Good idea?

I was talking to a fiend about my petter ph2 not having an oil filter and came up with the idea of attaching a strong magnet to the sump away from the strainer, this could be done on the outside and should hold any bits of steel from being pumped around the engine, I could then open the inspection plate and clean it out, any thoughts on this?

Should be fine. Many engines have a magnetic oil sump drain plug. I would probably put it on the inside myself, but it would need to be very well fixed down & would need to be in a place where it doesn't get in the way. But if it's a thin sump, then the outside would be fine.

I don't think you'll get much metal particles from an older engine though, but you never know.

You also have to remember that older stationary engines there's not many with an oil pump it's just splash oiling so you have no worries about particuls getting into oil ways etc.
There's nothing stopping you from trying it on an early engine, if anyone trys it let us know how you get on.

Stu.

It's a petter ph2 fitted in my boat do want maximum reliability it has a pump, trying to source a oil filter assembly as they do sometimes have them

Stationary engine parts do a kit for the Lister CS that you should be able to adapt.

http://www.stationaryengineparts.com/Oil-Filter-Kit.html

Stu.

petter ph2 have a filter gauze behind the big nut on the sump..
the ph1 has one so I assume the ph2 should have one,its really only there to get big bits of sludge or metal bits..fairly sure lister engine filter kits will fit with a bit of adaption