gardner 4lw

[kris88]

hello there im thinking of buying a 4lw unfortunately it doesnt have any manifolds inlet or exhuast would anybody know where to get hold of them?

 

regards kris

[Speedwheel]

This one maybe?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GARDNER-4LW-ENGINE-WITH-2UC-DD-MARINE-GEARBOX-/170980682090?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27cf3e296a&_uhb=1

[RLWP]

Hmmm, £1400 in unknown condition with parts missing

 

Now you know why a fully restored 2LW is over £10,000

 

Richard

[Timleech]

Hmmm, £1400 in unknown condition with parts missing

 

Now you know why a fully restored 2LW is over £10,000

 

Richard

 

I'd have thought that £1400 was wildly optimistic, but I no nerthink.

 

 

There's much more demand for 2- and 3- LW engines than anything bigger.

 

Tim

[kris88]

exactly that one i was wondering on the prices availability of manifolds

 

regards kris

 

Ps Tim if you know of something similar cheaper I'd be interested

Edited February 24, 2013 by kris88

[martyn 1]

exactly that one i was wondering on the prices availability of manifolds

 

regards kris

 

Ps Tim if you know of something similar cheaper I'd be interested

 

As TIm has already touched on £1400 is a BIT on the optimistic side, although being a marine one the 2UC gearbox will push the price up a little over an industrial one. I normally pay around half that price for 4LW's

 

manifolds for the 2 and 3's no problem, I cast them but for 4lw they are hard to find, they were never perticulary common in the first place, you will probably find them but time scales could be open ended and as for price, "how long is a piece of string" but I would sit down first.

 

Also a piece of advice, the engine is listed as "runs but smokes and may need rebuilding", assume it does and factor in the about £5k to rebuild the engine properly. only about 1 in 10 that we have through our workshop that "run" are not completely shot when stripped and inspected.

 

But if the figures all add up for you then they are a good engine. What are you thinking of doing with it?

Edited February 24, 2013 by martyn 1

[kris88]

thanks for the reply that kind of puts it in perspective for me, i was hoping of putting it in my short boat as i have ph2w at the moment which is a little bit underpowered for rivers. i suppose ill just keep looking.

 

regards kris

[Timleech]

thanks for the reply that kind of puts it in perspective for me, i was hoping of putting it in my short boat as i have ph2w at the moment which is a little bit underpowered for rivers. i suppose ill just keep looking.

 

regards kris

 

When you say short boat, do you mean Short Boat, as in Leeds & Liverpool? If so then yes a PH2W would be a little on the small side.

 

How about a (Lincoln) Ruston 3YD?

 

Tim

Edited February 25, 2013 by Timleech

[kris88]

yes tim a leeds and liverpool short boat i dont know the engine who mention ill go and do some research, are you saying you have one for sale

 

 

regards kris

[adrift]

Hi, This is my first post and I am asking what I believe to be a naive question. I am thinking of buying a 58 foot narrow boat with a Gardner 4L2 engine restore by terry Pooley in 2005. I am a fairly competent competent DIYer and have own old cars which I have repaired. The questions are :

I) Is this taken on too much. Ie I like the boat and engine but is this taking on too much as my first dip into narrow boating. I do not want to be saddled with too many expensive repairs.

ii) Would I be better off with a modern engine.

II) Can You get someone too inspect the engine a give a good appraisal. I will get the boat surveyed but I assume I need to a beter idea of this engine. Also - Aare these difficult to find spares for?

Any advice would be useful

Mark

[Athy]

Welcome!

Gardners are lovely. Gardners hardly ever go wrong.

HOWEVER,

the L2 models' spare parts are no longer carried by what remains of the Gardner company, whereas for example parts for the LWs (a popular canal boat engine) are. I would be wary of buying a boat with an L2.

HOWEVER AGAIN,

I speak as a 2LW owner. I am not a mechanic at all. perhaps our more mechanically-minded members can offer better advice.

[MtB]

Yes Welcome!

 

"ECHO" presumably...

 

 

Ridiculously large engine for a narrowboat but a brilliant toy. Many people will tell you this is a Bad Thing as an oversized engine never gets to stretch it's legs properly, and bore-glazing hence smoking results. I don't know if this is just barrack-room twaddle or a real risk.

 

MtB

[martyn 1]

An L2 will not pose any more problems than owning and running a LW as long as the castings are good. Many wearing items likes pistons, liners are interchangable with the later LW's but things like manifolds may be hard to find as these were specific to the L2's. Also complete cylinder heads and gaskets are not an issue.

 

The one thing I would say with owning an L2 is that if its in good order then you will be fine but if it does break dont expect it to a quick phonecall to get the parts and depending on how hard they are to find they wont be cheap. For example I needed a 3 cylinder exhaust manifold for one we were restoring that took nearly 18 months to source.

[steamraiser2]

We restore L2s on a regular basis, two in the last twelve months. Castings are pretty much non existent but most other parts are available/ repairable/ available bespoke. If Terry Pooley restored it as recently as 2005 I can't imagine that it has had the chance to run in let alone wear out. Keep changing the oil, using the right stuff of course, and make it work as opposed to waffling along and your grandchildren may need to worry about the next overhaul in about 2050. Don't worry about the engine being way too big for a narrowboat there are plenty around with 4LWs and bigger. Go enjoy!

