-start to manual mode, this is what I will use to turn the gennie on with by using a plc output/relay instead of turning an ignition key.
The inverter has a single "Normally Open" contact that will close on low battery, remaining closed until the battery level is back up to a predefined preset.

Things are pretty much connected in a straight stripe -
Mains in -> Mains Sensing Relay -> Mains Input Isolating Contactor -> Genset Proper -> Mains Output Sensing relay -> Inverter/Solar Mains Input -> Inverter -> Inverter Output to the rest of the DB Board

For mains sensing relays, there is simply 220v on the coil of a relay...If the 220v buggers off, the relay goes to open state, the plc picks this up and responds accordingly.

As far as controls go, there are only three -
A start Fault reset - If the gennie doesn't start within the preset time, start and further operation is aborted.
Enable System - When this is off, the gennie will not start or run, unless it is switched to manual on the gennie itself.
Isolate Mains input to gennie - When off, the mains input into the gennie is....well ...not there.....

Indicators and Idiot Lights:
Controller Enabled
Start Fault

Relays/Contactors:
One relay to sense power from the mains.
One relay to sense power out the ass end of the gennie.(when mains is present, and the gennie isn't running, the mains power is bridged through the gennie automatically as one of its internal functions)
One relay to control the auto start feature on the Gennie
One Contactor to make the mains input to the gennie... be.... uhhh ....not there...

If you get around to running the sim, Its quite a bit of fun, if you're into this sort of thing, set all the inputs and outputs and watch what happens when you present a myriad of thing to my little proggie that I never thought about... Break it and tell me how you did, so I can make it idio....sorry, operator proof!

Have fun!!

(And should you find this proggie useful, please do not hesitate to send me a pint via email!)

Keep it switching...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on February 25, 2019, 08:32:42 AM
Hey Glort, further to our conversation on another thread, I emailed Stephen at Ozlisteroids this morning. I haven`t had a reply yet but will let you know as soon as I do.

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on March 13, 2019, 05:28:44 PM
Hey Girls and Non-Girls...

Been busy with a weird and wonderful project waste of time thingy task!

I got the shitz with everybody disturbing my workbench dining room table, while I was designing plc and electronic gizmos and the like... I tend to get a bit nervous pissed off when a cup of tea gets balance on top of the air vents on my Phillips dual trace scope or my Motorola spectrum analyzer... I am no longer in a cash position to replace them, so treat with care be bloody careful when using them is the "order of the day"... Granted, the old motorola only goes to a gig, but its "old school" good stuff, and I would like to keep it working for as long as possible... (along with all the other misc. bits and bobs I have picked up over the years...)

A solution was found:

I have an aluminium shipping container that was put in the front yard a good few years ago, wired to power (solar and Lister backed up of course) and this was "lent" to a young chap to do leather work type stuff, whilst he was between jobs, just something to keep his hands busy and make some pocket money to keep going... He moved on a year or two back and the little workshop has been standing pretty much empty as a store room since then...

Here goes the devil finding things to keep me busy...again....

I cleaned the place up, it is not a full 6m unit, the back 2m are partitioned off with a side door to access... This back partition is used as a "reloading room" that I keep all my presses, molding, sizing and priming kit in... too many toys so little time...but, I digress as usual...

Right, back on track, the front 4m or so, with access from the double doors, I have converted into a small, small, tiny little electronics workshop. All that was needed was to bring the component drawers in, the scopes, the analyzers, the multi meters, the measuring kit, the solder stations, the..... and the list goes on... Needless to say, its 4 weeks later, I am still finding test and measuring equipment all over the place, the little electronics workshop is full, and, at the very least, I am not getting tea, beer and coffee spilt into my coveted gizmos that I am making or using to break fix things with...

Initially, I was planning on turning this little place into a "hobby room" - a place to do some of my R/C heli modelling and construction, or, at the very least a place I could set up my model of the "HMS Victory" I am busy building (busy is a very "loose" word, I've been at it for about 20 years, the main hull and decks are done, masts, rigging and sails left to do)... Needless to say, HMS V and my 2x.30 Hirobo Shuttles are not really anywhere near the "hobby room" due to lack of space... Stuffit... I think I must just take over the whole damn house and kick all the residents into the workshop tents.....

On the bright side, its good fun to have an electronics workshop again, I never realised how much I missed having one previously! Wonderful to get the shitz with a project and be able to walk away, to come back 3 days later and carry on without having to unpack stuff from storage or try to find stuff that was "tidied up"!!

Already had a chance to fix up a few 2 way radios that were a bit worse for wear as well as many, many small things that I have "put one side" until I could find time...

Quite honestly, now I am running out of excuses and reasons for not finishing off TM1's rebuild...

Oh wait...there's that .308 and the .243 that I got the other day... Need to go test them first before I get all diesel-oily.....

Another day, another reason, another excuse....

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 02, 2019, 11:39:46 AM
Hey Ladies, Gentlemen and Glort....

Happy Easter to Y'all!!!!!

Got back from a visit to family a few days ago, spent a week in a neighboring city - What a difference!!

Saw sisters, mother, nieces and mates! Was good to visit my old home town for a change, its been long overdue... Dunno why anybody was happy to see me, me being the obnoxious, ill mannered, ill tempered lout that I am... But had I a genuinely great time, everybody else at least "said" that they were glad to see me, some were so genuine that I almost believed them...  ;)

Whilst I was there, I visited the local porn tool retailers, I was totally amazed at the lack of quality of medium duty workshop kit that was on sale... I wouldn't pay a quarter of the marked price for that junk...

Totally discouraged I set off back to the mother's abode (where I was staying) and threw a chainsaw around the place for a while, after a quick repair of course... Felt much better after taking out my frustrations (Heavy rain caused a Coral Tree to shed some 18" x 10 yard boughs.) ... The best woodworking implement I have ever used - Stihl038...

