Ricardo Diesel Engines

[FMC1959]

Anyone know of or have experience with Ricardo diesels?

In a simple hi-med-lo scenario, would you say they are in the upper/better engines, pretty average or on the cheap/**** side.

If you have anything to add like..."they are very good but have problems starting", or "they are average but impossible to find parts", please add whatever you are aware of.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Looks like typical cheap Chinese of dubious origins and that you will probably be on your own for parts and service...I’m sure with enough digging you can get parts but a few years down the road? No telling. I’ve never even heard of them before your post. Maybe up in Canada you will have a better parts source than we would down here in the US.

Some of these engines and other Chinese equipment works OK, or at least until it doesn’t and then the owners can be in for an unpleasant surprise of trying to fix it.

I’m guessing you need an engine on a budget and I would advise looking for a used engine of known quality vs something like this.

 

[Dave455]

Like a lot of these things, it depends which engines you are referring to.

They’ve been making engines for well over a hundred years, and the stuff that I’ve seen has all been first class. Their HQ is fairly close to me, I know a couple of people that work there, and the quality of the engineering that comes out of there is very high.

Like a lot of companies, they have many different sites in different countries producing different engines. There are certainly plants in Germany and the U.S. A few years ago they started a “joint venture” with a Chinese firm. I wouldn’t have done, but that’s big business for you!

I don’t know where the Chinese built engines go, or even what proportion of their output is Chinese, but based on what a I’ve seen I don’t think it’s high. I haven’t seen one of the Chinese built engines either, but the others that I have encountered have all been decent kit.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Like a lot of these things, it depends which engines you are referring to.

They’ve been making engines for well over a hundred years, and the stuff that I’ve seen has all been first class. Their HQ is fairly close to me, I know a couple of people that work there, and the quality of the engineering that comes out of there is very high.

Like a lot of companies, they have many different sites in different countries producing different engines. There are certainly plants in Germany and the U.S. A few years ago they started a “joint venture” with a Chinese firm. I wouldn’t have done, but that’s big business for you!

I don’t know where the Chinese built engines go, or even what proportion of their output is Chinese, but based on what a I’ve seen I don’t think it’s high. I haven’t seen one of the Chinese built engines either, but the others that I have encountered have all been decent kit.

When I googled “Ricardo Diesel engines” and “Ricardo Diesel Engine Parts” the attached screenshots were my results. Does not bode well for an established, reputable brand/company to be buried under Alibaba and similar Chinese links.

Even one of the non China **** ones I’m not sure parts availability would be good here in the US at least.

 

[seber]

Over the last 20 years there have been a lot of Chinese engines imported for just about every purpose. In 100% of cases, parts have been extremely difficult or impossible to obtain. I would stay far away from something that expensive that cannot be fixed. I recently passed on a storage locker that was 60 x 80. It was packed with non repairable Chinese machinery. From motor scooters to tractors. Every one had been given up on by a dealer. Auctioneer could not get a bid. Not even one dollar to get it cleared out.

 

[Bretny]

If there Chinese there prob just a gas to diesel conversion and also 3k+ rpm.

If your buying a diesel generator get a 1800rpm one. Slower, quieter, burn less fuel and last longer. The Japanese make a good diesel engine.

 

[Dave455]

When I googled “Ricardo Diesel engines” and “Ricardo Diesel Engine Parts” the attached screenshots were my results. Does not bode well for an established, reputable brand/company to be buried under Alibaba and similar Chinese links.

Even one of the non China **** ones I’m not sure parts availability would be good here in the US at least.

I would agree 100% about the advisability of getting involved with the Chinese, however, you need to bear in mind the sort of company that Ricardo’s are.

I would be guessing that probably greater than 50 percent of their work is research / development / design, and less than 50 percent is engine production, certainly historically. Their focus has always been on development, and others have built most of the engines. Many Diesel engines manufactured by Rolls Royce, Davey Paxman etc are Ricardo designs. They’re probably the market leader in this, but anybody can buy their services.

The high quality Ricardo manufactured engines that I’ve encountered are sold into very established markets - military vehicles, industrial, generators etc, and I suspect that the numbers are fairly consistent, year on year. I doubt you will see much reference to this online though, and certainly not for parts as I think these are mostly branded with the name of the vehicle / generator manufacturer.

Parts availability for these engines has always been excellent. I’ve personally been involved with military engines which were approaching 50 years old then, for which parts were easily obtainable. There are also railway locomotives of similar vintage still in service, with Ricardo engines.

Ricardo have also been involved with supplying replacement parts for piston aero engines that the original manufacturers no longer supported. The level of investment in this has been quite considerable, so they are obviously very committed to it.

I can’t speak for the U.S. but considering it’s a big market for them, and considering that a lot of manufacturing is carried out in the U.S. I would be surprised if parts availability, certainly for their domestic manufactured engines, was poor. I suspect however, that parts are supplied through, and branded with the name of, the customer!

As to the long term viability of even getting involved with the Chinese, let alone allowing them to use your name, I can’t see that being a business strategy of the late Harry Ricardo!

