Lister Engines > Lister Based Generators
Newly acquired Lister CS generator, have a question.
Captain Don:
Hello All, newbie member here, but not a newbie to old Listers. I live in the Bahamas where there are still a goodly number of Lister CS units around. I recently acquired one I have been after for 30 years! Its a later 8/1 generator set that has been on a private island since brand new. It was originally owned by the President of Zenith Radio Co. Who owned the island. After hurricane Dorian flattened this area, the island owner offered the Lister to me, as it was under water for several hours. Stripping it down I found no real issues or corrosion in the engine, so it looks quite savable. It has a SOM type generator on it, but was not a SOM unit, using a push button starter.
My question is about the fuel/decompress solenoid, it has a latch that is engaged that holds the decompression pin in, and when triggered it releases the latch, which allows compression and opens the fuel rack. It appears that this must be reset before each start attempt. Have any of you seen this arrangement before? It is definitly not a butchered SOM as there is no similarity in the latch mechanism for the solenoid to the SOM ones. Also a wiring diagram for the generator end would be helpful, but my box appears complete and was being used this way 20 years ago.
Captain Don:
Another part
Captain Don:
The doghouse
AdeV:
I can't comment about the generator - but it looks to me like that solenoid will push/pull the arm, which, presumably when activated, pulls the decompression latch out, allowing the engine to run. When released/returned, the spring applies pressure to the latch, attempting to push it back into place. Once the exhaust valve has "run over" it once, it'll latch in & the engine will stop.
It certainly doesn't look like the SoM setup with the conjoined rack-pusher-decompression-latch lever/bar arrangement.... but without seeing the parts as attached to the engine, I can't see how it's operating (or allowing the operation of, rather) the fuel rack.
Captain Don:
Thank you for the reply. I can tell you for certain that it cannot push the latch back into decompress mode. The actuator for the decompression pin goes over center and stays put very firmly. It requires a good push on the lever to "cock"the mechanism again. I know this unit is totally unmolested as the old mechanic of the island told me he never really did much except change the oil and set the valves over the decades. He was the one that showed me how to "cock" the decompress mechanism for start up. I can only guess that this unit was one that had manual electric start and could be shut down using a long string to pull the rack closed ? Many old Listers here used a string for shutdown, so you didn't have to walk out to the genny shed in the rain at night to kill the generator. I would be interested in knowing if this setup was common or maybe something specifically for the islands? Technical skills are low here, so a real SOM would not be repairable in most places, but electric start would have been desirable, as women often had to operate the generators when men were off fishing. I am actually surprised that Mr. Wright (the president of Zenith Radio) did not buy a SOM, as he was a very tech oriented fellow. I will try and get a pic of the parts in place so you can see the setup as it sits.
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