Whilst I was there, I started stripping my "offsite" milling machine which was stored in their garage... Took a few days to unlimber everything from the base, its been in storage for nigh on 10 - 15yrs now, so I figured it was time to hook it homewards and start playing with it... About 3000+kg later, we had the base and bed on a trailer, with the slide/swivel/head carefully packed into the VW Microbus... All done with hand chain block and the like, no gantry or fancy stuff was available - the most high tech bit we used was a 2t chain block, second to that a few pipes as rollers and third to that a crowbar or two... Who said that a Lister was a basic machine....?

After a four hour drive a couple of days later, we unloaded it at its home premises here in EL... What a pleasure to use the overhead gantry and hydraulic engine hoist!! (The unit is a Kondia 70 series Powermill, similar to a Bridgeport, possibly a bit sturdier.)

With around about 500mm or so table clearance, this unit has a wee bit more gap than my old Elliot, but, the Elliot can take way heavier work.... But....They each have their place!

Also brought back a dividing head... The damn thing weighs in at around 50kg, I guess, almost busted my spleen/spine/liver and rectum lifting it out of the car... (the engine hoist was occupied at the time)... I paid for the workout a bit later, for about 72hrs in fact... The brain's definitely writing cheques the body is having trouble cashing....

But, enough of that...Glort, when you coming to visit SA? I need another grumpy old fart to commiserate with... I think that between the two of us, we could put up and host quite a few entertaining evenings... I don't know if anybody else would enjoy it besides us though.... Certainly would be interesting...

Enough rambling...Time to go pack away the tools from the last few night's assembling...

Keep it grumbling...

Cheers
Ed

As usual, the mandatory crappy quality cell images follow...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dax021 on May 02, 2019, 08:40:12 PM
Glort, I think Ed meant, "when are you coming to South Africa?"
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on May 03, 2019, 08:30:34 AM
This could all go terribly wrong,

What happens if Glort ends up in Saudi Arabia?

Cheers
Stef
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 03, 2019, 08:34:16 AM
OMW...Glort...get off that plane...Rebook....ZA ZA ZA ZA ZA ZA ZA ZA...
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 09, 2019, 01:29:24 PM
Hey fellow cretins....

Something somewhat Lister related for a change....

I have been thinking of adding an additional water heat exchanger to the exhaust of the Lister/Burner, something that must be easily "cleanable" as well as offering minimal obstruction to allow as free a flow as possible, particularly as the last usable section of "silencer/stack" is convection operated for the burner, as opposed to forced exhaust when it is used in Lister-mode...

It doesn't have to be particularly efficient in Lister-mode, the exchanger is more for catching the tail end of the flames from the burner... I have noticed, in burner mode, that I can wind up the wick and get about 5ft of 4" piping to a nice cherry red, this is after the main heatex for the burner... Now I can wind it up and put all this fun to use....

Fun, Fun, Fun.....

Keep it heating.....

Cheers
Ed

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on May 09, 2019, 07:14:03 PM
If that last five feet of 4" pipe is vertical or vertical-ish, why don't you replace it with a double-skinned stainless section - 4" pipe inside 6" pipe with an inch fitting top and bottom.  Voila!  Thermosiphon

I'm a big fan of solid, heavy-wall, stainless wetbacks, and have had them on my last four woodstoves.  IMHO much, much more effective at heating water than any copper loop device

Cheers
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 10, 2019, 08:27:28 AM
Hi Mike,

Easier said than done, I'm afraid... This section of pipe was an afterthought, tacked onto the original project...because, well, I just had it lying around... Unfortunately, it is higher than my heat-store too, so hydronic wouldn't work either.... But hey, good suggestion nevertheless!!

The copper loop device is just to glean a bit of energy out when I over-fuel the burner...More playing around than anything else... Again, just because it was laying around, might as well make something of the copper... (before the local miscreants come visiting again and appropriate it....)

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on May 10, 2019, 10:24:01 AM
Y'know if you made a fat outer pipe so there was quite a bit of capacity, and vented it to atmosphere at the same height - or maybe about a foot higher? -  than the vent on your hot water cylinder, you could probably use it as some sort of crude pre-heater for the HWC.  Smart folks here could come up with all sorts of management systems for something like that . . .
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 10, 2019, 12:09:29 PM
Would be cool....but.....the main hot water store is about 3ft below ground level in the basementl...I aint diggin up me concrete!!

I do have a PLC spare on the other hand...with a quad analog thermocouple input....I could just hook that up and with a flow detector on each tap with a thermocouple, a passive in each washroom to detect human ingress..... a couple of progressive solenoid valves...a bluetooth module.... Away we go... Walk into the bathroom with your phone, the system recognizes you, you open a shower tap and voila....Water set exactly to the temperature you need/like.... The fact that you have to go to the basement to program the PLC cold/hot mix should't be a problem.....

Enough of my BS...

Lol
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on May 10, 2019, 11:31:53 PM
Not quite as crazy as it sounds. Bill Gates used to send out a questionnaire to all his house guests. This information was programmed into the main house computer and the guests were tracked using a radio chip, as they moved from room to room the art work, temperature, light levels and  background music would change to suite the guest. Preferred water temperature should be easy.

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on May 11, 2019, 10:13:04 AM
Very interested in your automated oil burner idea. I have now found an almost unlimited supply of WVO and am looking to collect some soon for cleaning. I also need to find some suitable storage. I know where there are in excess of a hundred empty 45 gallon barrels and I will be collecting some as soon as Narelle is out of hospital.

In the UK I ran heating boilers on a variety of liquid fuels and I am sure that a WVO boiler would work very well if you were prepared to replace the spark ignition system with an LPG pilot light.

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on May 12, 2019, 01:08:21 AM
Wow, a lot to think about there. Some early Lister petrol/kero engines had a carburetor exactly as you describe with a weir arrangement rather than a float valve. Fuel was pumped up to the carburetor any excess flowed over the weir and returned to the fuel tank.

Like the idea of using solenoids valves to trigger incremental burners as the demand increases. should be efficient and easily controllable.

