[SEL] We got smoke!

[Jerry Evans]

At 07:00 PM 27/11/2009, you wrote:
>Message: 1
>Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:16:03 +1100
>From: "Ted & Sue Domeney" <dombros2 at clearmail.com.au>
>Subject: [SEL] We got smoke!
>To: <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
>Message-ID: <AE60B3604ACE4ED68EE43DFBCFC96D35 at HOUSE>
>Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>Nice work Jerry, those Lister diesels run so sweetly.
>This is the same engine that David Edgington featured in the December
>  issue of Stationary Engine?
>
>Just on the issue of the engine "bolting" or "racing"on startup, not an 
>uncommon problem.
>One trick is to have a good wad of rag ready to stuff in the air intake, 
>and choke the engine of air.
>Rag in the intake is less trouble to fix than damaged valves and pistons 
>after a "bolt"
>Of course the problem is a bit different if you get a two stroke diesel to 
>start running, backwards!
>
>Well done with the restoration- quick work too!
>
>Ted D


Hi Ted,
         Yes it is the same engine David featured in "Engine Torque" 
December issue of SEM. I'll be submitting pics to him of tomorrows show 
where the other 5-1 that I found with this one will be displayed next to 
mine so watch future issues. This has been restored by my friend (and local 
Lister collector/expert) George Botha. He also took the 3 cylinder engine 
mentioned in David's article.

         It's been a bit of a rush but when I found the engines (and wanted 
to keep them both for myself :-)!!) George asked so nicely for one that I 
let him buy it. He needed it to complete his Lister collection. We decided 
that they should be shown next to each other at certain "rallies" because 
they spent their working lives next to each other and it was only right 
that they also spent some retirement time together!

         When I first found the engine I contemplated keeping it in it's 
"working clothes" - those orange and grey "South African Railways" colours. 
Only, on getting it to it's "retirement home", did I discover that the 
paintwork was terrible - many layers of paint brushed on over all sorts of 
grease, grime and soot (it was a standby in a boiler room). I had little 
choice but to have it sandblasted and start from scratch.

         I decided to go for "original" (but did deviate slightly here and 
there - for instance I could not bring myself to paint that beautiful brass 
oil pump green - I wire brushed it (not buffed or polished) and it can now 
develop it's own patina.

         Also, when I started on the engine I decided not to "slick it" as 
I've done with my smaller engines - after sandblasting (which is already 
"non original") I primed and painted it with all original grinding marks 
and casting imperfections left "as is". I did smooth one part and that was 
a small part of the casing where a decal is placed. This was so rough that 
I could foresee problems with getting the decal to stick properly but 
that's all.

         In the rush to finish there are a few minor defects in my painting 
but they will stay and become part of this engines history - I will not say 
"I'll fix them later", it's done and will stay that way :-)


Keep the revs up (or down)
Jerry Evans
Near Johannesburg in Sunny South Africa.
Etched Brass Engine Plates made to order:
<www.oldengine.org/members/evans/plates/index.htm>