Jump to content

Dorman

Member
  • Posts

    161
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Dorman

  1. On the Wyrley & Essington in Early November and a lady photographed us passing saying she had lived near the canal for a few years and NEVER seen a boat moving on it???? and yes we where on the canal not the road!
  2. Nice job Richard Worth considering for my small bell-housing hole do you think? Simon
  3. Hi All After many happy and peaceful years on the river Avon we are thinking of moving our 57 ft narrowboat to Droitwich Spa Marina next year to be nearer home and give us more access to the network. We wondered what peoples experiences have been on this canal. Is it very busy? Are there disadvantages or big drawbacks? The Marina seems very friendly as we have seen a lot of boats there off the Avon and other areas we visit. It seems to have good facilities as far as we could see in the way of fuel and diy area. Any comments welcome. Thanks
  4. Hi Homer We have been through the "smokey" exhaust experience and have had some great help resolving the problem, albeit it has turned into a major rebuild. I don't know if i can name the engineer under the forum rules but PM me and l can give you contact details--suffice to say he is very well known on the forum and was involved right from the beginning coming down to see it running first and then every step of the way while we fix it. Also the parts we need are being made by another forum member. Vote for the forum By the way your particular engine may not be nearly as bad as ours turned out to be so this is probably a bit scary but shows how things can be resolved. Some history on our engine which is a oldish 1960s circ but similar to yours It has been quite smokey for some time but worse on starting and ticking over. As we moor on the Avon it gets a lot of work and the smoke problem does improve with some use. Initially changing the oil to the same brand as you are using has helped and l fitted a thermostat which actually worked and that improved general smokiness, definitely try that first. However the problem actually in our case didn't really improve and not what you would call blue but black with slight blue but it didn't really seem to use oil and wasn't hard to start unless very cold. Mind you the sump contains over 10 litres so difficult to gauge consumption between oil changes. The rest is the scary bit and l would say may not apply to your engine but we did decided at that stage to take the head off. I suppose we could have lived with the smoke but it wasn't typical of that type of engine. We thought a de-coke may be an answer as the engine has never had the head off in living memory (came from a crane and the original owner has known it for years) The engine was pretty clean so we needed to go deeper. On further investigation we found very worn cylinder liners and some piston rings. Also the exhaust valves where pitted and worn to a point where one was so badly dished it had grown in length! We are now in the process of having new liners and piston rings made and the cylinder head overhauled. I acquired a top end cylinder over haul kit with new piston guides and we sourced some new exhaust valves all at reasonable price but took some searching for by our forum helper. The final cost is not huge and cheaper than a modern replacement engine and way below a rebuilt replacement vintage one and we will have a great engine when it is finished with many more years use. Also no need to change all the ancillaries and prop etc. I would definitely go down the investigation route. With the right advice and help l can say it is will be definitely worth it in the end. It is amazing how an old engine can run so worn and not really show outward signs apart from some smoke. As I said originally PM me or if l can name names l happy to. Good Luck Simon
  5. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  6. Posted Today, 04:13 PM On Friday night we moored almost opposite Oxley Marine close to Autherley Junction. We have stopped there before. We were waiting for work to be done by Oxley (good chaps btw) and also to take a bus/train trip to return said girls to parents on the Saturday. In the morning we discovered that my mobile phone was missing and realised that so was the laptop. On trying to look outside the boat I discovered that a spare padlock that was in the back semi-trad area had been hooked over the back doors such that I could not get out and had to use the doors at the other end. That was the point when it dawned that we had been burgled as we were asleep along with two small grandchildren who were staying with us for a few days. The rear doors were bolted on the inside before we went to bed. If anyone is offered a dodgy SONY or a White Laptop, do let me know - and secure the miscreant to your mooring whilst doing so! Even better, hand them over to the chaps in blue (who, whilst they will probably have no resources to do much about it, responded very quickly to my emergency call) The real annoyance is that all of the photos from the past three weeks were on the laptop and we had especially cruised along certain lengths because I do not have pictures of those in my library. Furthermore, it was a bright sunny day for those sections! That's why I would really want the laptop back. Sad to say, it has signs that it was someone with boating experience wot dun it (unusual I suspect) For the greater part I find that boaters respect boaters whatever they might think of the rest of the world. So doubly sad. :Laptop was password protected and phone was quickly disabled so only of use to someone with illegal techniques to access.