Very worried you are trying to build the worlds largest oil burner, does your Wife know what you are up to and are you planning to warn the neighbors? You might also want to warn local air traffic control and possibly NORAD, wouldn`t want our American cousins thinking someone has launched a nuclear missile!  :laugh:

I will certainly be using IBC tanks for storage. The 44s will only be used for transportation of dirty oil. Later I will be building a trailer with an IBC tank for collections.

Very much like the idea of a spa heater and pump to drive the filtration process, I will start looking out for such a system.

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: oldtime on May 12, 2019, 09:23:28 AM
There is a great carburetor in an old oil heater take a look at them. . I used to service them . They have a float height control and an element to heat the oil .
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on May 12, 2019, 09:53:00 AM
Hi Oldtime, more information on the type of oil burners, please. A web link would be great.

Hi Glort, your oil burner has got me thinking, WVO has a much higher calorific value than LPG, has anyone ever tried using it to fuel a hot air balloon? You regularly see these things take to the skies with the basket half full of large LPG cylinders. How about a smaller tank full of WVO and a small compressed air cylinder to pressurize it?

Bob
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: ajaffa1 on May 12, 2019, 12:04:07 PM
Hi Glort, you might want to have a look at trying to find information on Kidd boilers. We used to install these for farmers in the UK, they ran well on heating oil, kero or diesel and were 90% efficient, I`m sure they could be converted to run on WVO perhaps with the addition of a little RUG to increase flammability/decrease flash point. All of these were what you call wet back systems. The heated water was pumped to a manifold with thermostatically controlled solenoid valves which delivered the hot water to the areas/hot water cylinders to be heated. The boilers had an adjustable built in thermostat that heated the water to around 80 degrees centigrade, once they reached the set temperature they would shut down. when the boiler cooled due to returning cooler water, the thermostat would kick in and the boiler would fire again.

I`m not sure of the setup you have in your home regarding heating/cooling so it is very difficult to give any more advice.

Yes, take your experimental burner out into the middle of nowhere to test it, preferably at least 10 Kms from anything mortal!  :laugh:

I agree entirely with your idea to use a water cooled diesel engine to heat, dry and filter WVO. As soon as Narelle has recovered from her hysterectomy (surgery tomorrow) I will be pouring a concrete slab and building the shed for the Lister CS with exactly that concept in mind. Love the idea of an engine setup that cleans, drys and filters it`s own fuel, while also providing me with heat and electricity!

Sorry the balloon idea is not a goer, would probably have produced too much soot anyway. Not sure petroleum would be a suitable replacement, remember the Hindenburg? Hope your Wife had a really good time, hot air ballooning is a wonderful experience.

Bob

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on May 13, 2019, 12:46:27 AM
"I am planning to heat water, pass that through a heat exchanger and then use that to heat air going into the house.  I want to introduce air into the house rather than recirculate it to keep out drafts and reduce the cold air coming in when doors and windows are opened. "

I suggest you reconsider this.  A small amount of air added to the house is good, as it compensates for lost air in leaky ducts, and helps keep the house near neutral pressure instead of negative.  Something like perhaps 200 cfm for your big house.  Much more than that pressurizes the house substantially, with in winter drives warmer wet air into the wall cavities and ceiling through leaky outlet boxes and this might cause mold problems.  The upside of slightly positive pressure via fresh heated air would be improved air quality. So adding some fresh air to your return airflow is the standard procedure for better air quality homes.  The fresh air intake can be closed via motor damper for air quality events like wildfires.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: BruceM on May 13, 2019, 04:56:18 AM
If you get tired of dusting, the SpaceGuard whole house HEPA filter is worth looking into.  I used them on both my homes in the Phoenix area.  With the fan on low most of the time, dusting was a thing of the past.  They helped with allergies greatly also.  SpaceGuard media is pretty long lasting and quite cheap.  Like most HEPA filters they are spun polyester, but SpaceGuard has massive area due to it's 5+ inch deep pleats and are low enough resistance to air flow that no boost fan is needed.  I did the install on both- piece of cake.

Home Humidity is ideally 40-50%, the lower being better for winter to avoid sweating at and around windows in colder climates.  Moving air always makes you feel cooler and dryer, which is why forced air heating sucks.

Good thing electric floor heating was so expensive.  It's a great way to have a high EMF home unless the wiring is coaxial or otherwise run as a pair, preferably twisted for better self canceling.  Also, heating a concrete slab floor that's not insulated from the earth and stem wall is power bill masochism, so I assume your floor is on a crawlspace. 

The only way to have a warm floor, is to have a terribly badly insulated and leaky house, so that you must have a massive boiler and run the in-floor hydronic heating system all the time.  In a well insulated home, the floor is room temperature plus a degree or two, obviously.  The floor won't feel warm until it is over 100F!

If you feel cold all the time, get some generic Cytomel pr Cynomel (Grossman Labs)25mcg tablets and start with half in the morning and noon. TSH is not a valid indicator of thyroid function; free T3 and reverse T3 are fairly good, but basal temperature and how you are feeling for energy and warmth are also valuable indicators.  Low thyroid also notoriously causes depression and fatigue, and yes, doctors sadly ignore it or get it wrong. Getting it right means the difference between struggling to survive or having a bit of energy (and enthusiasm) for some projects for me.

One last thing-  air to air heat exchangers are a great way to improve indoor air quality without a huge heating or cooling bill.  That plus a small amount of direct outside air- to compensate for duct leaks would be ideal.

Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 13, 2019, 09:24:11 AM
Hi Guys...

A brief report back for the copper coil heatex addition....

Did the first run with it yesterday afternoon, the previous day's installation was cancelled due to lack of interest, and a mate arriving from a neighboring city... He needed some wheel blanks cast for a belt grinder he is starting to build... Needless to say, the attraction of playing with the furnace and sloshing around a few liters of red hot, molten aluminum won out over cutting slots in pipes with an angle grinder in the midday heat.... The casting went well, no toes and fingers incinerated, a half dozen or so 80mm wide blanks of varying diameter were produced, he was a happy chappy at day's end...