[Timleech]

Welcome!

Gardners are lovely. Gardners hardly ever go wrong.

HOWEVER,

the L2 models' spare parts are no longer carried by what remains of the Gardner company, whereas for example parts for the LWs (a popular canal boat engine) are. I would be wary of buying a boat with an L2.

HOWEVER AGAIN,

I speak as a 2LW owner. I am not a mechanic at all. perhaps our more mechanically-minded members can offer better advice.

 

L2s stopped being supported generally by Gardners in the 1970s, though some LW parts can be used and they can generally be kept going unless there's a major casting failure.

A bigger worry for me would be the size of the engine, a 2L2 would be much more appropriate.

 

Tim

[Athy]

Yes Welcome!

 

"ECHO" presumably...

 

 

Ridiculously large engine for a narrowboat but a brilliant toy. Many people will tell you this is a Bad Thing as an oversized engine never gets to stretch it's legs properly, and bore-glazing hence smoking results. I don't know if this is just barrack-room twaddle or a real risk.

 

MtB

It does not so much have a "Wow" factor, more a "Bloody hell!" factor.

Which "MG" fitted her out? Mark Gravil, who fitted ours out (if so the interior will be excellent, if he ever finished it) or the other one who is still operational today?

[Timleech]

Yes Welcome!

 

"ECHO" presumably...

 

 

Ridiculously large engine for a narrowboat but a brilliant toy. Many people will tell you this is a Bad Thing as an oversized engine never gets to stretch it's legs properly, and bore-glazing hence smoking results. I don't know if this is just barrack-room twaddle or a real risk.

 

MtB

 

 

I sold a rebuilt 3L2 about 30 years ago which was fitted into a 60' ex-working Narrow Boat. It was brought back to me for servicing maybe 15 years later, smoking badly and with badly glazed bores.

 

Not a myth, though what I saw of the owner's boating was very, very gentle.

 

Tim

[adrift]

Hi Guys thanks for the knowledgeable replies. I see that's its a small world and some of spotted the boat ie am interested in, Echo. The boat was fitted out by Mark Garlick. I have read lots on bore glazing.- thanks for advice. Maybe if I eat more mince pies than run it is will be OK ?

Happy new year.

Mark

Would it be best to get a specialised to give the engine the once over?

Edited January 1, 2015 by adrift

[MtB]

Hi Guys thanks for the knowledgeable replies. I see that's its a small world and some of spotted the boat ie am interested in, Echo. The boat was fitted out by Mark Garlick. I have read lots on bore glazing.- thanks for advice. Maybe if I eat more mince pies than run it is will be OK ?

Happy new year.

Mark

Would it be best to get a specialised to give the engine the once over?

 

No. They will feel the need to find anything/everything to warn you off.

 

If you iike it, buy it! The payoff is having an engine that makes your heart sing every time you start it. The downside is beardy blokes wanting to chat endlessly at locks about your engine. You'll tire of it pretty quickly and keep the side doors SHUT, and just say 'it's a Gardner' to which they'll nod sagely...

 

Gorgous wine, this...

 

 

MtB

[by'eck]

 

No. They will feel the need to find anything/everything to warn you off.

 

If you iike it, buy it! The payoff is having an engine that makes your heart sing every time you start it. The downside is beardy blokes wanting to chat endlessly at locks about your engine. You'll tire of it pretty quickly and keep the side doors SHUT, and just say 'it's a Gardner' to which they'll nod sagely...

 

Gorgous wine, this...

 

 

MtB

 

I think there should be a law against it - leaving engine 'ole doors closed that is - unless of course the owner couldn't quite bring him/herself to fit a proper engine., in which case its to be encouraged

[mark99]

Anyone who has seen our engine room cannot fail to see the copious "Gardner" engine badges plastered all over..... but I still get asked by beardy types who look inside "is it a Lister?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bless 'em.

 

IIRC there are 9 (maybe 10) Gardner ID's in the engine room. Here is one side

 

 

And this, amongst others is on the other side.

 

Edited January 1, 2015 by mark99

[adrift]

Thanks for update- Ill let you know if I get it

[MtB]

Anyone who has seen our engine room cannot fail to see the copious "Gardner" engine badges plastered all over..... but I still get asked by beardy types who look inside "is it a Lister?"

 

Yes I get this too!

 

I tend to just answer 'yes!', as them as ask clearly don't know their Gleniffers from thems Kelvins.

 

 

MtB

[mark99]

 

Yes I get this too!

 

I tend to just answer 'yes!', as them as ask clearly don't know their Gleniffers from thems Kelvins.

 

 

MtB

 

Your Gleniffer was used to settle a senior moment the other day.

 

A small discussion was being held re a vintage engine type who the orator was describing but had forgotten the make - we went through what we thought was every vintage engine maker until the orator ran over to his boat in exasperation at having forgotton the name, ripping through records of a recent vintage rally and picked out your boat cos he had a crib note of what the engine was called........ a loud shout of GLENIFFER emerged from the bowels of his boat.

 

It's funny how people remember boat names and work it out from there.

[DHutch]

There are many a time when I wish EmilyAnne had a Gardner is her, never owned one, but very nice bits of engineering.

 

 

Daniel