Southern Cross BFC stationar Engine

RESTORATIONS

1950 Generator set

1950 Southern Cross BFC

If you have a Southern cross engine you would like to

display on this section of the Southern cross register. Simply contact Ian, and we will make it as simple for you to do this as we possibly can.

We have a growing number of southern Cross enthusiast from around the world Seeking information about these

Queensland made Engines.

Southern Cross BFC 3555

This website received the following details from Peter Hayes, President, and Mechanic of the Sale Pistol Club, located in South Eastern Victoria.

This club owns and operates a Southern Cross BFC direct coupled to a 30 kva 3 phase Heemaf Hengelo (Dutch?) alternator.

The engine is at the clubs Longford range, approx. 13kms South of Sale.

Peter has removed the exciter generator, made and fitted a thrust bearing in it's place, also added full electronic control.

The club has owned and operated the unit since 1988, with no major problems. Peter added an electric start as he was the only one who could reliably crank start it. The black tank you see in the pics is part of an oil prime system Peter fitted to obviate the need for manual oil pump priming. As it is only usually operated one day per week the pump would drain & not usually pick up oil pressure at start up the following week.

She is a great old girl and plonks away reliably (thus far) and uses approx 2 - 2.5 litres of fuel per hour. Up until last year it was our sole source of power and usually notched up over 400 hours per year.

As the club only has 3 people competent to exercise the level of care and attention required to start and operate the old girl, last year the club purchased a Gardner 4LW powered 26kva Gen set and added to the

set up. This is a bit easier for the 'mugs' to operate when the 3 Southern Cross operators aren't around. There was an incident where one bloke poured oil into the starting oil cap hole from a 5l container, not using the brass measuring cup, this resulted in one of the solid brass "head gaskets" being blown out (he did not get a Crissy present from Peter that year!!).

The engine number is 35555. Peter would be happy four us to include us on our register, and will be happy to provide any pics or details you would like. The attached pics were taken with phone, I'll get some better ones with my camera in the future if you would like.

Peter does have a number of spare parts that a club member bought at an auction. These include a couple of pistons, a few con-rods, heaps of push rods, a few valves, some bearings, 1 injector, 1 marine cylinder head and a few gaskets and cylinder head rubber water passage seals. The auction was for the Port of Melbourne Authority, who operated a Southern Cross powered dredge in the Gippsland Lakes.

At the time of writing , Peter hase the injectors out for a spruce up and would be grateful for information as to their Break Off Pressure settings.

The nozzle holders are BKB50S19b and the nozzles are BDN40S2. The engine is fitted with 1 CAV & 2 Pyrox pumps.

Contact address

to email Peter Hayes Place the words POD 4 In the SUBJECT LINE

And email it to Webmaster (Tubby)

it will be forwarded

Email here