Back to the heatex... After about an hour of cussing, sweating and climbing up and down ladders, I had the unit installed in the flue. It wasn't a major task actually, just awkward, most of it ladder and angle grinder work, with a tiny little bit of drillery, tappery and weldery to fix everything into place... At the end of the job, I have a pretty mundane looking stack with a bolt on square inspection cover type of thing... The coil resides behind the cover and can be pulled out of the system by loosening a couple of 1/2" pipe fittings and reconnecting what is there... Strangely, and quite impressively, there is not much need to install the cover over the 4"wide by 2ft odd slot in the up-pipe... for tits and pickles, I wound the burner up with the cover open to see what it looked like, expecting gouts of flame and general mayhem... Nothing happened... It was as if there was a glass cover over the slot, flames passed the rather long opening in a neat spiral, following up the riser... Kinda spooky, to say the least... Needless to say, I wound it up a couple more times to show the ladies of the house, all were most impressed, so it wasn't a fluke, clearly there is plenty of draw on the old pipe chimney to do the job!! But as usual, I digress...

As to the actual heating side of things, it was also quite interesting... We started with 350L or so of 20 to 25C water, hit the on button and I took some measurements and readings...I was amazed...

The little circulation pump is whipping the water through the system at quite a rate, to get a nice even heat up of the storage tanks.... If I set it to "low" volume setting, I tend to get a large "plug" of hot water moving through the system, making it difficult to estimate turn off time (there is no auto control on this thing, its fully 100% manual)...

Back to the readings... into and out of the original heatex, I am getting a temp gradient of 1 to 2 degrees C... from there, it flows into the coil which is in the path of the exhaust flame from the original heatex. Normally, a heat run would take between 1.5 and 3 hours, between 1.5 and 5L of fuel, depending on type fuel, residual temperature of heat store, air temperature, phase of the moon and how many black cats were sacrificed to the dark engineering arts.... The previous days run used around 3 hrs and 4L of waste gunk to get it to the target temp of 50C...

Day temps were similar to the previous day, start temps only a few degrees different, run time was DRASTICALLY reduced... Inlet/outlet to the copper coil had a gradient of around 10C, way more than I was expecting.... The total run was only 45mins and consumed only a little over a L or so of fuel... Target temp ended being 10% higher, 55C, just because I took me time turning off the system while I picked up some of the tools I left strewn around..... I LIKE IT!!

This does of course bring up another problem....with this amount of heat recovery (if it carries on like this and it wasn't my senile imagination), I will need to put some sort of rather large, obnoxious, intrusive siren type temperature alerting mechanism on it... Lest I meander thru life placidly to return to a little molten pool of copper......

Keep it heating...

Cheers
Ed

(Of course the crappy quality mandatory pair of cell phone pics follow...)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 14, 2019, 09:33:02 AM
Hey Glort,

The numbers do indeed seem quite a bit higher than I expected, agreed.... But only reported on what I saw.

Errors have undoubtedly crept in, the second run yesterday took around an hour or just under, starting at just under 30C with the heat store and ending up at just over 50C, which was target. Still way faster than before...

A bit of explanation is also due to visualise the burner functions... Initially, with around a 700mm burner tube/heatex, flame was attempted to be confined to the exchanger body. While it worked well, changes in visco as the oil warmed up a bit would cause richer running with flames entering the stack, not a problem, just a waste of fuel...

I now overfuel the main burner/heatex slightly, encouraging a wisp of flame to lick the coil section. Once that is accomplished, I then open a secondary air inlet at the bottom which then results in a pale yellow/white/blue flame in the immediate centerish area of the copper coil... The heat loss to the far side of the coil from the flame in the center results in a stack temp of around 400C plus in the immediate area of said coil... Above and below it, the temp is way lower, by hundreds... (the stack is in a sheltered alcove, so unless there's a gale force wind on the loose, temps remain quite high.)

The heat store is split into 2 separate but serially joined tanks, with the input to the store first feeding one tank, then from that the other secondary tank (which has a temp probe)... Doubtless there could be a spot of warmer water in the first tank that is not accounted for, this would skew readings.... (This would average out after a few days running of course.)

Further, I am not metering fuel into the tank by the ml... I brim fill it, from a loosely graduated container (read that as 5L plastic oil can) and guestimate the approximate consumption, seldom am I more than  a 100ml or so out, particularly after dosing around 10 000L this way...(or it feels like it anyway when I fill up a tank!)

Fuelling errors might come from having residual fuel in the top gravity fed tank, but I leave the system to drain down after a run, so this is unlikely.

One thing that may "skew things" is the rate of heating... The longer I take to heat the system, the more the piping acts as a very inefficient convection radiator. Hammering heat into the system in as short a time as possible might just be a bit more effective than trickling it in slowly, who knows?

After a bit of measuring yesterday, I found that DT on heatex #1 was 4C at an average, on the coil around DT of 17C, but, as mentioned above, that would be expected as the major/high temp flame front is after the exhaust of heatex #1...

I have just filled up the fuel tank, and, again, a little over 1.25L was needed, around 1350/1400ml at a rough guestimate....

Who knows, maybe I've inadvertently discovered cold rediscovered hot fusion on a home-hack basis.... Next is the flux capacitor I suppose.... Marty, Marty..... Now where has that damn boy got to now....?

But enough of my burner for now....

Last night I managed to have some welding fun... Wound up the old TiG and stuck together another bunch of 25x25x3 stainless angle for yet another battery frame/rack... Each rack holds 4x 638SMF car batteries, I have four set up at the moment, this is the fifth... This will bring the chem power store to around 350AH..

Glort, if I remember correctly, you were designing a "different" burner... C'mon, spill the beans... Tell me more!!

Enough rambling...Time to do some boring paperwork....

Keep it burning...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 14, 2019, 01:45:18 PM
Hey Glort,

I occasionally take it up to around 70C, mostly when I get involved in the workshop and forget to check the temp, one thing that counts as a plus for sterilizing the system is that the main heat store and all of the piping right to the taps is copper.... I did have a mate do a bacterial check on the water a long while back, months after we went onto the water harvesting binge, and the bacterial levels were lower than our monkeypality supplied water....