 

[B_Bimmer]

The parts issue would keep me from putting one of those in anything important even if the engine was free. It is hard enough to figure out what they threw together on very common gas engines. Something low volume like that would be scrap for the most minor part you couldn't make yourself.

 

[FMC1959]

The parts thing certainly makes me worry a bit, I suppose I would need to look around my area and see who might service them and how good or bad the availability is.

When I originally Googled Ricardo diesel engines, the first link I saw was the Wikipedia entry like on RedneckWelder's page.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Ricardo

A lot of the article jives with what Dave455 says, concerning the man himself, and what his company has done.

History has shown some of the best companies go down the crapper selling their soul in order to maintain or gain market share and eventually become but a shell of the excellent company they were.

Then in other cases, some of these great companies have made the right decisions and maintain the excellence they have always been known for.

I am not looking for a Ricardo engine, rather I came across a decent generator that has a Ricardo diesel engine and wanted to know more about them. I do not want to pay good money on a generator only to have an unreliable engine, or a great engine but if it needs a part it can be weeks or months to get the part.

 

[Dave455]

I am not looking for a Ricardo engine, rather I came across a decent generator that has a Ricardo diesel engine and wanted to know more about them. I do not want to pay good money on a generator only to have an unreliable engine, or a great engine but if it needs a part it can be weeks or months to get the part.

Well, it sounds to me as though you have a Ricardo manufactured engine rather than a Ricardo designed engine. If that’s the case you probably have a very decent bit of kit, probably built in the U.K. U.S. or Germany.

I think that the only generator engines I’ve seen are U.K. built, but then I’m in the U.K! I don’t know if they build specific types of engines in the U.S. (e.g. truck engines) or whether they build for specific markets (e.g. if it’s sold in the U.S. it’s built in the U.S.). Generators are a classic application for Ricardo built engines, but they’re usually quite sizeable industrial things!

I would note the details and e mail Ricardo and simply ask. Start with the U.S. initially! They have a load of ‘technical centres’ in the U.S. which I assume offer parts. Details are a google search away! Failing that mail [email protected]

If it’s a Ricardo designed engine, then it will be as good as the maker, and spares will be whatever that maker wants to offer. If it’s a low cost Chinese thing, then that will probably be obvious.

 

[WittHay]

I have never heard of Ricardo diesel engines. Being part of the commonwealth British diesels were and are common around here. Perkins, Lister-Petter, JCB along with tractor brands from the past such as David-Brown, Leyland, McCormick and Nuffield

Usually I look at Ritchie Bros a locally based company that has auctions all over the world for equipment information.. The only thing I could find were these new gen sets in Mexico , Dubai and Holland. The brand new 2020 45KW were selling for around $4000usd.

Nothing says fine Chinese quality and engineering like spelling silent as salent. Used Chinese gen sets, pumps and motors usually go for scrap metal prices at auctions. If a quality name brand gen goes for around 7 grand used the equivalent Chinese will fetch about $400 to $600. Chinese farm tractors go for above scrap prices like barely used 25 hp sub compacts for $2000

I am sure the Chinese pay very well for Western expertise in certain areas but usually the engineering companys try not to have there names show up in Alibaba searches

 

[FMC1959]

Well, it sounds to me as though you have a Ricardo manufactured engine rather than a Ricardo designed engine. If that’s the case you probably have a very decent bit of kit, probably built in the U.K. U.S. or Germany.

I think that the only generator engines I’ve seen are U.K. built, but then I’m in the U.K! I don’t know if they build specific types of engines in the U.S. (e.g. truck engines) or whether they build for specific markets (e.g. if it’s sold in the U.S. it’s built in the U.S.). Generators are a classic application for Ricardo built engines, but they’re usually quite sizeable industrial things!

I would note the details and e mail Ricardo and simply ask. Start with the U.S. initially! They have a load of ‘technical centres’ in the U.S. which I assume offer parts. Details are a google search away! Failing that mail [email protected]

If it’s a Ricardo designed engine, then it will be as good as the maker, and spares will be whatever that maker wants to offer. If it’s a low cost Chinese thing, then that will probably be obvious.

I have never heard of Ricardo diesel engines. Being part of the commonwealth British diesels were and are common around here. Perkins, Lister-Petter, JCB along with tractor brands from the past such as David-Brown, Leyland, McCormick and Nuffield

Usually I look at Ritchie Bros a locally based company that has auctions all over the world for equipment information.. The only thing I could find were these new gen sets in Mexico , Dubai and Holland. The brand new 2020 45KW were selling for around $4000usd.

Nothing says fine Chinese quality and engineering like spelling silent as salent. Used Chinese gen sets, pumps and motors usually go for scrap metal prices at auctions. If a quality name brand gen goes for around 7 grand used the equivalent Chinese will fetch about $400 to $600. Chinese farm tractors go for above scrap prices like barely used 25 hp sub compacts for $2000

I am sure the Chinese pay very well for Western expertise in certain areas but usually the engineering companys try not to have there names show up in Alibaba searches

I have not contacted the individual selling this because I am not ready to buy just yet, here are some pics of the unit. His add states it is 100 amp unit @240 volt. I am not sure, but I suspect this is an AliExpress generator, but do not know for sure.

