Lister 187 domestic pump overhaul

bought a Lister domestic pump a couple of weeks ago




posting this for 2 reasons,
1 i might need some helpful advice
2 it may act as a reference for others in the future

i am starting with removing the large top cover which is held in place by a big bolt in the middle at the top

under the cover is a brass plate with the valves in, i marked the orientation of this so it goes back in the same way it came out.


the valves are just a brass bolt with locknut a big washer a spring and a thick piece of rubber


one of the brass bolts was badly worn away by the spring on the shank so all were replaced with stainless bolts that i had in stock in the garage and the brass plate was cleaned up and the valves replaced on it. (2 inlet on one side and 2 outlet on the other side)


its a good idea to remove the drain plug and drain any water out of the water box at the base and clean out any crap that may be in there while you have it open



pipes and fittings look to be standard domestic 22mm as you would expect for a domestic pump so will be available from most DIY shops in brass and copper.

next job will be to make new gaskets from sheet rubber clean out the rust from the top and refit.

to be continued............

neville

Fittings is 3/4 bsp iron Nev, have stuff here if you get stuck, I have one of these and another on it's way for parts, good little pump for there size.

they seem to be a popular pump as of late..i have 4 of them, 3 ready to go and one waiting to be put back together..
like you i like them and there very straight forward to restore..
good luck with it Neville..
regards,mike..

Thanks for posting the pics, it will be very handy for anyone overhauling a pump that's never done one before. Saying that I've one that's very rusty and seized solid so I'll be looking for any tips you might find.

Stu.

Hi Neville,

From memory those springs dont look like the right ones mate, i think they should be small copper ones.

I replaced mine in two of my pumps and they originals are expensive. (about £7 each).

Also there should be a brass backplate that the spring sits on which then sits on the rubber paddle to give support.

cheers

martin.

BRASSO wrote:Hi Neville,

From memory those springs dont look like the right ones mate, i think they should be small copper ones.

I replaced mine in two of my pumps and they originals are expensive. (about £7 each).

Also there should be a brass backplate that the spring sits on which then sits on the rubber paddle to give support.

cheers

martin.

thanks for the info Martin, looking at the parts diagram you are correct the springs are not the right ones the brass plates you mention are there just dirty guess i need to look for some springs..............



Neville

work continues, made some new gaskets out of some sheet rubber i had in the garage



drained the oil/water out of the bearing end and cleaned out the sludge


everything feels good in that end no play in the bearings and only sideways movement on what i would describe as the conrod (i expected that or things would bind up)

polished up the brass filler and drain plugs and cleaned the joint faces and gasket ready to refit


used the same sheet rubber to make seals for the plugs as they were missing


i see the 3 holes on the 2 top fittings go into this compartment which may be how the water got in the oil?? considering making covers to fit over those ??




now comes the problem if i put water in the water box and spin the pulley it only moves very gently and there seems to be little sucking motion and no movement of the valves if i fit the valve block and cover the other holes

looks like surgery is required to change the leather cups ................these i think

http://www.stationaryengineparts.com/Lister-Domestic-Pump-Leather-Cup-Washer.html

my problem is how to get at them?? i am thinking of extracting the big plug on this end



hoping i can get at them from that end ??????????

the things we do to keep us occupied on a wet Sunday afternoon ........ ]

any help would really be appreciated

Neville

hi Nev..
looks like your getting there...good luck
regards,mike...

Great work Neville soon be up and running.

Stu.

hi Neville,

yes you can get the new leather cups. if you struggle let me know, there is a place in cornwall (AMOS PUMPS) that sell them. They also sell those copper springs we was talking about.

If I was you neville I would fit some nice new paddle washers as well, as those look like they have seen better days to be honest. Again they are available.

Yes you are right, undo the large brass plug on the end. In side you will find a castle nut on the end of the shaft. It should have a pin in it. Do not remove pin!! put socket set on and unscrew, this whol assembly will unscrew from the conrod. you should then be able to extract the whole assembly. When you remove it, you can then remove the pin in the castle nut and de-assemble shaft. re-fitting is exact reversal.

Soak the leather cups for a few days in some vegetable oil to soften them up first. This makes it much easier to install them, as they can be difficult.

Once you have done all of this that little pump will go like a goddun!!

Cheers

Martin.

Hi neville, looking more closely at you picture, that end assembly should have a large brass plug, looks like someone has changed yours at some point. I am not sure if that rod assembly is onna come out of their? has this been welded in place?