For the burner, I am free running oil over the babbington ball, catching it in a scavenge tank, then pumping it to about 1.5m above the burner to a supply tank... Previously, our runs were between 3 and 5 hours, pretty much unattended, depending on how many guests we had staying over.. Sometimes this place is like Grand Central Station....

I like the ideas for your new burners, please post some pics when and as you are building things, in fact post some pics here of the one you have completed, I am keen to see!!!!

Hmmmmm...... Time for a new welder you say.... One for lighter gauge stuff..... I think its time you graduated to Tig, me china!!

Keep it cooking....

Cheers
Ed

PS...

Just finished another heating run on the burner - 1 hour, 27.1C start, 51.5C finish, about 1.6L oil used... I must admit, it was rolling a bit of coal for about 20mins, I was involved on a tele call placing an order and couldn't get to it to trim....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 01, 2019, 10:14:57 AM
G'Day Y'all....

Despite a long absence from posting, I haven't written myself off, lost any limbs or even more than the usual number of weekly (weakly) brain cells.... That I am aware of anyway... (Kinda reminds me of a saying I heard some time back.... Being dead doesn't bother you, it bothers those around you....Same as stupid..... Well, not being dead means I probably belong to the latter group, I suppose...)

I have had tele lines stolen twice, extended periods between replacements, and, as such, have been a bit out of the "loop" to put it mildly.... What this has done has allowed me, or rather forced me, to go and do something different for a while... Well, so i did!!

In the last 4 months or so, I re-learnt 3d Cad (Damn.... Things have changed a bit since I last used it 20 years ago...) I have gotten myself into a bit of "Freecad" to support a couple of pet projects that I have had on the bucket list for, well, eternity it seems...

Project#1: 3d Printing - Got myself set up in a tiny way with a nice little Creality dual spool printer - Looking at making replacement grips and plastic bits for the "older" firearm restorations that are all but impossible to come by parts-wise these days, as well as maybe a bit of burnout casting in bronze/brass/ali for parts that need to be molded, and, well, maybe a few toys too!

Project#2: 3d Router - Managed to to pick up an Ahdunno based self-assembly-crappy-chinesium router that has a shit-fit when it sees anything more than a point buggerall cut in soft balsa wood... but this is more of a "school-fees learning tool" - What I re-learn here, I will scale up for my somewhat larger 4000kg Kondia mill to do some real interesting stuff... This should be entertaining!!

But, as usual, I am about as far south of Lister territory that I could possibly be!!

Anything happened of interest in the interim 4 month's I've been away?

I am now on a Celcomms based internet, that costs the earth, barely holds together, and.... well... still no tele lines that I am willing to trust yet! (So browsing the internet and boards takes way more time than what I have patience and funds for, please bear with me!!)

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: mikenash on October 01, 2019, 05:06:22 PM
Excellent Ed

I'd like to own a small lathe for similar reasons and maybe one day I will . . .

I can't see any reason to remain seriously "on topic" Lister-wise.  Where's the fun in that?

Cheers
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dax021 on October 01, 2019, 05:21:11 PM
Welcome back Ed.  I've been wondering where you've been.  Santa's little helpers been visiting you again? 
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on October 03, 2019, 09:12:05 AM
Hi Mike & Dax...

I've had a smallish lathe for many, many years, and a few biggies too over the time... Unfortunately, all the work I have done with them have been pretty much one-offs, nothing wanting cnc type things... but... I might just retrofit one for S&G... If I ever get the time...

On topic...Well... My scatterbrain has enough dealing with keeping organs functioning to worry about staying on track....
Typical - ADHD - Highway to, Oh look, A squirrel....

Yep Dax, Satans' little helpers are at it flat out.... I'm getting tired of 2am patrols around the plot to scare the sh!t out of them... Time to hire a big dog, methinks.... I'm so "over" doing my own barking!!

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed

Oh.... Add Project #3 to the latest list.... My second "little" 3d printer arrived yesterday... Assembled it and tested it out...Very "Cute" ... Creality Ender-2... For tiny stuff....
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 08, 2019, 08:53:35 AM
Hey Guys...

And now for something completely different.... A (mostly) "on subject" Lister based post....

Without hoping to jinx the winds of fate, one of my minions is en route to go and pay for a Lister "Barnyard Find".... Hoping to take delivery of it early to mid next week...

So far, all I have seen is pictures, but it seems pretty much intact... It's an original 6/1 with original (as installed) alternator/genhead... The paintwork is non-existent, there's a lot of surface rust, but according to the chap that looked at it for me, a weekend or two of tinkering should get it up and running... Apparently it was mothballed a few years back, read that as about 30, when the premises went onto the grid and has not been used since... It was running till the day that it was shut down, no mech failures to note, that he is aware of, anyway...

Picked it up for a song, at worst, I will have a large driveway ornament that didn't cost too much... Lets see what transpires...

As usual, please excuse the crappy quality pics....

Keep it spinning....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on November 08, 2019, 02:16:09 PM
Hey Glort...

Glad to see I haven't broken your sense of humour yet....

TM3 is arriving, delivered, at around AUD450 at today's exchange rate.... plus, with it, is about 150L of mildly water contaminated diesel that will go through the 'fuge and get burnt in one of the whirling dervishes.....

TM1 is still staring at me dolefully minus his lid, lid's done, just need to find the time to pop him a new barrel and rings, also waiting.... Life has got beyond me!

TM2 is running fine, taking the brunt of the longer outages, the little autostart and solar are doing the shorter stuffs...

As to the MG42.... I wish....

What I have gotten quite deep into is the cad/cam side of things, unfortunately the grey matter takes a while to charge up nowadays and the things that used to seem quickly "grasp-able" take a wee bit longer now..... No matter, I am not slower, just more deliberate and thorough.....

One thing that has been interesting, with the 3d printers that is, is the interest from the happy hippy home-maker crowd in some lithophanes that I 3d printed... Take a look into it, it would go hand in hand with your photography side of things, and, even me who is less impressed by a scenic panoramic view than the tech involved with making a box of matches, finds them pretty damn awesome!

