Lister Engine Forum

Lister Engines => Lister Based Generators => Topic started by: macgyvermike on July 25, 2012, 02:54:02 AM

Title: In need of advice.
Post by: macgyvermike on July 25, 2012, 02:54:02 AM
Ok guys i have jumped into the deep end of a great pool to be a part of ;D, now i need lessons.   :-[

I imported a 12/1 powerline Lister air compressor and also ordered the electric start kit and engine kit. Put it all together and all is running well.
Then i find out that i was supposed to tear it down and replace parts.  (from reading posts in this forum) is this right?
 I Did check the casing and found no voids full of casting sand nor any in the sump.  one main bearing  oiling tube was broken at the weld joint it has been repaired.

I will post some pics of the build when i get them into the gallery.

any advice would be appreciated

my avatar is the finished unit
Mike
Title: Re: In need of advice.
Post by: BruceM on July 25, 2012, 04:11:51 AM
Hi Mike,
Wecome aboard!

Check your main bearing shells after running for 8 hrs and  50 hrs.  If you see sand/dirt scoring, then disassembly might be a good idea.  Casting sand can be hidden in some odd places like under the crown of the piston, in the governor/cam end covers, etc.  It can't all be found by careful inspection without a tear down, but the top bearing shell is a reliable indicator.  I know this from learning it the hard way.   :P

Most of the other known issues are covered in Utterpower's "Listeroid Longevity" CD.  It's easier to go through them all one at a time with just one disassembly, but they can be handled piecemeal.  How much you need to do depends on your application.  If it's for non-critical power, then you could always take a wait and see approach.  Everything that George B. covered in the CD is pretty darned important to check out, in my experience. Plenty of experienced folks here to help you handle anything you run into.

Congrats and best wishes,
Bruce




Title: Re: In need of advice.
Post by: 38ac on July 25, 2012, 02:00:50 PM
Welcome Mike,
My personal prefferance is tear them all the way down. I am not saying it is the only route but it is the assured one.  As Bruce said there are some hiding spots that are not readily seen without having the engine completely down. The bearing shells will be the easiest place to find evidence of sand circulating through your engine.

Title: Re: In need of advice.
Post by: macgyvermike on July 25, 2012, 11:56:38 PM
What parts should I be ready to replace if I do a complete rebuild?

Mike

Title: Re: In need of advice.
Post by: mobile_bob on July 26, 2012, 02:07:44 AM
you should tear the thing down now, the sooner the better to have some assurance
that some clump of crap doesn't come down from under the piston head and into those nice little funnels and into the rod brg upper shell.

at least remove the piston and rod, remove the wrist pin and have a really hard look at the underside of the piston.

be ready with all the needed gaskets, and a fresh set of rod brg shells at least.

in my opinion for whatever thats worth, the most damaging sand will be that which is up under the piston head, when it falls out if will wash down the rod in motor oil and be carried straight into the upper oil holes into the rod brg.  sand from other places is also not good, but has to travel a lot further to get into the rod brgs.

bob g
Title: Re: In need of advice.
Post by: Horsepoor on July 26, 2012, 05:51:03 AM
It was hard for me to believe there could actually be sand under the piston. As cited above, it really does reside there. When I got my engine in 2005, along with several friends who also ordered engines, we all found pockets of sand under the pistons. I couldn't believe it but it does happen with surprising frequency, it is worth the effort now to fix a problem that almost certainly exists.
Title: Re: In need of advice.
Post by: bandmiller2 on July 26, 2012, 01:18:36 PM
Whats the best way to remove the sand in crankcases and under piston domes,scrape,wash or all of the above. Frank C.
Title: Re: In need of advice.
Post by: BruceM on July 26, 2012, 04:20:55 PM
The piston dome sand/grease will wash off after pulling the wrist pin.  The issue of painted over pockets of sand in the crankcase is tougher.  I poked around carefully in my crankcase with a dental probe, but even after finding and cleaning out the piston sand, and checking the cam covers, I still have a hidden sand source, though now it is minimal. I change oil often and use a gravity fed bypass filter just below the big door.

If I was starting over, I'd strip the crankcase via the lye in plastic trash can method that Quinn described here, then take my needle scaler to the interior before glyptol'ing it on the inside.

I know one guy here recently did a very good cleanout job without disassembly and then found no sand problems on his bearing shells after running for a while.  I only wish I'd been that lucky.  

I do agree with the others, if you want the best service life, it's best to tear it down completely and check things over as you clean and reassemble.  There are no set parts that you'll need, you just have to wait and see what surprises Rajkot provides.

Title: Re: In need of advice.
Post by: 38ac on July 26, 2012, 07:06:04 PM
Mike, Took me a while to find this photo. This pile of sand and slag is roughly 1/2 to 2/3 of the total I removed from an engine that darned near went into service  because it "looked real clean".  Good block paint will seal in sand particles that remain from a GOOD cleaning. The Indians appear to think they dont need to clean at all and seal in whats left with whatever paint is laying around. Poor paint wil not seal in piles like this.
(http://oi43.tinypic.com/ei9sfc.jpg)
Title: Re: In need of advice.
Post by: magnicon on July 26, 2012, 08:17:25 PM
Perhaps it's 'Running in compound'..................Sorry.
Title: Re: In need of advice.
Post by: LowGear on July 27, 2012, 05:13:51 AM
On this side of the pond its called "breaking-in" an engine so your metaphor works even better over here.

But as long as there's a line at the door not too many things are going to change.  No pain - No change.

Casey