8-1 Liner, is it chromed?

[jimboz]

How do I determine if the cylinder liner is chromed?

Thanks,
Jim

[dieselgman]

A visual inspection should make it clear. The Listard chrome lining will be bright and smooth - sort of the same appearance as stainless steel as opposed to a dark and dull plain iron surface. Lister also tagged these types on the exterior of the block to further identify their parts, should say Listard or Listard process.

dieselgman

[Bottleveg]

The chrome tends to peter out at the top and bottom of the bore so it goes from mirror to dull. Listard plates were only fitted to early units and the practice ended around the WWII. Chrome plating continued until (I think) the late 70’s. Cylinders that were re-bored by Lister were re-plated and had a +10, +20….. brass plate fitted.
There is also a means of identification using casting numbers, but I can’t find the info at the mo.
Different rings were available for chrome and plain bores.
The VA had a chrome bore and plain rings but a chrome top ring was fitted.
Your unit (1960?) would have originally had a chrome bore.

   Mark.

[jimboz]

Thanks guys,

I guess it looks chromed, it's not shiny nor dull.  My cylinder is only out of round by .003 and there's hardly any ridge at all and my top ring has about 0.040" gap so I'm guessing the rings did wear faster than the liner which would confirm chromed?  Anyway, I want to make sure I order the correct rings, any other sure ways to determine if chromed?

[Bottleveg]

If it’s the standard bore and looks like a UK cylinder then I would say it’s chromed.
The basic design idea, being as the cylinder had no sleeve, was for the rings to wear instead of the bore.
I have had some 8/1 engines (‘58/’59) that have been re-bored by Lister but I suspect this was probably done due to enthusiasm rather than need! Earlier (pre ‘50’s) engines (3/1, 5/1) often have wear at the top of the bore on the exhaust side but this is due to high hours and, I suspect, poor circulation in the water jacket.
  Mark.

[jimboz]

Yes I believe it's original Lister but I do think it's sleeved too.  You can see the line at the head and the liner extends about an inch below the cylinder casting.

[listard-jp2]

The VA had a chrome bore and plain rings but a chrome top ring was fitted.

Are you sure?

Every Lister VA I have ever seen had a plain cast iron bore.

I understood that chrome plated piston rings were to never be used in chrome plated cylinder bores.

[Bottleveg]

Yes I believe it's original Lister but I do think it's sleeved too.  You can see the line at the head and the liner extends about an inch below the cylinder casting.

It does look like a liner but it’s one casting.

[Bottleveg]

The VA had a chrome bore and plain rings but a chrome top ring was fitted.

Are you sure?

Every Lister VA I have ever seen had a plain cast iron bore.

I understood that chrome plated piston rings were to never be used in chrome plated cylinder bores.

I’m not 100% sure that they all did. I’ve only had the head off two and they were early models. I originally read the info in some Lister literature and thought it strange to also add a chrome top ring.

[jimboz]

Surely a liner, no?

[BruceM]

It's too thin to be a stock Rojkot (Listeroid) liner, if it is a liner.

[jimboz]

I believe it's original Lister.  Weren't the 8-1's chromed?

[Tom]

Maybe it's been dry sleeved.

[jimboz]

Dry sleeve is what I was thinking... are not 'all' CS's manufactured this way or are they usually just bored cast iron?  I was thinking for the chromed ones maybe they used a liner to make the chroming process easier.

[Combustor]

          My understanding of the CS series is that earlier engines, 3/1,  5/1,  6/1  ran around 500 to 650rpm and had cast iron pistons running in chromed bores for reduced wear. The 8/1 and VA ran at 850rpm  and had alloy pistons running in cast iron bores. Bore and stroke remained the same and the extra HP was gained from the extra RPM.
Flywheel designs were modified to be safe at the higher speed.
         Do not recall 8/1's and VA's having replaceable liners, but dry sleeving when rebuilding was probably an option.  Think wet liners were probably a Rajkot invention.
Someone may be able to confirm this. Must dig out my copy of David Edgington's  "The Lister CS story".  Regards,   Combustor.