 

[Dave455]

I have not contacted the individual selling this because I am not ready to buy just yet, here are some pics of the unit. His add states it is 100 amp unit @240 volt. I am not sure, but I suspect this is an AliExpress generator, but do not know for sure.

O.K. That’s nothing like the generators I’ve seen with Ricardo built engines.

I would need to see the engine to be sure, but that looks like average Chinese toot to me! Best thing to do is ask the seller to supply a picture of the actual engine! If it’s made anywhere acceptable it will say so anyway!

I’ve never seen these in the U.K.

 

[FMC1959]

O.K. That’s nothing like the generators I’ve seen with Ricardo built engines.

I would need to see the engine to be sure, but that looks like average Chinese toot to me! Best thing to do is ask the seller to supply a picture of the actual engine! If it’s made anywhere acceptable it will say so anyway!

I’ve never seen these in the U.K.

On the assumption that it is made in China would you say stay away, or it could still be decent?

 

[Dave455]

On the assumption that it is made in China would you say stay away, or it could still be decent?

Well the short answer is - I don’t know, so I’m reluctant to say.

The only Ricardo engines I’ve actually worked on have been on military vehicles. I’ve seen Ricardo generator engines, but not had much to do with them.

In both cases you could see straight away that they were quality items. They were marked with a makers name plate and clearly stated “Made in England”. We are talking about relatively old equipment here though.

If we’re looking at a Chinese built engine, then I’m wary. If the Chinese have paid Ricardo to design them something, then I suspect the design is half decent, but... the problem with anything Chinese always seems to be quality (both materials and workmanship) and consistency.

Whatever bit of Chinese equipment you look at, there is invariably someone who will say it’s great (for the money) and someone else with a horror story. That’s purely down to the consistency, or lack of it!

 

[WittHay]

The engine model # when entered into Google seems to show up as a Weifang Ricardo 4 cyl. diesel like in the first picture. Probably a okay diesel that should last enough for occasional/temporary generator use

The 2nd picture is a sample of what is found at auctions around here, The one shown is a Shanghai smaller simplified full on Chinese import that sells for well below $1000 used with about 100 hours on it

What concerns me about the one for sale is the computer controls. Does anybody really trust off brand Chinese electronics to stand up sitting outside in Canadian conditions, hot summers and cold winters year after year.

The generators and equipment sold in third world countrys are usually fairly simply, minimum of computers and they dont have to contend with the cold. Who do you call in Canada to replace a computer or electronics on a Chinese generator or attempt to bypass the computer entirely?

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Weifang was Harry's brother in law.

I'm thinking these Ricardos have about as much in common with the real Ricardo as Sunbeam and RCA stuff has in common with those original companies.

 

[FMC1959]

Well the short answer is - I don’t know, so I’m reluctant to say.

The only Ricardo engines I’ve actually worked on have been on military vehicles. I’ve seen Ricardo generator engines, but not had much to do with them.

In both cases you could see straight away that they were quality items. They were marked with a makers name plate and clearly stated “Made in England”. We are talking about relatively old equipment here though.

If we’re looking at a Chinese built engine, then I’m wary. If the Chinese have paid Ricardo to design them something, then I suspect the design is half decent, but... the problem with anything Chinese always seems to be quality (both materials and workmanship) and consistency.

Whatever bit of Chinese equipment you look at, there is invariably someone who will say it’s great (for the money) and someone else with a horror story. That’s purely down to the consistency, or lack of it!

Thanks for the advice

 

[FMC1959]

The engine model # when entered into Google seems to show up as a Weifang Ricardo 4 cyl. diesel like in the first picture. Probably a okay diesel that should last enough for occasional/temporary generator use

The 2nd picture is a sample of what is found at auctions around here, The one shown is a Shanghai smaller simplified full on Chinese import that sells for well below $1000 used with about 100 hours on it

What concerns me about the one for sale is the computer controls. Does anybody really trust off brand Chinese electronics to stand up sitting outside in Canadian conditions, hot summers and cold winters year after year.

The generators and equipment sold in third world countrys are usually fairly simply, minimum of computers and they dont have to contend with the cold. Who do you call in Canada to replace a computer or electronics on a Chinese generator or attempt to bypass the computer entirely?

I know what you are saying, my reflex thought is similar. On the other hand, all of our phones are made in China. I am willing to bet that most of the computer components in cars are made in China or put together with circuitry that comes from China.

I think it comes down to who In China is making it, thus deciding how cheaply or how well it needs to be made.

Do you have a link to that auction you mention?

 

[FMC1959]

Weifang was Harry's brother in law.

I'm thinking these Ricardos have about as much in common with the real Ricardo as Sunbeam and RCA stuff has in common with those original companies.

Well that is good to know, but if so, not good if they are in fact "evolved" from the original like RCA and Sunbeam.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

I should have put a after the brother in law remark..