Lister Petter

[kliever]

Returning to Kliever early this year I found the engine difficult to start, enlisting the help of one of the " boys" in the zone technique the following work was carried out:-
Fuel filters changed
Fuel pipes (rubber) renewed
Fuel lift pump renewed
Glow plugs renewed
Trouble was engine was still difficult to start (whilst unscrewing a glow plug one broke a description of removing the snapped off tip would fill a tome).
Summer months saw Kliever ashore and lots of work was put into painting topsides and deck(no engine work)
Into water again, return of wife and vars guests (no engine work)
A couple of weeks ago work was entrusted to a local mechanic "Roberto", he checked items above then removed injectors which resulted in one being renewed and the other overhauled. This time the engine would not start at all.
The day I was getting ready to set off home Roberto arrived with a compression tester and declared no compression aft cylinder engine kaput.
I put Klievers winter coat on after telling Roberto not to touch the engine whilst I'm away.
The engine a LPWS2 (Alpha 20) ran perfectly last year, total hours are still under 1000 any ideas as to the cause? I'm planning to return early next year and carry out any remedial work myself.

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[Evadne]

Could be the piston rings gummed to the piston? Also possible as well as or instead of, a varnished bore. Textbook solution is to remove pistons and clean and remove varnish from the cylinder. Bodges include pouring WD40 or paraffin into the pots, leaving for a while to dissolve the varnish and then removing before trying to start. If you can but get it running then take it for a spin it ought to recover, but I think you'd need to run it under a reasonable load at full throttle to heat it up sufficiently.

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[Born_Free]

You should also check the valves, as there might be a sticking one which would also have this effect. Just take the rocker cover off, check the clearances with a feeler guage, turn the engine over slowly, and make sure they are all operating properly. If one is sticking you can sometimes free them up by oiling the stem thoroughly and then use a lever (big screwdriver or jemmy) to carefully press it down & up a few times. Don't know this particular engine, but sometimes to do this you'll have to remove the rocker shaft. Could also be a cracked head, check that the oil is clear and that there are no signs of water in it.
Good luck with it, & I hope it's not too serious or expensive.

<hr width=100% size=1>Born Free!
Now I'm expensive

 

[kliever]

As mentioned I plan to return early (Feb) and carry out the work myself. Still cant understand why engine would not start and run on one pot.
Anyway thanks very much for the advice, I now have to source ListerPetter spares and sort out some spanners - engine is 1996 build fitted in 2000, wonder if nuts&bolts are metric or AF ?
John R

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[petery]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.marine-engine-parts.co.uk/>http://www.marine-engine-parts.co.uk/</A>

These guys specialise in Lister Petter and can advise you on tools. manuals and parts. They gave me great advice and service.

All I needed to buy to service my Alpha was a deep socket to take out the injectors - not a special tool.

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