But, enough rambling.... Gotta go and clear the path for the honeysucker that's en route to alleviate another minor irritation... but that's another saga entirely....

Have a gr8 weekend...

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: veggie on November 08, 2019, 05:59:29 PM
OH MAN !

Ed, I'm green with envy :-\

Somehow members here keep coming up with these "barn finds" for very little cash.
Here in Canada I have never heard of a barn find lister CS.
I suspect there's only 3 working genuine Lister CS units in the whole country.
It would be nice to run across a deal like that.

Rebuild her well and keep the CS legacy going.  ;)



Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: vdubnut62 on November 24, 2019, 11:27:43 PM
Tote up another fellow green with envy.


Keep it smoking!
Ron.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on April 30, 2020, 03:39:34 PM
Hi Guys!!

I'm still around.... Strangely.... Still got all the hairy bits too... wonders never cease...

I have been a good little miscreant and locked myself away for the last 6 weeks, or was it 8... or 12... or 20?

Whatever...

But... You will be glad to know, particularly you, Glort, that I might have solved an interesting problem where it comes to micro solar power installations... You know, the one everybody asks about... The good ole cup full problem.... When the batteries are full (the cup), how do you actually know it? .... More importantly, as the batteries are filling and solar conditions change, ie solar incidence, clouds, charger load etc, how much power is actually available to be pushed into other things (the grog in the bottle)... Like winding some extra cold into the deep freeze, warming up some water in the good old boiler, pumping air into the compressor tank, turning on the pool pump for a bit longer.... (This does of course assume you are using some form of battery storage to run into the non sun  hours, but, it may just apply to other thingies as well...)

Well..... Look no further!! Eureka... I haf founded eet!!

The secret, me dear friends, is actually so exceedingly simple, I am surprised that it isn't touted as a mantra on all forums and made a prerequisite for all solar installations...

Would you like to know more?

If so, read on!

Oh.. and there aint much Lister involved in here, so please Mr Admin.... Forgive me!!

....

...

..

.

The suspense........



 The Solution:

What you will need -

A Sonoff POWR2 Power monitoring WiFi switch thingy
A Chinesium Grid Tie inverter - About 1Kw should suffice
A couple of Solar Panels that can be disconnected from your main array if you are over panelled, or a couple of unused that can be jammed in alongside your main array...

By now, you should have an inkling as to what we are going to do!

Tack the little gti onto your mains line through the Sonoff switch and hook up the panels... While sun is shining, the little gti will give all its getting to the grid....

Take a power reading from the sonoff, and jot it down... Alongside that, take power readings of what you're getting from your other solar bits and jot them down too...

Keep at it until you are thoroughly bored and have at least 10 or more simultaneous readings for everything... A few clouds pissing you around wont make a big difference, but fast moving clouds during readings stuff you around immensely.... How do I know this?

Once you have a few thousand....err.... hundred... Just a few readings, take an average of the individual groups, ie GTI1Kw, Gti600Va, Main array system.... (Make sure all batteries are accepting full charge of the sun, or your readings will be worth buggerall on them...again...how do I know?)

Now, here's where my eureka bit comes in... There's a pattern.... When the "monitoring" gti is putting out power, the other arrays will be doing same.... When the monitor puts out double its power, everything else will be capable of putting out the same proportionate increase....

Does it work?

YES!!

Now you may ask... WHY?

Well, being a skinflint stingy bastard, I want to get as much out of my panels as I can... Without wrecking my batteries or inverter(s)...

How to automate?

Sonoff wifi switches on any thing that can be turned on and off to use up available power -
Regular Sonoff basic units to turn on lights and small loads (or turn off small loads when there are power failures and the inverter is working its ass off)...
Sonoff TH10's on deep freeze, using the extra solar availability to pull temps down as much as possible using the temperature monitoring on it as a feedback..
Sonoff PowR2's for turning on larger loads and monitoring power consumption (Dishwasher, Washing Machines, Compressor etc....)
A Raspberry Pi to coordinate all this crap, with MQTT installed and a package called Node Red , which is a gui type ladder, type programming enviro...
And, for full in house control, drop the Tasmota firmware into your Sonoff switches to allow full intranet control without having to go through an external server...
And a wifi network to hang all of this onto... Bruce, you might have a problem here...
Emoncms running on the pi if you wanna log this junk and make a pretty lookatme page!

For a "live view" of it - Feel free to look at: http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view&id=21 (http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view&id=21) ... This is my "in house" page, so quite large, lots of data, will be slow on a remote view... Besides comments on how long it takes to load, they would be appreciated....

Keep it Sunning!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 01, 2020, 01:39:15 PM
Hey Glort...

"You don't need a couple of panels, I have used some Little cells from old solar lights." - I actually do.... The additional GT inverter also has mppt on it so I can follow the potential power output way more accurately.... Loading on a simple solar call current metering enviro doesn't slot it into the maximum available power scene.... This does of course require the main/other inverter(s) to be mppt as well...

"why not just monitor your battery Voltage" - Can do, but this is way more accurate.... Particularly if the charger has bulk/float voltages etc....

Also, this has been an exercise in getting the absolute most out of the panels as far as is possible, particularly in forecasting the max available loads that can be imposed - this method takes nice care of intermittent clouds and the like... Pushes out as much as it possibly can to alternative storage methods...

I could have probably gone a lot simpler with smaller standalone individual things, but the problem I foresaw with that was expansion... as you start putting on additional little bits, central control becomes a problem...

Re the ahdunno.... I have a pi hooked up... had the mqtt in... had the node red in the background... So I just used it!

Real pity Bruce isnt here anymore, I would have valued his insight... That man's far from being a fool! Shame on you, you crass ozzi twat!! Why'd you chase off one of the good guys? Good thing we're both thick skinned ignorant farts!! I might insult you!! Lol... Great to see you're still around!!

