A current restoration project - still trying to get the alternator working.
| Manufacturer : | RA Lister, Dursley, Gloucestershire, UK |
| Model : | 5/1 cold starting diesel |
| Fuel : | Diesel, gas oil, various other distillate oils can be used. |
| Ignition Type : | Compression ignition - full diesel. Bosch or CAV injection equipment. |
| Cylinder : | 4.5" bore x 5.5" stroke |
| Output : | 6 HP @ 650 rpm |
| Production period : | Approx 1930 - 1976 |
| Notes : | The original 5/1 specification was 5 HP @ 600rpm. A 3 HP version and a 10 HP twin were also available. Most modifications to the design were made in the first 5 years or so of production - the original Bosch injector was directly cooled by the water jacket - later CAV injectors were not in contact with the water. The engines have continued to be manufactured under licence in India to the present day (Vibha, Gangadhar) |
Serial No. 1227515. The 1227th engine of 5/1 design manufactured in 1955 - history unknown at present. The 5/1 design was uprated from 5HP to 6HP sometime in the 1940's, so many engines plated as 5/1's are actually 6HP - 6/1 engines to use later terminology.
Serial No. 1577513, the 1577th 5/1 of 1953 which was originally sold as the power plant of Start-O-Matic generator set no. 10769SOMAC, teamed up with generator no. 71675K. The engine was seized solid despite a reputed 15 years in dry storage. The engine is still accompanied by the original fabricated baseplate which is in good condition, but the alternator has gone along with a few significant engine components, though replacements for some of these have now been sourced. This will be a long term restoration project, but it looks to be feasible as the piston has now been persuaded out from the cylinder and the crankshaft turns freely. The piston rings are completely embedded in carbon, and will be a challenge to remove intact, though it is reassuring to know that replacements are still available. Once completed, the alternator currently shown teamed up with the 1955 engine will move over to the generator engine which has heavier grooved flywheels better suited to electrical generation.
Photos 1 & 2 - The 1955 engine just after it arrived at home as a Christmas present (Jan 1999)
As purchased engine # 1227515 was a non-runner - no compression and an ominous wet-sounding gurling emanating from the exhaust port on turning the engine over. Removal of the cylinder head revealed that there was only a small volume of water in the cylinder along with some oil which had prevented damage to the cylinder. A liberal dose of WD40 and a few turns of the flywhels expelled residual water from the piston rings. The valves however were pitted and obviously the cause of the compression loss. A long session grinding the valves had them back to full working order. The injector was cleaned and freed up - although siezed initially, a week soaking in paraffin and the removal of a very fine brown sediment soon had it operational again. I wanted to remove the flywheels to make moving and painting it easier, but the keys on both sides have resisted all attempts to move them, so the engine has been painted with the wheels in situ. I'm still working on the restoration of the original fuel tank( which was paper thin in places) and a cooling tank. With the water jacket filled with water and no chance for circulation, it takes almost an hour to raise the temperature to boiling with no load on the engine.
Photos 3 & 4 - after cosmetic restoration and valve grinding - now operational (Autumn 1999) - the Poose is in the one in blue providing an indication of scale.
The engine is very easy to start from cold with the changeover valve in the "high" position. The momentum in the flywheels is usually sufficient to start the engine without having to help it over compression. The engine runs very steadily on the goverrnor, right down to stalling speed - about 200rpm.
Photos 5 - 7 : Now mounted on a cast ex-Start-O-Matic base with alternator No. 80481K (Feb 2000)
Photo 8 : The Lister 2.5 KW alternator
The alternator is formerly part of a Lister Start-O-Matic set, probably also dating back to the 1950's like the engine and base. I don't have the second control box and other componentsrequired to make it an automatic set, so it will end up as a "Start-O-Manual".
Photo 9 : The engine and alternator numberplates
Can anybody date these alternators from the serial number?
Photo 10 : Inside the alternator control box
Nearly all the wires are black! I'm going to rewire this as some of the insulation is now fragile.
Photo 11 : Close-up of the drive belts (modern toothed variety)
I haven't managed to get sufficient output from the alternator yet to put a decent load on this part of the system so I don't know if I will suffer from belt slip - proper S-O-M sets have a vee grooved flywheel.
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