1923 Ruston Hornsby 7H Start and Run

The Ruston Hornsby 7H diesel engine at the Ballan District Vintage Machinery and Truck Show starting and running (first visit since 2018, plus a failed starting attempt!).
This engine was built in 1923 (serial number 121951) and is rated 37 horsepower at 180 rpm.
THE RUSTON STORY:
Located on the Norther side of the Murray River, midway between Swan Hill and Barham is a property called "Menera" at Mellool. It is irrigated land, used for both cropping and livestock.
At one time, the property was part of the extensive Murray Downs Estate, which stretched far and wide and as far as Swan Hill, 32 km. away to the west. This extremely large area of land was split up into smaller farms around the turn of the century. The farm at Mellool is currently about 3500 acres, prime quality land fronting onto the Mighty Murray.
In order to irrigate a good portion of the property, the owner (Grandfather Manuel) made a decision to purchase a large pump of 12-inch diameter, and an engine to drive it. Following contact with the Ruston Hornsby agents in Melbourne, it was agreed to buy a pump, a Robinson Bros. of Melbourne, and a Ruston crude oil engine of 37 horsepower, model 7H, made in Lincoln, England.
A special base of crushed bluestone from Pyramid Hill and cement from Melbourne was shipped to the site. The base was constructed to plans, and arrangements completed to freight the machinery to Mellool in 1923.
The engine and pump was railed by steam train to Echuca (the engine was completely assembled at the factory in England and shipped as a complete unit).
From Echuca it was loaded aboard a paddle steamer and taken downstream to Mellool. On arrival, the paddle steamer's crane was used to directly place the engine on the base that had been prepared, then a new shed was erected over the engine, about 12 × 20, and there it had remained for over 70 years. The property had since passed down to two brothers who have now sold the property, one Geoff Manual relayed this story to Martin Ball.
Geoff told Martin that he can remember that every year, his grandfather and father stripped the engine down and checked it thoroughly to ensure that it was in first class running order for the busy season ahead. It was then started and ran non-stop for three months over the summer season.
The irrigation water was vital for the survival of the farm and family, so that any disruption was of serious concern. At night, when everyone was asleep, their minds were so tuned into the steady beat of the engine that any change to the rhythm would cause them to spring out of bed and race down to the river to investigate the cause. At the end of the season, conversely, the whole family had difficulty getting to sleep in the deadly silence.
Since mains power came into the area in the 1960s, an electric motor was installed and the Ruston engine was put into retirement.
The Ballan Club purchased the engine in September, 1995 and found it to be in excellent order along with instruction sheets, handbooks, original tools, and numerous spare parts.
After a lot of hard work by many club members, the engine was finally installed and first run at its current site in September, 1997 for the club's 10th birthday. The engine is now on display for today's and future generations to see this wonderful piece of machinery operating.
Credit to Ballan District Vintage Machinery and Truck Show, Inc.
Date recorded: 18 February 2024
Recording equipment:
- iPhone XR
- Kaiser Baas S1 Gimbal
Editing software:
- MacBook Air M1
- iMovie
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[@davidstephens1092]

Nothing quite like a few well timed manual pumps. Thanks for sharing.

[@Wh4tTh3H3y]

No worries.

[@sweetpeaz61]

I have just made a new helical cam gear for this model engine in the UK!! Lovely to see this video and looking forward to seeing my customer get his running

[@Wh4tTh3H3y]

Good luck!

[@warrenfowler5046]

I sold one a couple of years ago, did you buy it from a chap in Taunton.

[@sweetpeaz61]

@@warrenfowler5046 No I didnt buy it . I run an engineering biz in Cornwall, my customer ended up on my doorstep as he couldnt find anyone else to make it. The engine came from a farm down west cornwall and had been there for decades. It had been removed and he gears got broken before my customer bought it.

[@user-gg2sy8mr8g]

يوجد لدينا نفس الطراز في مصر ولايزال يعمل بكفاءة القوة ٤٥ حصان يعمل علي مضخة مياه ١٠/٨ و٣ مواسير ارتوازي يتراوح عمقهم تحت الارض حوالي ٤٠ متر تقريبا ومتصلين بمشترك ثلاثي متصل بمضخة المياه و٢ مداد متصلين بكل ماسورة يستهلك وابور روستن حوالي ٣٦ لتر سولار او نفط إسود علي مدار ١٢ .١٥ ساعه تقريبا ويستهلك حوالي ٣ كيلو زيت او ٣،٥ تقريبآ ....ومتوفر لدينا ماكينة ألن روستن مضلع انجلاند ٢٤ حصان تعمل صاحونة الغلال وايضا تعمل علي دراسة القمح وتقوم ايضا بتشغيل مكنة العلاف

[@Wh4tTh3H3y]

ومن الجميل أن نعرف أن العديد من هذه المحركات القديمة لا تزال قيد الاستخدام اليوم.

[@user-gg2sy8mr8g]

@@Wh4tTh3H3y بالطبع