Cheers

Martin.

hob wrote:work continues, made some new gaskets out of some sheet rubber i had in the garage



drained the oil/water out of the bearing end and cleaned out the sludge


everything feels good in that end no play in the bearings and only sideways movement on what i would describe as the conrod (i expected that or things would bind up)

polished up the brass filler and drain plugs and cleaned the joint faces and gasket ready to refit


used the same sheet rubber to make seals for the plugs as they were missing


i see the 3 holes on the 2 top fittings go into this compartment which may be how the water got in the oil?? considering making covers to fit over those ??




now comes the problem if i put water in the water box and spin the pulley it only moves very gently and there seems to be little sucking motion and no movement of the valves if i fit the valve block and cover the other holes

looks like surgery is required to change the leather cups ................these i think

http://www.stationaryengineparts.com/Lister-Domestic-Pump-Leather-Cup-Washer.html

my problem is how to get at them?? i am thinking of extracting the big plug on this end



hoping i can get at them from that end ??????????

the things we do to keep us occupied on a wet Sunday afternoon ........ ]

any help would really be appreciated

Neville

Dont forget that you will probably need to prime the pump before it will work properly neville, thats what the screw hole on the top of the dome is for.

Normally this is done by filling with water, put it running and fillining a bit more.

regards

martin.

BRASSO wrote:Hi Neville, looking more closely at you picture, that end assembly should have a large brass plug, looks like someone has changed yours at some point. I am not sure if that rod assembly is gonna come out of their? has this been welded in place?

Cheers

Martin.

Martin thanks so much for the replies lots of useful information there, i was already trying to figure a way of getting the pin out inside that hole

the end plug is an iron plug inside another one, someone must have lost the original and made that one up to replace it. the good news is i just screwed it out..........

the bad news is there is no castle nut or pin in there
another problem to solve




once again thanks for all the helpful advice

regards Neville

I have a nut, brass plug and piston cups here if you need any. Have also got all the piston assembly, bearing covers, valves and valve plate.

i must come over and see you some time...........you have lots of bits i need ...........

i must start making a list..........and see the bank manager

hob wrote:i must come over and see you some time...........you have lots of bits i need ...........

i must start making a list..........and see the bank manager

I also have some complete rod assemlies that would be available if you cant find what you need.

Cheers

Mart.

hob wrote:

BRASSO wrote:Hi Neville, looking more closely at you picture, that end assembly should have a large brass plug, looks like someone has changed yours at some point. I am not sure if that rod assembly is gonna come out of their? has this been welded in place?

Cheers

Martin.

Martin thanks so much for the replies lots of useful information there, i was already trying to figure a way of getting the pin out inside that hole

the end plug is an iron plug inside another one, someone must have lost the original and made that one up to replace it. the good news is i just screwed it out..........

the bad news is there is no castle nut or pin in there
another problem to solve




once again thanks for all the helpful advice

regards Neville

Looks like someone has snapped the shaft off neville, Oh well just a pair of stilsons on the main shaft should get it out, if your gonna replace it anyway!!

Cheers

Mart.

removed the shaft with a pair of mole grips in the middle, cleaned off the marks that were made, not sure its been broken or just has the wrong nut on it ..........looks similar to the one behind the cups, not removed it yet as i need to make a tool to fit the slot.............i guess if the pin hole is still in there somewhere its not been broken..........





neville

This is what you should have Nev.



It should all unscrew ok as it is all brass, I have just used a flat screwdriver on mine.

thanks, there is a bit missing off the end on mine then............broke the end off my screwdriver trying to undo mine

guess i need a new shaft.........getting more expensive every time i take a bit off

That one is a spare one, what are your cups like? And I don't mean full of coffee!

very old and need replacing, can we do a deal on a few bits?

Yep shouldn't be a problem. I will pm a phone number to you.

Yea do a deal with villiers Neville, that assembly new and complete would set yu back about £80 + vat.

I know this cause I had to look for one when I did my first domestic pump, and that was the price from Amos Pumps.

Always picking up bits when you see them. They never hurt put away in a box until someone needs them!

It will soon be working mate, keep up the good work!!

Cheers

Mart.

BRASSO wrote:Yea do a deal with villiers Neville, that assembly new and complete would set yu back about £80 + vat.



Mart.

Thanks! I was going to charge a tenner for it!!!!