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2LW/2L2

Cloudinspector

By Cloudinspector
in Gardner

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Athy Veteran II

AthyDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted

In technical terms, the L2 is much slower-revving - I think it peaks at 1,000 rpm whereas the LW goes up to either 1,500 or 1,700 (they vary).

 

That's about as technical as I get.

 

In aesthetic terms, the L2 cylinders are in separate housings whereas the LW's are in the same fairing, which is probably not the right word.

 

In practical terms, you can get new spare parts for the LW but I don't think you can for the L2.


Separate cylinder heads on the L2.

 

The L2 is the predecessor to, and a far older and less sophisticated engine than the LW, I think...

 

Others will be along to correct me no doubt!

Perfectly correct - though, amazing as it may seem nowadays, there was not much of a gap between their dates of introduction: from memory, 1929 for the L2, 1931 for the LW (though the 2LW did not come along until the following year).

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steamraiser2 Proficient

steamraiser2

Posted
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The LWs are a natural development of the L2 . Kromhouts , who built many Gardner engines under licence, developed their LS range using the best bits of both. The LS range are an L2 bottom end with an LW top. The larger Gardner L2 engines have thin block castings and are prone to crack far too easily.

 

Spares are hard to find for L2s these days but if you have one that isn't rotten and needs a block you will be able to keep it going for years yet.

 

We restore a lot of Kromhout variants both LW and LS types and have even had LWs built by the Nazis after they had overrun Holland in 1940.

 

Bet you never knew that there are Nazi LWs chugging up the Grand Union did you!

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Athy Veteran II

AthyDonate to Canal World

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Bet you never knew that there are Nazi LWs chugging up the Grand Union did you!

No, certainly didn't, but on reflection, are those the boats which always seem to be pointing towards Poland?

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by'eck Veteran

by'eck

Posted
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Just to add the LW for light weight range as well as being a natural development of the L2 series, was added to satisfy increasing demand for use in automotive vehicles when higher, variable engine speeds were required.

 

Note that 1L2 engine development continued alongside the LW range with improvements allowing speeds up to 1600 rpm.

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  • 3 weeks later...
Markinaboat Rising Star

MarkinaboatDonate to Canal World

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When we bought Nellie in November, I was told that her 3L2 didn't have an alloy head/s as well as some other parts. We've got quite a few spares (NOT for sale;-) including a cylinder head, several valves (still in their wax? coating), springs, rockers etc and loads of bits n bobs. I was also told that some LW parts are shared or at least can be with the L2.

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steamraiser2 Proficient

steamraiser2

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Yes, quite a few of the bits are interchangeable with the LW; the liners and pistons for example. Block failure is their Achillies heel usually due to frosting blowing the water jacket off. If your boat is keel cooled you should be fine provided that you have suitable and sufficient antifreeze in it at all times. Take a look under "past engines" on our website www.marinepowerservices.co.uk where there are pictures of a 3L2 with a burst block caused by frost. Ouch!fatigue.giffatigue.gif

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Markinaboat Rising Star

MarkinaboatDonate to Canal World

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Yes, quite a few of the bits are interchangeable with the LW; the liners and pistons for example. Block failure is their Achillies heel usually due to frosting blowing the water jacket off. If your boat is keel cooled you should be fine provided that you have suitable and sufficient antifreeze in it at all times. Take a look under "past engines" on our website www.marinepowerservices.co.uk where there are pictures of a 3L2 with a burst block caused by frost. Ouch!fatigue.giffatigue.gif

Yes, keel cooled and antifeeze. Was a Danny Williams engine, onl has 1250 hrs on the clock and surveyed and given a clean bill of health by Charles Mills. :-)

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steamraiser2 Proficient

steamraiser2

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Yes, keel cooled and antifeeze. Was a Danny Williams engine, onl has 1250 hrs on the clock and surveyed and given a clean bill of health by Charles Mills. :-)

 

Yes, keel cooled and antifeeze. Was a Danny Williams engine, onl has 1250 hrs on the clock and surveyed and given a clean bill of health by Charles Mills. :-)

 

One for your grandkids to worry about then. Not even run in yet clapping.gif

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