HOW CAN I FIND OUT THE AGE OF MY LISTER ENGINE

[Peter Nolan]

Hi there, Members,

I have a Lister Engine, driving a generator, and I don't have anyidea, as to what ge it is, and I would like to be able to find out so that I might be able to get original parts for it.

I have had some updates done, basic ones, I must add, and I can't get an original fuel filter for it, so it was decided to put an In-line Filter in, and it seems to be working okay so far.

Any useful information would be most welcome.

Regards,

Peter

[38ac]

Useful information requires SOME information since Lister built 1000s of different generation plants. Information from the data plate will allow for a positive ID. Pictures would get you somewhat close.

Also, get rid of that inline  filter if it's an auto store cheapee and replace it with a proper diesel fuel filter before you have expensive issues to fix. Racor R12T are available on eBay very reasonable. The only inline proper for a diesel would come from a Kubota dealer and not a cheap will fit copy of one.

[AdeV]

Hi there, Members,

I have a Lister Engine, driving a generator, and I don't have anyidea, as to what ge it is, and I would like to be able to find out so that I might be able to get original parts for it.

I have had some updates done, basic ones, I must add, and I can't get an original fuel filter for it, so it was decided to put an In-line Filter in, and it seems to be working okay so far.

Any useful information would be most welcome.

Regards,

Peter

Hi Peter,

As 38ac says... we need a little info to go on first!

Probably your best starting point is this web page; it has a picture of pretty much every Lister engine type ever made - find the one that looks most similar to yours, and let us know its type!

If you can find the serial number plate (usually a brass or black enamelled plate) on the engine, it should have a serial number, spec number, often a horsepower and (for fixed RPM engines) an RPM value stamped or printed on it.  If the engine has exposed flywheels (like the CS engines), you should also be able to find the serial number stamped into the rim of the flywheels. I believe that all flywheels should have the serial number stamped in, but it'll be difficult to see where the flywheel is enclosed.  If you can find the engine info plate, try giving it a clean with some degreaser, grab a photograph, and either post it here, or post the numbers/values if they're easy to read.

For example, a pre-1950 Lister CS 6/1 engine would typically have a serial number like C.S. 12345 (sometimes the dots were there, sometimes not). A post-1950 CS 6/1 might look like 123461RZ3 (the R & Z may well not be there). After 1980, the format changed again to show year, engine no. type, rotation  & build no as separate fields in the serial number box.  So depending on how old your engine is, will determine the format of the serial number.

Good luck!