petter lister twin

[ripvan1]

The last couple of times I've started it has refused to throttle up or down so I thought it may need bleeding. Today I cracked all appropiate nuts in turn and fuel was coming from all.

When started with full throttle it just fires and runs at low revs and no amount of moving throttle lever at both ends (cockpit and at engine) will increase revs - does this sound like air in system or a stuck linkage or other problem.

Thanks as usual

 

[DownWest]

There might be a problem with the governor. IIRR the throttle counters a spring on the gov. and it is the gov that actually moves the rack that controls the injectors. If it runs without hiccups, then not air.

The injection pumps are fully open at rest. When it fires it runs up to where ever the throttle is set. Do you normally get some black smoke on start up, but not now?
DW

 

[rosewood]

I would have thought that if there was air in the system it wouldn't run at all. If nothing happens when you use the throttle I would check the linkages first

 

[ripvan1]

Thanks, will play about with linkage at engine end later this week, got my allotment orders tomorrow, so will earn some brownie points and get down to boat on Thursday

 

[sailorman]

The last couple of times I've started it has refused to throttle up or down so I thought it may need bleeding. Today I cracked all appropiate nuts in turn and fuel was coming from all.

When started with full throttle it just fires and runs at low revs and no amount of moving throttle lever at both ends (cockpit and at engine) will increase revs - does this sound like air in system or a stuck linkage or other problem.

Thanks as usual

Is it a MiniTwin

 

[DownWest]

Is it a MiniTwin

Must be. Normally called a Lister Petter MiniTwin. Thinking a bit more, if the spring that holds the counter weights back in the governor has failed, then as soon as it fires they will fly out and hold the engine to idle.

 

[sailorman]

Must be. Normally called a Lister Petter MiniTwin. Thinking a bit more, if the spring that holds the counter weights back in the governor has failed, then as soon as it fires they will fly out and hold the engine to idle.

Lister made good engines

 

[ripvan1]

It's an ac2w I believe

 

[ripvan1]

This one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKA583XPbsA

 

[DownWest]

Lister made good engines

I used to fix a few Lister air cooled gensets. Ran into the occasional Petter, usually the single cylinder version. Bearing in mind they were oldish and I usually got called when there was a problem, I found them fragile compared to the Listers. One Lister 5kva set was run for 5 yrs for eight or so hours a day. Could I give it a service and an oil change. I asked when the last service was (recommended 50hrs) It had not had one in the five years,possible longer, just the oil topped up. No Petter would have lasted a fraction of the time. But they were cheaper, much lighter and revved higher.

 

[sailorman]

I used to fix a few Lister air cooled gensets. Ran into the occasional Petter, usually the single cylinder version. Bearing in mind they were oldish and I usually got called when there was a problem, I found them fragile compared to the Listers. One Lister 5kva set was run for 5 yrs for eight or so hours a day. Could I give it a service and an oil change. I asked when the last service was (recommended 50hrs) It had not had one in the five years,possible longer, just the oil topped up. No Petter would have lasted a fraction of the time. But they were cheaper, much lighter and revved higher.

As i stated "Lister made good engines"
No so Petter

 

[rosewood]

I used to fix a few Lister air cooled gensets. Ran into the occasional Petter, usually the single cylinder version. Bearing in mind they were oldish and I usually got called when there was a problem, I found them fragile compared to the Listers. One Lister 5kva set was run for 5 yrs for eight or so hours a day. Could I give it a service and an oil change. I asked when the last service was (recommended 50hrs) It had not had one in the five years,possible longer, just the oil topped up. No Petter would have lasted a fraction of the time. But they were cheaper, much lighter and revved higher.

My petter av2 is 48 years old and has never let me down. Perhaps I just gota good one

 

[DownWest]

From what I gathered, the AC range of Petters were used in refridgerated container units and not really expected to have long lives. Some of their other engines were much better. My comment about 'No Petter...' was aimed at the AC types.

Edit: just looked up the AV2. Completely different kettle of pistons. Looks more like the equivalent Lister.

 

[rosewood]

From what I gathered, the AC range of Petters were used in refridgerated container units and not really expected to have long lives. Some of their other engines were much better. My comment about 'No Petter...' was aimed at the AC types.

Edit: just looked up the AV2. Completely different kettle of pistons. Looks more like the equivalent Lister.

Fair enough. I've become very precious about my engine

 

[hannahman]

Variants of the AV/PH models, and some Listers too are still manufactured in India, by various companies.


Here's the PH2 in my boat (1968 vintage)



(Not sure why only the link appears, as opposed to the picture itself, but it should open if you click the link).

Doug

 

[oldharry]

Going back to the original topic - engine refusing to rev from tick over: have you checked the fuel filter? A partly blocked filter or pipe will pass enough fuel to start and tick over, but not to run at speed. More common than a governor fault.

 

[ripvan1]

Harry, would that be primary filter, secondary, or both

 

[DownWest]

Any of them, I did have that on a 35kva unit. Ran Ok for a short while, then quit. But it ran at regulated speed, not tick over. I agree that governor probs are not common, but this does sound like it. Can't hurt to change filters though.

 

[Redwing228]

When started with full throttle it just fires and runs at low revs and no amount of moving throttle lever at both ends (cockpit and at engine) will increase revs - does this sound like air in system or a stuck linkage or other problem.

We run a AC2 air-cooled Petter in one of our boats (similar base engine to the Mini Twin) and have known this problem - looks like a stuck control fork and/or pivot or, as has been stated in the thread, a broken governor spring. May need to get the front gear casing cover off to check - sorry.

Another thought - have you checked that the exhaust is not restricted and/or that the air filter is not blocked?

 

[oldharry]

Harry, would that be primary filter, secondary, or both

Anything that could restrict the flow of fuel to or from the engine.