It is just the darn fuel tanks that have hit an impasse due to cost and other practical demand issues. I consider it a non-essential and inconsequential piece of the total picture. Most people do not even install an engine mounted fuel tank. We continue to work in a positive direction on most everything else, it just takes a lot of time and patience.
I am a firm believer in the value and strengths of the original Lister designs as well as the current dynamics of viability in the world... it is hard to beat overall despite some problems in dealing with India in general. Of course, there are still plenty of original British machines to be had so we have a good standard to aspire to and many of the clone projects I have been involved with do achieve a good level of reliability and functionality. China is a similar nut to India in many ways, it is difficult to enforce ethics when dealing with a profit motive and people who feel insulated by the international distances in both geography and culture. We are dealing with both countries on a regular basis for our support of, and involvement with the generator business.
Regarding exporting crap, I am told that in actuality, export grade is the best stuff and what is kept and sold within the country is actually the reject crap. A completely different standard of expectations and pricing structure exists there. Just how true that might actually be is difficult to ascertain, although I have traveled there and observed the working conditions and practical applications for these machines. You and I would not do the same things with the equipment. I can clearly recall a fairly large cement mixer drum being spun by one of the 6/1 machines chugging away in a pile of dirt and debris so deep you wouldn't think it could last an hour. It is clearly a different world than the fully developed Western countries.
dieselgman