Off out this afternoon to pick up my first Lister in 25 years or so, knowing me it's not the obvious choice of one of their 4 strokes but the unusual 2 stroke. (Yes, it could be a badge-engineered engine) Should have more information once I've got it. Does anyone have any further information on their provenance? I have a copy of the information published in issue 424 of SEM. Thanks in advance. Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3sFRMgks722sLdqR6
Steve, I was going to suggest just the same; mention to P T-E his contribution to Engine Torque on the subject in SEm issue 424. He may well know who now owns Ken Bridges' engine. I will explore another avenue on this one. Interesting! Eric
So it's been apart and put back together again all good inside, no 2 stroke gunk or wear to be seen. Cardboard template for the throttle rod next. Photos here. https://photos.app.goo.gl/1Wq4oU4wd2HSu1x97
What is the part number inside the piston skirt? Looking at it again some names came vaguely to mind for further research; Demon and Ward & Goldstone.
Maybe a standard Wellworthy? catalogue number.... Whoever made the engine, doubtless the piston would have been bought-in and the drawing office used it as the basis of its design. What are the screw threads? Take care not to confuse Whitworth with Unified as below 1/2 inch they are very similar. I still think it was a bought-in experimental engine to "test the market". For your sake I would love TS to be Stuart Turner in reverse.... Eric
Just been through my pre-war Wellworthy catalogue. They do not list pistons for S-T. Their pistons are generally prefix C (including Lister) and none with ST or TS prefix. Given that Lister had their own foundry, pattern shop, and toolroom I still favour it being a Lister product. I'll go through the Hepolite catalogue when I find it.
My thoughts also Roland. S.T cast their own pistons until the P6 and maybe P5A when they went to aluminium IIRC.
Wasn't the D type piston a Wellworthy product? The design certainly appears to have been passed around with Ruston PT and PS (and their siblings WD 1 & 2) using a virtually identical piston. Remember by the 30's the bean counters were beginning to make a presence, so if it was cheaper to buy in, they would have done so. We know brassware was bought in from much earlier. An interesting machine and I would still favour a 'bought in' design. The Autotruck was bought in and the power plant wasn't replaced by a Lister unit until the Diesel era. My two-penneth anyway.
Wellworthy list Lister H up pistons and Petter Atomic but I'm sure I've seen o/s Wellworthy pistons for a D. I have had Hepolite after-market Petter pistons in my hands. I will try again to find my Hepolite cats but having moved my entire library its not easy. Yes the Lister DK (flat top) and wolseley WD /R&H PB and PT are the same 3" bore. Certainly Petters switched to bought in bearings (Glacier) in the late 20s. I would suggest that buying in anything but off the shelf only makes sense for volume production.
Well, it's away! More work needed but it's a start, probably be a lot better if it wasn't my handiwork. I've gone back in to thaw out....
Got it down to a more reasonable speed, it's now between 750-800rpm rather than 1100rpm. Didn't take it outside as -6 with the wind chill was a bit too chilly for me...
