Workshop Reports

Workshop Report 13 February 2010

This very cold February morning brought about a very productive day ahead in the Workshop.

The team started off with regrinding the valves, then they went on to cleaning the thread on head studs and nuts.

The Head gasket went on.

Then there was the fun part of the greasing of the studs, which facilitates any future dismantling.

The Cylinder head was then put on, making sure that the valve push rods went up through their correct holes.

John commented ‘Lister probably wouldn’t have done that.’ Lister might not have foreseen the restoration projects that would have come from these machines long after they were in their prime.

Then the team went on to tightening the nuts on the inside of the head and as the tightening occurred we could see the blue gasket sealant was starting to show on the head gasket around the sides. So we knew we were tightening enough.

They refitted the studs that hold the carburettor on.

The reassembling of the rocker shaft took place and the tappets were adjusted.

Then there was the age old debate for the setting up the gaps between the tappets and the valve (and the wonder of why men don’t look at instructions) do we go by the instruction booklet of whether it is 30 thou or 15 thou which is by so many with experience believed to be the better option. Guess which won the vote? Yep, 15 thou.

The oil went in and the rocker cover and water jacket cover went on.

Next was for the Flywheel to be fitted to the shaft and the Key was tapped home. The Magneto was then fitted and 2 shims were placed under the Magneto, then the chain and the bottom sprocket. The Flywheel was then turned to its correct firing position the Magneto was aligned and the bottom sprocket nut tightened.

This was the end of the day for the team as the sun set on Ashtead, but what an incredibly productive day it was, so much change was obvious in the engine and the rebuild. It’s starting to come together and it won’t be long before the engine is up and running and on the rally field.

Charlie is hoping to be at the Cowpie Rally along with a few others to show the engine that has been worked on since November this will be the Lister’s first rally and first proper run, which Charlie and his dad Peter are really looking forward to doing.

The guys will be around to talk about how the rebuild went, any problems that occurred and how they got round them.

Charlie’s homework to be ready for the next workshop day in March is to rebuild the pump and to degrease the carburettor.

As this engine is so nearly up and running, The team have decided that the next engine they are going to work on and continue on through the summer months in and around the rallies is a Stuart Turner 2 stroke. And specially for this year for Sussex and Kent Weald Stationary Engine Group the team are going to clean up and paint a Wolseley WD1, which will be able to be won in the raffle.

When Charlie was asked if he was enjoying his time at the workshop days the obvious answer was ‘Yes’ to which part we got the answer ‘All of it’ which is exactly what we were hoping to hear.

Workshop Report January 2010

Then the start of the rebuild took place.

The Piston bore was honed to break the glaze, which helps the piston rings bed in properly.

The Piston was then reassembled to the crankshaft.

New gaskets were made.

The Crankshaft housing was refitted and the Governor housing was also refitted.

Next was for the Oil filler to be refitted.

And unfortunately that took the team to the end of the day, but much progression was hoping to be made at the next workshop day.

A new trolley was made by Tom for the engine to be fitted to.

Workshop Report December 2009

Everything was thoroughly inspected, cleaned and degreased. Ready for the start of the rebuild.

Open Day November 2009

The Open day back in November was an opportunity for people to come along to the event and have a look at what Stationary Engines were all about, for anyone that didn’t know, or were keen to find out more about them. The main aim was to encourage youngsters to this wonderful world of restoring and maintaining stationary engines.

The team collectively stripped the Lister down to the last nut and bolt.

A couple of youngsters got stuck in Charlie and Aaron and helped with the stripping down of the Lister.

Many people passing by stopped and took a look at the engines running and took a closer look at the work that was taking place in the workshop areas to see the stripping down of the Lister. Some even stopped their cars (parking safely) and got out and took a closer look.

Unfortunately time was running out, so the team had to stop there, but progress was made and the engine was now ready for the next stage of restoring the Lister D.