Anyone ever have a Lister engine? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Aquaticedge · #1 01-06-2010, 04:53 AM

I'm looking for a 2cyl lister that I can turn a generator with so when the power goes out I can keep some key things running IE frig etc... I was wondering if anyone had the chance to work with these engines before and their thoughts on how quiet/noisy they are.. a plus would be if you knew anyone who had one they were not using and wanted to get rid of it..

Thanks

LUVMBDiesels · #2 01-06-2010, 05:51 AM

I always wanted one.
Check out www.amproexports.com and www.listeroid.com

I have also seen old ones sitting at abandoned oil wells out in Pa.

I think being slow turning they are pretty quiet, especially if you plumb the exhaust through a car muffler.

Good luck

MS Fowler · #3 01-06-2010, 06:40 AM

A driller I used to know had a Lister diesel running a 6X6 water pump, 24/7/365. Only stopped to change the oil. Ran for years, at least according to him.

Aquaticedge · #4 01-06-2010, 06:54 AM

thats what i thought with them only operating at a few hundred rpms... the listeroid link diddnt work. the other site diddnt sell motors

R Leo · #5 01-06-2010, 08:16 AM

utterpower.com is the site for Listeroid info.

I don't own a Lister/Listeroid but did a LOT of research on getting one and setting it up to generate electricity while burning VWO. For backup power, I opted for the fast solution to multiple needs...a 10kw Miller engine-driven welder. Also, the whole WVO thing was beginning to lose it's shine for me and I didn't want to be dumpster diving 80% of the time just have lights and coffee.

In owning/purchasing a Listeroid to generate power, there are two big issues to consider:

There's no out-of-the-box solution, be prepared to spend a lot of time fabricating the parts needed to make one of them into a light plant.

The Indian Lister should be disassembled and 'blueprinted' (for lack of a better word) before you ever run it. QC at the factories isn't all that great and pulling a new engine down to make sure all the casting sand is cleaned out and that the rod caps are properly torqued is mandatory. This isn't a big deal to pull one down but should be done nevertheless.

That all said, they're awesome pieces of machinery that are pretty daggone efficient considering that they were designed 70-something years ago. I'd almost have one just to hear it run...

R Leo · #6 01-06-2010, 09:04 AM

This has renewed my interest in Listeroids and surfing has revealed a new engine to consider, something called a Redstone; a Chinese mfgd, medium speed diesel.

I'll look into this some more and post links here as I come across them.

MTI · #7 01-06-2010, 12:15 PM

Most modern gas powered generators, for consumer use, are pretty darn quiet.

kerry · #8 01-06-2010, 12:22 PM

If you're just looking to run a few appliances, a 2k Honda generator is super quiet, VERY portable and can be used in a broader array of circumstances than a home built Lister generator.

Chas H · #9 01-06-2010, 12:52 PM

I've got a Honda powered 4.4Kw generator. It's not that quiet, but it is portable.

Aquaticedge · #10 01-06-2010, 02:04 PM

I want something that I can work on and play with etc, why I've been looking for a lister for years now. At the time there were true listers on ebay configured with a genset but I diddnt have the money for them at the time...ah well..

LUVMBDiesels · #11 01-06-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaticedge

I want something that I can work on and play with etc, why I've been looking for a lister for years now. At the time there were true listers on ebay configured with a genset but I diddnt have the money for them at the time...ah well..

Yeah I know... I was also going to turn a spare 617-951 I had into turbocharged genset. I never got around to doing that either. Ibet the neighbors would have LOVED hearing an unmuffled 5 cyl running 24hours a day

Aquaticedge · #12 01-06-2010, 05:27 PM

luckily for me the neighbors are not too close and I'd have a muffler on it to deaden the external sound from it... I emailed a few places to see if they have one for sale.. we'll see how this pans out. I hope to find one soon

rscurtis · #13 01-06-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

This has renewed my interest in Listeroids and surfing has revealed a new engine to consider, something called a Redstone; a Chinese mfgd, medium speed diesel.

I'll look into this some more and post links here as I come across them.

I have a friend who bought one- does what it's supposed to, but you're going to do a complete disassembly on that one also. It also weighs about 600#, and you'll have to fabricate a cooling system. For a little more money, you can buy a packaged 1800 RPM diesel generator set.

Eskimo · #14 01-06-2010, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaticedge

I want something that I can work on and play with etc, why I've been looking for a lister for years now. At the time there were true listers on ebay configured with a genset but I diddnt have the money for them at the time...ah well..

It doesn't have the same "fun factor" or efficiency, and the fuel storage issues are different, but I picked up a garden variety gasoline generator (10 HP Briggs & Stratton) secondhand through Craigslist a couple of years ago for $300. It was in pretty good condition, and obviously hadn't seen much use.

Prior to purchasing it, we had managed to get by without a generator for over a decade without experiencing any outage long enough to cause us any real hassle. Not long after purchasing this one, though, we had a ~40 hour electrical outage resulting from tropical storm Fay in 2008. The generator saved the contents of our refrigerator and freezer. It's 240 V capable, too, so I could rig it up to run our well pump in a pinch.

Aquaticedge · #15 01-06-2010, 06:15 PM

Well, I also have a 40 Gallon Self pump Diesel tank I can tap a petcock into the bottom and feed it.. so Fuel storage wouldnt be too bad. but learning how to make my own parts for it I think would be a fun challenge and it would give me something to do