I might be interested in aqding a bang-bang circuit to this whole mess.... I have an element in the water heater that's sitting there doing nothing... I was thinking about Cap Disch powering it somehow.... I must scheme a bit more.... Unfortunately its around the 3kw range, a bit heavy for my inverter to run direcerterly.... also, being a scrapper boiler, its well and truly corroded into place, no hope of changing it!!

"Your control and monitoring is amazing though. " - Thanx for the comps!! Love you long time!!

"Trendy Modern home magazine as being the latest in Eco friendly save the planet energy management." - Hell no!! The bunny boys would go into cardiac arrest if they saw me recycling oil!!

"Keep posting mate, great to see you back and your always interesting creations. " - Thanx Boet!!  - That's the ZA equivalent of thank you my dear brother ;D ;D

I will try and post a bit more, but my bandwidth is well and truly limited at the mo!!

Hold thumbs

Cheers!

Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 04, 2020, 03:47:06 PM
Hey Glort,

Set up a tiny little panel (12v 1A) and some measuring kit.... Tried to see if there was a reasonable relationship between a non mppt and a mppt type enviro... Not quite chalk and cheese, but unless I manually regulated the output volts quite tediously on the mini panel and did the power calcs, I could not see a way to use the info as it stood... The "manual" mppt variance made a fair difference to available power.... (Did this just to put my own mind to rest and reinforce my 1kW GTI solar monitoring setup....)

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 05, 2020, 10:56:28 AM
Hey Glort...

Agreed re the panel happy place, it does make little difference as to where it is in the happy place for current, but bear in mind I'm looking at maxing the power out.... Now my strings are around 100v or so... Given that they can be anywhere pretty much 30v plus or minus with little change in current percentage wise, worst to best scenario is at around 10A per string, giving around 700W to 1.3kw per string... Major difference for me...

"I got some little Low voltage battery charging modules yesterday. Same thing, set a Digital readout for high and low and the switch accordingly.  I'm going to make a Voltage divider to run them off the panels and remove the relay to switch some Chunky Mosfets out of some solar inverters I have scrapped.  As long as you hold the panels in their happy place voltage envelope, all works well and one does not need to go to the Trouble of MPPT. " - Nice Idea!! I like it!! (can I steall that idea?

"Can store a LOT of energy in 1.5 ton of water even at low temp. "Agreed!! Good one!!

Oops - Sorry About that... Took the link down, Didn't think anybody was still looking at it!! - Here's another:http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view&id=6 (http://www.digipoint.co.za:85/emoncms/dashboard/view&id=6)

The cloned dashboard was just to test some stuff.... This is the active one currently...

Keep it shining!!

Cheers

Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 05, 2020, 02:21:07 PM
Hey Glort...

The deepfreeze is actually at around -40 or -50 at the bottom... I'm monitoring the top level, just below the lid, its a chest type freezer, so the bottom stuff is plenty cold...

I'm still running my original panel sets I put in last year or two ago... about 4.5kw in 350w panels and two little 250W toys as well... I've also just integrated the waste of time blow gennie into the system... 500W in a gale force, so it doesn't even factor into the system really....

I am switching stuff in and out.. Of the 3 washers that we use, 2 of them can be programmed and then turned hard off, they resume when powered up again... the third, no go... Also, the dishwasher fortunately doesnt mind being crashed during a cycle, it just carries on where it left off...

Cute stuff that I am doing is monitoring the power output of the GTI's with sonoffs... as soon as I go below about 250W output on my pip, I shut down the one GTI if the pip is running from battery/solar... I dont want to take a chance of backfeeding the inverter too heavily... Especially because both GTI's are on the output of the PIP.... When it's in bypass mode, I dont really care.... I've set it up this way to get the best out of all scenarios for my environment... Seems to be working quite well so far.... Let's see how long it takes to go bang...

My mid sized compressor is on a small 750W VFD... That I run ex PIP as well... The only difference is that I hacked the Sonoff Basic so that its purely a relay switch, no power out, that way I have tied it into the pressure sense circuit in series and all is roses....

Enough rambling... time to go finish up the flexi screw conveyor I'm putting together.... 100mm dia and the longest section of screw I have is around 40m.... Cutting them down and customising to use them to convey infill from under the house as we are excavating and enlarging basements....  I realllllly want my indoor shooting range!!

Send me a PM with your cel # and I will send you some whatsapp pics of the conveyor et al if you're interested....

Keep it digging....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 06, 2020, 02:16:52 PM
Hey Glort...

"have about 40 of those toy 250W " - I wish.... Pack your spares up and send them this way...Lol

"Do you not have enough wind or is the output just too low ?".... I chose this spot that Im in because it has a bit of a "micro-micro Climate" - it is on the top of a hillock, with the result that the wind "deflects" and kinda ramps up about 20m above the pitch of the roof.... and its double storey to boot.... my wind mast is only about 9 to 10m from ground level, so it misses the bulk of the wind... plus the fact that its a max 500w output.... What they don't tell you is that the 500w is in about 300mph wind.... Live and learn I guess!!

Re the shooting range... the outdoor one is still there (read that as back yard with targets set up) .... But... I want an indoor range where I can set up a few favorite pistols and rifles and play around with loads, on the fly... I swage heads as well as cast, making my own moulds and press tools for them too... I enjoy the ballistics side of things immensely and love to spend hours...days weeks setting up "surgical accuracy" loads for my toys... My goodness... if I played with one toy a day, every day of the year, it would take me in the region of about 1.8years before I played with the first toy again.... Time to get rid of a few I reckon, not enough years left in me to play with them properly....

Ventilation will be a must - In fact the blowers etc are already on the rack, waiting for the rest to be done... Snyder's and the like, even though they are cased rounds, prefer the holy black to run properly... Martini's too...

Come to think of it, single cylinder disposable piston engines are probably my first passion in life.... I spent all of my money on guns, ammo and women... The rest I wasted!!

Enough rambling... Time to go put some more screw conveyor together... I'm only at my pc to print an outlet duct for the conveyor anyway... and to reply to you, of course!!

Keep it digging!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 08, 2020, 02:17:10 PM
Hey Glort...

