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Lister Engine's

Ok, there's quite a few to choose from here - SR, HR2 SR2 AVA2 AV2 PH2 TS2 TX2 AA2 AB2, doesn't matter, all mostly the same. The main thing about a lister is it has separate injection pumps for each cylinder, this is useful as its easier to diagnose.

Hard to start, dribble a teaspoon of oil per cylinder into the air intake. This is actually in the lister manual. Improves compression. Alternatively, run a blow lamp in the air intake while cranking. Listers often have injector pumps inside the oil casings. This is not great as if they leak it dilutes the oil and the engine will be ruined. Watch for 'thin' oil or rising oil level. Compression ratios on a lister are fairly low, so if you get black smoke feel free to remove and clean the injectors with a wire brush - they wont be difficult to re seal.

A lot of listers don't have oil filters. Consider taking off a crankcase inspection hatch and mopping out the sludge every few years - when you change the oil obviously!  If you have starting trouble, try 'spill port timing" 

Second, If the oil level rises slowly and / or the oil smells of fuel, this is always a sign of fuel finding its way into the sump. Typically this will be coming from the fuel pumps and is a sign it is time to have them overhauled. Less often, it may be due to a leaking internal pipe or defective lift pump. Whatever the reason, don't ignore it as it will only get worse and oil thinned with fuel just isn't going to do its job properly.
​In extreme cases there is a theoretical possibility of the engine running away on fuel vapour from the sump.


Spill port timing is the art of getting the start of injection at the right point in relationship to the crankshaft.  It involves finding the point at which the spiral groove in the fuel pump element stops letting diesel go back to the Inlet. This is known as the spill point hence the name of the job.  ​
The Lister SR is a simple and very reliable engine but there are two things to keep an eye out for as they get older.
First, ensure there is a good cooling air flow around the cylinders, particularly if the engine either works in a dusty environment and / or leaks any oil. If not, remove the cowling and give the fins a good clean. 
Second. If the oil level rises slowly and / or the oil smells of fuel, this is always a sign of fuel finding its way into the sump. 
Typically this will be coming from the fuel pumps and is a sign it is time to have them overhauled. 
Occasionally it may be due to a leaking internal pipe or defective lift pump. Whatever the reason, don't ignore it as it will only get worse and oil thinned with fuel just isn't going to lubricate  properly and In extreme cases there is a possibility of the engine running away on fuel vapour from the sump.
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