How To Choose A Radiator

[Listerational]

Hello,

The radiator on my 10-HP / 1-Cylinder Lister Clone has 1 - substantial leak at the fitting where the freon exits the radiator. I showed it to my friend who is an old school plumber and very good at soldering and he is recommending that I just try to find another radiator at the junk yard. Is there a certain type and size radiator that I should be looking for?

Thank you for the advice.

[Powdermonkey]

Brother-  JUST GO GET A 50 GALLON WATER HEATER.  STRIP OFF THE EXTERIOR, AND PLUMB the tank TO YOUR LISTEROID.  NO need for a radiator.  The 50 gallon tank will work perfectly.  NO pump, no thermostat.  Just make sure you've got your angles correct, as per the original lister manual. 

I've been running twins (16/2 and 30/2) like this for YEARS. 

[Listerational]

Nice.....  I will start researching this. 

Thanks.

[Hugh Conway]

The 50 gallon tank will work fine. The downside is that if you need freeze protection, you'll have to buy a LOT of anti-freeze.
Ask me how I know. I used a 30 gallon boiler tank for my 6/1 for a while, but switched over to an old school residential cast iron hot water radiator.........works better, heats up quickly and uses little anti-freeze. An automotive radiator will work fine too. Thermosiphon works well if set up correctly.
Cheers
Hugh

[Listerational]

Can't wait to delve in. My damaged one is a nice sized one and I had it set up for Thermosiphon (I believe).

Thanks,

[Sir Petteroid]

What angle are the pipes supposed to be with a thermo siphon ? I don't have a copy of the manual.

[Hugh Conway]

@ Sir Petteroid

Bottom water fitting on the tank should at least be above bottom water fitting on engine.  Mounting the tank so that the bottom fitting on tank is above top fitting on engine is better!
 [You will find many drawings on the 'net that show the bottom engine to tank line going down. This will work to a degree, but is far less efficient than having the tank installed above the heat source]
Pipe from the bottom engine water fitting should trend up from the engine to tank. Same with top water fitting on engine to top tank fitting.
Always trending up with no kinks to trap air. 1" steam hose (got it from NAPA) works well. Put shut-off valves at tank inlet and outlet so it needs not be drained if engine servicing is required.

Water level in tank must be ABOVE the upper engine-to-tank inlet on the tank.

I have built and used thermosyphon circulators on both our Lister and Listeroid engines as well as summer solar collector for domestic hot water and winter domestic  water heating via coil in the wood stove. Have installed several wood stove/boiler systems. They work!

Keep it all going up. Keep it simple.

Cheers
Hugh

[cujet]

Consider a motorcycle radiator and fan. I have a first gen Gold Wing rad and fan on my uprated 6/1. It's quite compact, provides plenty of cooling capacity and has worked perfectly for years. No need to make a monstrosity when something from eBay can work perfectly. 

The fan is powered by a 120V to 12V DC power supply with variable output.

Here is a video of my setup:

https://youtu.be/Dj5qML44j5s?si=hUPUU0V1Pf5C8p4_

[Hugh Conway]

@ Cujet
All of that old information that was lost in the various LEF server changes over the years.....lament.

I recall your very nice builds and frequent participation.
Re the Youtube link..... A really nicely done and well balanced movable system. Didn't you use a helicopter rotor balancing system to smooth it out?
Is it still in operation?
Does that engine use a water pump?
Cheers
Hugh

[keith71]

Cujet, that is a great setup. Run's really nice. Is that a small 120 volt pump near the generator end underneath the overflow tank? I hope to keep mine compact like that when finished.

[ajaffa1]

Well done Cujet, a very nice setup. I`m impressed with how well balanced it is, most people shy away from pneumatic tyres for their trolleys because the unit tends to bounce around.

Bob

[keith71]

I don't mean to go off topic in this thread... But I am gonna a little bit.  Sorry sir petteroid...

Cujet I have read quite a few of your posts over the last few years... I know you have been around here since the beginning.. My question is were you one of the original fella's to make the hollow oil dippers ? I know xyzer was one as well. Was wondering if you have them installed in your engines? 

Thanks.. and sorry again op..

[t19]

I use a rad from a dodge carivan .  Mount it above motor use huse hydrosypthon.   I alwo have a 120 volt plug in house fan the always runs ... seems to work fine

[BruceM]

Very little radiator is needed if you have forced air of some sort (I use exhaust flow induced draft ala the Rumely tractor).  Or a large radiator oriented for convection air flow works too (ala Dave XYZer's nice mobile setup). 

Cujet's mobile setup is very impressive, and others have used computer muffin fans with a small radiator and thermostat for a nice compact setup.

The big tank method seems best suited to no-freeze areas where long runs will be the norm.  Hugh's method of cast iron radiator is what what I hoped for but in central eastern Arizona I could not find one. 

[38ac]

I don't mean to go off topic in this thread... But I am gonna a little bit.  Sorry sir petteroid...

Cujet I have read quite a few of your posts over the last few years... I know you have been around here since the beginning.. My question is were you one of the original fella's to make the hollow oil dippers ? I know xyzer was one as well. Was wondering if you have them installed in your engines? 

Thanks.. and sorry again op..

Hollow dippers were a go around effort before it was figured out that lack of lubrication was not ruining the bearings,, sand and grit was. Then I remember guys actually plugging the top holes in an effort to save the bearing from being ruined by sand. This was all part of the learning curve with dealing with India quality control. Being an engine machinist I thought guys! its the sand, get rid of the sand.!!  Eventually most figured it out but by then the golden age of Listeroids was past.

 Bottom line is hollow dippers dont add anything to a clean engine and add very little to one with sand floating around in which case you need to buy a case of con rod bearings.