The legislation here is a bit pathetic... Good in theory, but bad in practice... Not enough get up and go, nor skills and manpower to keep the peace, let alone police the regulations correctly... Unfortunately, there are so many differing opinions from station ro station as to how to apply the legislation, nobody, I'm sure, knows exactly what is going on....

Used sollies are not easy to come by, not that I've seen anyway... properties here have a fair amount of roofspace so the chaps simply add on and keep going by the looks of it.... Also, new are a tad dear to purchase, a bit, well almost, out of the reach of the average guy I think...

"I wish I could find a profitable use for all this power I'm making." - Jeez Louise!! I wish I was in that situation!! ... I would simply split H2O and dump the H... Can the O and use it on any combustible project I could think of!!

Ok, so have the Feds busted you on a "Breaking Bad" suspicion yet? Got a government residence post code yet? Feel free to send multiple gifts of solar panels whenever you get locked up and cant use them!!

Keep it shining!!

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 09, 2020, 03:19:15 PM
Hey Glort,

Compressing O2 shouldnt be too much of a problem, just make sure your compressor rings arent bypassing oil and you should be more than ok if you keep the pressures down to about 8bar max... Wouldn't want a diesel effect... O2 will obviosly cause a fair bit of corrosion if moisture is present too.... A mid pressure diaphragm compressor would be the answer for lowish pressures... A largish volume at lower pressures would be a nice safe way to go as opposed to 300atm 2gal jugs!!

Power wise we dont really use much daytime, solar pretty keep up with it on a medium bright day, we are pretty power efficient here... Dont let the rest of the clan hear that, they think we are power hogs the way I piss a blister some days!!! But seriously, we only use about 50kwh total per day, before you take off what solar harvests... Considering that is a house, a flat, paintball range, workshops x 3... its not bad at all...

"I reckon if you advertised free panels disposal You could get a container full a week. " - Not around here, for sure!!

Ooooooh.... 4kw GTI's.... Luuurvley!! Get a dozen and send the excess this way - Those are another thing I only see on the 2nd hand market as "Needs minor attention".... ie its totally buggered and the only attention its worth is stripping down for copper and ali!

On a slightly different note.... Had a lovely wake up this morning... Got up to the smell of pecan cake bread type things being baked... Threw some clothes on... tossed on the socks and safety boots... wandered through to the kitchen to a steaming cup of coffee... Awesome!! .... Sat there chatting to one of the daughters while she was baking... Had another cup of coffee... Had a smoke... Had another cup of coffee.... Decided it was time to pull outside to go prune some trees... Stood up... (Now bear in mind, a good hour to hour and a half has transpired by this time since I slipped on the safety shoes..... Stretched my legs out and flexed the toes just before I stood up.... WHAM!! ...Felt like some asshole poured hot sulphuric acid into a freshly bored hole in my rhs middle toe.... I immediately set about cursing, writhing and trying to loosen triple knotted laces simultaneously...

A bloody great big baboon spider decided he didn't like my little piggies wriggling around his nether regions!! When I eventually got him unlatched from my toe... No let me rephrase that... When he had had enough of squirting painful alkaloids into my toe, he withdrew back into the toe section of my shoe and refused to come out... A bit of gentle coaxing later, and he left his overnight residence... Picked him up and let him go outside... Its a good 8 hours later and my toes still feel like someone injected them with molten lead!! Soddit!!!!

Keep it squirming!!

Cheers
Ed

Oh, heres a pic of the b@#$tard,,,
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dax021 on May 09, 2020, 06:51:13 PM
Hey Ed, didn't you learn in the army, always shake your boots out before you put them on?  I still religiously shake mine out, 40 years after klaaring out.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: EdDee on May 09, 2020, 09:21:25 PM
Hey Dax...

Yep, did that.... Been doing that since basics... This bastard must have gone to scouts and used all his knotting skills to stay put... He isn't the first one I've had resident, but he is the first resident to remain undiscovered until assault... Only other time I've had similar was a small mean little bastard of a rock scorpion that I sat on... In my car...

ouch....

Cheers
Ed
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dax021 on May 10, 2020, 10:38:45 AM
LOL, ja spiders can grip when they want to.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dax021 on May 14, 2020, 04:45:26 PM
Hi Ed, you'll never guess what came out of my boot this morning.  This is the first day in about 50 that i have put shoes on, so he has made himself at home.  Luckily was dead and came out on the 1st shake
(http://)
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dax021 on May 15, 2020, 04:11:50 PM
Hi Glort, when you send that container for Ed, better make sure there are some panels in there for me too ;D
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dax021 on May 16, 2020, 08:09:24 AM
You have it good down under.  As Ed has mentioned, there are very few 2nd hand panels available in S.A.  Also, unless your panels are secured really well, they have a nasty habit of getting up and walking to the closest low income settlement.  My neighbour had his solar pump panels disappear in the middle of the night.  It would seem that they weren't happy with their position on top od a 5m pole, so they somehow sawed the pole down and walked away, never to be seen again.
Title: Re: The Listeroid Chronicles-WMO and Other Listeroid Modifications
Post by: dieselspanner on May 16, 2020, 09:17:07 AM
Hi Glort

Maybe you've got on to something big with  backyard solar

If you set up a small to medium sized solar farm in your back yard or up your Dads place, with 'repurposed ' equipment and get it checked and certificated by a qualified inspector you could apply to the local power company to be a registered suplier.

When they start to bleat about the age of your equipment you point out that it is completely safe and the proposed connection exceeds current safety regs by far.

It's slightly less efficient than current equipment, but continues to make an environmental contribution, rather than being a disposal issue.

You then play your hole card.

I know you despise the 'greenwashed' but they will be failing over themselves to support a bloke that is using perfectly serviceable kit to save the planet rather than burying in landfill to poison it.

A month or so jumping through bureaucratic hoops and being in the local media whilst pretending to be greenwashed yourself and you'll be making money for the rest of your life.

Just don't forget it was my idea and 10% of the profit isn't very much....

Cheers
Stef