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Convert Lister CE to Electric start


Canfota

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Has anyone any advice about -- or experience of -- converting a hand-start Lister CE engine to electric start? I'm new to narrow boating and seem to lack the knack or the strength to start the engine on the boat I want to buy. The boat is in the Leighton Buzzard area but I'm hoping to bring it north to the Lancaster Canal...if I can get it started! I should say that it starts well for the current owner. Would a Dynastart be a good option? Or should I go to hand crank evening classes? Thanks for any suggestions.

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Practice. Once you have the knack, like the current owner has, it is easy enough, easiest  when everything is warm.

 

Converting a CE to electric start is easy enough too, if you could get the parts.  The CE is a fairly uncommon engine in any event, and electric start items are much rarer than rocking horse poo. Accordingly they fetch very high prices.  As a guide a lister  JP electric start conversion would be at least £4k, and JP parts are much more  common.

Machining the flywheel is not impossible, though ring gears are hard to come by these days,  but it is a specialist job and there are not many jobbing machine  shops these days, let alone one that can tackle a CE flywheel.  After that you only have to find the right starter motor and bracket , or fabricate one.

Try talking to Marine Engine Services  or Marine Power Services. Both outfits post on here.

N

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The current cost of carrying out the conversion of a JP to electric start is around £1300 for the flywheel machining , ring gear and starter motor and mounting bracket.  Pallet freight and boatyard costs are extra of course. We have done quite a lot of these both 23" and 26" types.  The CE will be much the same depending on the size and availability of the correct ring gear. If you are able to remove the flywheel and get it on a pallet yourself its not that an expensive a job overall. If you are dependant on a boatyard it could add a significant extra cost.  The £1300 is for new parts not second hand items.

Edited by steamraiser2
typo
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Thank you everybody for the very helpful suggestions. I'll have another opportunity tomorrow (Sat) to perfect my cranking. If I make no progress I'll have to bite the bullet and go for the full conversion outlined by steamraiser2.

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On 05/07/2019 at 07:17, Canfota said:

Thank you everybody for the very helpful suggestions. I'll have another opportunity tomorrow (Sat) to perfect my cranking. If I make no progress I'll have to bite the bullet and go for the full conversion outlined by steamraiser2.

Redshaw's converted my JP to electric start. Might be worth contacting them. I can also highly recommend Johnno at Union Canal Carriers. You'll pass both companies on your trip north.

Edited by monkeyhanger
Addition of info.
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