Lister cs

Hello all and hope your keeping well. Ive always been fascinated bye engines. Moterbikes in particular. But stationery engines always cought my hart and always loved to own one. So i bougt a lister d to do up. But word got around and was offered a 1960 penta md1. Which im working on now. But it how strange how things happen and how you make new friends that share the same interests and are all so helpfull. But i have a question. I bought a 8hp lister startamatic and dont no where to start. The. An i work for landscapeing was goin to look at a s/h trator and i spotted hur. Seized up and cracked block. Wont be starting on hur till winter but put engine oil a d a bit of diesel down the bore. She was all there but the original water barrel was rusted out. And i was goin to bring it for the original tap but the boss said what are you wanting that for and the van was full. I tought shure its only a tap ill get a new one. But now i sent for a manual and it said its a 3 way tap. So now im so mad cause i cant get trough to the man i bought it off and a long journey. It was trough in the scrap skip when i saw it so its shurly gone. Does anyone no how it workes or why its 3way or will an ordinary tap do. Its on the bottom of the water barrel. Sorry for the long message. Had to bring a friend to hospital today and waiting outside. Ill try send a picture of the engine im at now. Got hur goin but think itll have to wait till winter to finish to. Thanks all.

Hello and welcome!

Hi and a warm welcome to the forum.  
Please start a new thread in New Projects/Restorations once you get going. Good luck.

The Lister 3 way tap allows water to flow around the cooling system, but can also be used to drain the water from the system, and I think (but not sure) stop water circulating to allow the cylinder to warm up quicker (function largely only used in paraffin engines).