Gardner Diesels (UK built)

[ListerDiesel]

I know that a few guys here like the larger engines, so this is to let you know that I have updated the Gardner Engine pictures section on our website, there are now 57 factory pictures of the multi-cylinder engines.

The nicest for me is the 8L3B in-line eight cylinder diesel, 1470cu ins or 24138cc, and the marine version came with a hand start!

Gardner section is at:

http://www.oldengine.org/members/die...er/Gardmen.htm

or through the Gardner icon on the main menu page. The menu page icons lead to a larger image if you click on them.

The 6L3B and 8L3B engines are at the bottom of that rather long page, which we will be splitting up soon into a multi-page menu to save time waiting for the lots of images to load.

Hope you enjoy them!

Peter

[Phillip Hutchinson]

G'DAY PETER
I am in the process of helping setting up a 6LX in a 65 foot paddle boat at the moment when i get sum pics i'll send them to you.
Regards Phillip

[ListerDiesel]

Originally Posted by Phillip Hutchinson

G'DAY PETER
I am in the process of helping setting up a 6LX in a 65 foot paddle boat at the moment when i get sum pics i'll send them to you.
Regards Phillip

Thanks, Philip. We have manuals for most of the engines if you need any info.

Peter

[ronm]

Peter, thanks much for the Gardner pictures. They are quite different from most US designs, very interesting! I am a sucker for big/old Diesels... I wonder if any of these found their way to this side of the pond...probably not all the way to the Rocky Mts...
Ron in CO...

[magicmikey]

Ron
If you cross the Rocky Mtns and get to the coast you can find some. There are a half dozen between Vancouver B.C. and the island.
mike

[ronm]

Ha, hadn't thought of the other ocean...

[Marcel Peumans]

Hi Peter

Very good site with good pictures!

Are this the engines that have been built under license in Holland by Kromhout? Attached a picture of my 8LS Kromhout, it looks very similar.

Best regards

Marcel

[Robt.]

Gardners are the Rolls Royce of marine engines on the West Coast, or they used to be. Still quite a few around. I just missed a 2LW that was scrapped a few months ago.

Still fully supported by the factory in the UK.

Well appreciated in other parts of the world too, as I've seen ads for people in the mid-east trying to buy used ones!

[ListerDiesel]

Originally Posted by Marcel Peumans

Hi Peter

Very good site with good pictures!

Are this the engines that have been built under license in Holland by Kromhout? Attached a picture of my 8LS Kromhout, it looks very similar.

Best regards

Marcel

Hi Marcel:

It does look like a Gardner doesn't it? Kromhout also built their own engines, I have a manual/parts list somewhere for a similar engine.

Peter

[ListerDiesel]

Originally Posted by Robt.

Gardners are the Rolls Royce of marine engines on the West Coast, or they used to be. Still quite a few around. I just missed a 2LW that was scrapped a few months ago.

Still fully supported by the factory in the UK.

Well appreciated in other parts of the world too, as I've seen ads for people in the mid-east trying to buy used ones!

I think the main factory has gone now, there is a parts operation in Leyland, Lancs but no main production facility remains.

The other place closed last year and their stock sold at auction.

Peter

[Robt.]

Sorry to hear that about Gardners, Peter.

What is "the other place" you mention that sold their stock at auction?

What became of Gardners that they closed down?

[ListerDiesel]

Originally Posted by Robt.

Sorry to hear that about Gardners, Peter.

What is "the other place" you mention that sold their stock at auction?

What became of Gardners that they closed down?

It was Paul Gardner Engineering, the bit thar refurbished and remanufactured Gardner Engines.

The main company lost its markets for small-volume high-spec engines, mainly bus and truck makers. Gardner couldn't compete with the volume makers like Cummins, and they didn't have the resources to get back up into the big markets.

Bus and Rail was a major market for them, the last UK truck maker stopped buying their engines years ago.

There are two books on Gardner, one covers up to the 1960's, the other up to almost the end of the company

"Gardners of Patricroft - 1868-1968"

"Gardner - L Gardner and Sons Ltd - Legendary Engineering Excellence"

Peter

[Robt.]

Thanks, do you know where Paul Gardner's stock of parts ended up?

[ListerDiesel]

Originally Posted by Robt.

Thanks, do you know where Paul Gardner's stock of parts ended up?

All went at auction last year, including some spares for the single-cylinder diesels etc.

Peter

[ListerDiesel]

The book "L Gardner & Sons Legendary Engineering Excellence" is published by Gingerfold Publications, Author is Graham edge and the ISBN is 1-902356-10-1.

The other book was published by Newman Neame Ltd., on behalf of the L Gardner & Sons company in 1968.

Peter

[Robt.]

Saw a sight to weep over today: a four cylinder Gardner, fully polished alloy everything, (I mean crank case, cylinder block, heads etc. etc.) rebuilt by the Gardner agents with about 10 hours on it. Buyer didn't run it in properly and one piston seized its liner and pulled it down onto the crank. The engine was being smashed for the aluminum after having sat out for 10 years. All it needed was to have the liner replaced! They must be the most beautifully made and finished diesel and only Bugatti could beat them overall for form and finish I'd say.

[mswatergeus]

The Belgian Navy used to have Garder Diesels as auxiliary engines in their inland minesweepers. The only picture I could find was of one being dismantled for spare parts...

It were 6 cyl. engines. Since I didn't have any knowledge of engines at that time, I don't have any further information on these engines.

Kind regards,
Frederic