lister petter trouble starting

[history38]

Hi have a lister petter twin diesel engine fitted in my boat, find it hard to start from cold, once running its fine and runs sounds well (no smoke etc)
Starts first turn with easy start,but to my mind thats not the way forward.
Any ideas !

 

[sailorman]

Hi have a lister petter twin diesel engine fitted in my boat, find it hard to start from cold, once running its fine and runs sounds well (no smoke etc)
Starts first turn with easy start,but to my mind thats not the way forward.
Any ideas !

Give that tin of easy start the distance test.
there should be a knurled metal plug on the inlet manifold that is remover, engine oil injected in & replace the plug.
this adds oil into the bore & aids cold start

 

[cryan]

Is it a hand start? If so always start on one cylinder then knock the second de-compressor down once she's away. In cold weather I have always found that slowly turning them for five minutes makes everything easier. Other tricks are a space heater to keep things warm. or a small blow torch if space heater unavailable. I admit though that there have been times such as when snow on the deck that the only way you'll get an old Lister going is with a squirt of Easy Start. Use sparingly though as it can damage valve stem seals etc.
If its an electric start then the same problems exist except you cant turn it over slowly before starting. I have seen the knurled plugs mentioned above on some of the smaller engines used in portable trash pumps (Spate) etc but not on the 20hp size engines.
Basically keep them warm , and if possible start one cylinder at a time.
I previously looked after a fleet of ex MoD tugs and harbour craft which used two cylinder Listers for just about everything from generators to pumps to air compressors. You soon learned to keep a can of Easy Start handy in the winter.

 

[sailorman]

Is it a hand start? If so always start on one cylinder then knock the second de-compressor down once she's away. In cold weather I have always found that slowly turning them for five minutes makes everything easier. Other tricks are a space heater to keep things warm. or a small blow torch if space heater unavailable. I admit though that there have been times such as when snow on the deck that the only way you'll get an old Lister going is with a squirt of Easy Start. Use sparingly though as it can damage valve stem seals etc.
If its an electric start then the same problems exist except you cant turn it over slowly before starting. I have seen the knurled plugs mentioned above on some of the smaller engines used in portable trash pumps (Spate) etc but not on the 20hp size engines.
Basically keep them warm , and if possible start one cylinder at a time.
I previously looked after a fleet of ex MoD tugs and harbour craft which used two cylinder Listers for just about everything from generators to pumps to air compressors. You soon learned to keep a can of Easy Start handy in the winter.

A Lister is a Lister
Petter, especially the ACR & Minitwins leave much to be desired. Especially in cold weather

 

[richardabeattie]

You don't say whether it used to be OK and has deteriorated - a developing problem - or has always been difficult.

 

[doug748]

That jab of engine oil in the top end is a fine thing. I think there is one for each pot on the mini-twin.

Aways give the motor 10sec preheat and away you should go.

If not the heater elements in the manifold may have burnt out, I am pretty sure you can see and reach them with the air filter removed. Take care - don't burn your fingers.

If you still have no joy, the battery may be a bit low.

Top tip - remove the starter motor and have it reconditioned, or swap it, at a specialist Auto Electrical shop. I would bet that this will fix it.

 

[sailorman]

You don't say whether it used to be OK and has deteriorated - a developing problem - or has always been difficult.

Petters have allways been a ******* to start in the cold weather
No so a fine old Lister

 

[Tranona]

Hi have a lister petter twin diesel engine fitted in my boat, find it hard to start from cold, once running its fine and runs sounds well (no smoke etc)
Starts first turn with easy start,but to my mind thats not the way forward.
Any ideas !

You need to be clear about whether it is a Lister or a Petter - two different animals, although they were for a time owned by the same company. Also which model you have as again there are significant differences between models.

The Petter Mini Twin is (or was before most of them died) the more popular engine in yachts. If it is follow sailorman's advice.

 

[sailorman]

You need to be clear about whether it is a Lister or a Petter - two different animals, although they were for a time owned by the same company. Also which model you have as again there are significant differences between models.

The Petter Mini Twin is (or was before most of them died) the more popular engine in yachts. If it is follow sailorman's advice.

Lister made very good slow revving engines
Petter did not

 

[cryan]

You need to be clear about whether it is a Lister or a Petter - two different animals, although they were for a time owned by the same company. Also which model you have as again there are significant differences between models.

The Petter Mini Twin is (or was before most of them died) the more popular engine in yachts. If it is follow sailorman's advice.

The company is called Lister Petter these days. They still make modern versions of the old engines including some hand starts.
www.lister-petter.co.uk
They can still provide spares for a lot of the old stuff.

 

[sailorman]

The company is called Lister Petter these days. They still make modern versions of the old engines including some hand starts.
www.lister-petter.co.uk
They can still provide spares for a lot of the old stuff.

Like Petter con-rods, crank cases

 

[DownWest]

Like Petter con-rods, crank cases

Yep. I lived in an area that was mostly off line. As I bought a house with an old Lister genset, I quickly understood the problems. Others started beating a path to my door. OK for Listers, grief for Petters. The little 5hp units were pretty delicate compared to a Lister. One of which I looked at after 4 yrs of running on the same oil ,was fine on it , except for a 'bit' of goo in the crank case... The Petters in boats are mostly history. Partly because of the cost of spares.

 

[history38]

the engine is a petter ACW 12HP
Not had boat long so not sure what it should start like

 

[Tranona]

the engine is a petter ACW 12HP
Not had boat long so not sure what it should start like

That is what is commonly known as a Mini Twin. If you Google it you will find a series of You Tubes on rebuilding one and getting it going. As suggested earlier you need to prime it with oil to build compression in the cylinders when it is cold. Be aware that many components are aluminium and corrode badly if you do not flush it and change the anodes regularly. Most have died by now and spares are difficult to come by.