Watch as an early 1940's MARS Diesel engine is fired up after 50 years. Originally acquired from a cane farmer in Nambour, Queensland, Australia in the 1970's, this engine sat in careful custody with another three owners before finally retiring with me. MARS engines were made by the MARS Machine Tool Manufacturing Company in Brisbane, Australia and were preceded by the horizontal and vertical Rapson and Dutton engine, made by the same company under the Rapson and Dutton company name. MARS engines are not Lister clones. Mars engines are bigger, heavier and more robust than Lister engines. When you listen to a Lister and then to a MARS you will agree. This engine has a 3 " diameter crankshaft and not one component is interchangeable with a Lister. MARS engines were commonly used in industrial situations such as factories to power line shafts which powered a number of machines, a task Lister engines had some trouble with apparently with their crankshafts twisting under the load on start up, and why this company made the Mars Diesel. 5 HP MARS engines were painted Maroon colour as standard from the factory although there are variations of colour in existence. 8 HP engines were a different colour. This engine has not run since the original owner sold it in the early 1970's. Apparently it had not run for some years before that. The second owner sadly passed away before restoring it and it sat in a shed untouched with the third owner. Close friend and temporary fourth owner, Simon Devere, assisted actively in the mechanical restoration when I purchased it and assisted in the first start after its mechanical restoration. This man is a genius when it comes to diesel engines and he has the nickname "The Lister Whisperer" for good reason. Thanks "Slippery". This engine appears to have not done much work judging by its internals. Work to the engine includes new rings, liner/cylinder hone (the original factory liner had indiscernible wear in it), new valve guides made to original specs, new valves to original specs (original was bent and caused damage to the guide) , new big end Babbit bearing, new conrod bush, very light head machine to ensure true flatness, new internal oil pipes, new head gasket, new oil gaskets, new high pressure line, new welch plugs in the head and new oil pickup. There are still remnants of the original factory maroon paint on it that have survived the years of weathering out in the cane fields. Cosmetic restoration is planned shortly to bring it back to its original livery. It will be mated with a steel transporter to emphasise its industrial heritage and will be rallied with pride. Video of the finished engine on transporter will be posted when it is done. Enjoy and please share if you like. This is the only video of a Mars engine running to this date anywhere. Hope to see more. Cheers Phil

• published: 20 Oct 2013
• views: 75