Lovely in this modern world to see an engine which only needs electricity to start, then you can forget the batteries! No ECUs, warning lights or refusals to run because you didn't press the clutch or brakes, rub your tummy or pat your head. And it runs beautifully. Happy days.
I worked on Gardeners for 8yrs in the 1970s and in all that time we never had to take a engine out and only once was a timing cover removed , my mate worked all afternoon fitting a water pump and I noticed he'd not put the fan on before refitting radiator , why i dont know he was a really good fitter ex REME man , I kicked fan under bench and waited till he'd put last bolt in crash bar - then said "are you not fitting the fan Jim " went down really well , those were the day's when you could have a laugh at work and sadly long gone now .
One if not the best diesel engine ever produced. The LXB series really were the epitome of thermal efficiency, (over 40% ) maximum torque at 1,000rpm and maximum power at 1,850rpm. In addition, legendary reliability, many covering over 1,000,000 miles! Oh, and they look beautiful. It doesn't get much better!
I would love a £ for every 6LX - 6LXB, 150, 180, 240 I’ve overhauled or repaired. ERF, Foden, Scammel, Atkinson, Guy, Seddon Atkinson, happy days. Thanks Joe, another trip down memory lane for me.
Once upon a time had a Gardner 6L in an old sea going yaht .... It was a bit smokey and bit thirsty @ 10-15 litres an hour @ 1500 revs Fitted a 48 volt hydrogen electroliser .... feed the hydrogen gas thru a refrigeration gas 5/8 filter straight into the 6L intake manifold @ 1000-1200 Smoke disappeared Engine oil stayed clean And @ 1200 revs power was as strong as previously found @ around 1500 revs Fuel consumption went down to 7-8 litres an hour 🇬🇧👍 Gardner
Sounds very nice. I worked on a trawler in the 90’s which had a 6LXB it was a lovely engine, nice boat too. I remember the owner saying the engine had been supplied, rebuilt, by Ray Harrison.
Do the Gardner brand have any connection to the Gardner-Denver Co in the USA? They were famous for their air compressors used mining and construction. ChiefD
My local bus company, Eastern National, had most of its Series 3 VRs fitted with Gardner 6LXBs, but they did have a couple with 6LXCs. I think these 2 went over to 6LXB, as did 3 of their VRs with Leyland 501 engines, the S reg ones.
It's a beautiful engine.. just curious. Could one use that as marine engine with the big fly wheel and modified cooling less the compressor of course. And how would it perform as what kind of fuel consumption would you expect from it.
