Crossley oil fueled engine

Yesterday we took a look at a very old oil fueled engine. Runs for demo on diesel/oil blend. It gets started weekdays at 12. Only in the tourist season though.

Runs around 260 rpm and develops about 140hp. Was originally used to generate power in Sydney. Then it went to a butter factory. Last it was used on a Narromine property for irrigation.

It is started with air. Originally this hand pump was used to pressurise the tank behind to 120psi. Would have been a fun job. Electric compressor now.

It takes a fair bit to start the six ton flywheel turning. The engineer has to decompress while it is getting up speed.

In cold weather it was preheated and started on kerosine. Once the speed was high enough and the air empty the decompression is closed. Then all going well it fires and start to run up to it operating speed of 260rpm.

When the fuel is shut off it takes over 5 mins to stop spinning when unloaded.

I suspect it was rarely allowed to stop. With no load it burns 1litre of oil per hour.Read more