  7. Had attempted theft of two locked bikes on the back of our cruiser back in 1990s at Autherley Junction. We where moored at Norbury. In the past some boats have been damaged there and a hire boat was pulled a mile and stripped by locals--it was in the Express and Star. That was a few years ago so maybe the police have improved the situation.
  8. Thanks for those Wifey real treat, must visit the museum soon. Simon
  9. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  10. Better without the Christmas lettering
  11. Lovely pub used to frequent it when we had a norman cruiser moored at Norbury. Landlady used to bring 6X up from the cellar on a tray--lovely pint. Will mention it to all l know in Newport and Edgmond(mum lives there) And also the volunteers working on the Newport canal. Classic pub and location Simon
  12. Wow that's a lot of boats, never noticed how big the marina is when passing! Nice video thanks. Simon
  13. Worse thing we picked up was a complete tent on the Avon outside Bancroft Basin. Did get off through the weed hatch. Had a tyre on the prop on the BCN but got it off quite easily--must have been lucky
  14. Just been on the forum today, very sorry to hear about Tim's untimely departure. l have had some valuable advice over the years. Sorely missed. Condolences to friends and family. Simon
  15. Just seen this as been offline for a while and spoke to Sue today. Good luck Sue and Richard
  16. Hi Jim We have a JP3 as well but no gearbox, out of another old boat where they wanted more room.---same as Gazelle? seen that out and about over the years a beautiful boat. have you any new pics ?
  17. DM2 came out of a boat which l have known for a while and knew the history and it was running well. It has a slight crankcase leak and needs a better water pump impellor kit. The chap wanted the engine room for a bedroom and fitted a 1800 bmc under the rear deck and kindly let me buy the RN.
  18. Getting some good stuff now, thanks all! I know the user name may be rejigged Liam :-) Looks as if the DM2 will manage no problem, just wondering about the Dorman decoke though. We do love the sound of it. head off or not suppose nothing lost as l have the gaskets.
  19. HI All! Long time posting I know. Need some advice. Currently the Dorman 3AL on Monty is running reasonably well but is becoming a bit smokey and producing flakes of soot and redhot ash when running at certain revs. Occasionally a valve sticks with a "spuff" but it doesn't use oil between changes. Probably due for a decoke after 45 years use and was originally in a crane until 1999. injectors and injector pump was refurbished by a reputable company 3 years ago. Timing checked and spot on. Starts first turn of the key so guessing compression is good. Anyone familiar with older engines near Pershore who would be available for a look and listen maybe before the spanners come out? It is a big lump and we love her on the river Avon and Severn but on the canals does seem to get smokier until its given a good run back on the river. It ticks over lovely and blows smoke rings time to time and can take a while to clear when on the move, its blue black smoke. Oil pressure is good. when very hot ticks over at 10 psi min. Taking the head off is quite a heavy job but l do have a cylinder head gasket kit and valve guides and really would at least like to give her a chance of a decoke. No valves available unfortunately. My thoughts is to at least open her up and have a look at play in parts maybe check shell bearings etc to see over all wear. If it is quite bad wear and tear then as it is difficult to get any parts it may not be worth rebuilding or even decoking, but at least we will then know its condition. But....and this question is really a second request for opinions. I have a 1984 DM2 at home and we are wondering to swap over engines (we will need a hole in the roof!) And as the boat needs painting and lifting for some more general work we plan it would be a good time to change over engine. The fear we have is as the DM2 is much lower on hp. How would it take the rivers and 57 ft with 19 tons (including the Dorman)???. I know this engine is great on the canals but how about the river? Ready to get oily Any opinions welcome Simon
  20. Says it in the title really. it is time for Monty to be repainted. Anyone had experiences of boat painters near to The River Avon at Pershore. Willing to travel to good painter-will probably have to Any recommendations appreciated. Thanks Simon
  21. At Smethwick flight yesterday at first lock just as they where tapping off the paddles! Shame as looking forward to doing that route. Had a look at No 3 and sandstone copping stones dislodged badly--apparently by an ascending boat l was informed. Looked like quite a big job to escavate bricks behind and relocate. Reversing out managed to collect load of crap on the prop and dislodged rudder--thank goodness for those islands on the BCN mainline took 2 hours to clean off only to collect old tyre on departing Simon
  22. At Smethwick flight yesterday at first lock just as they where tapping off the paddles! Shame as looking forward to doing that route. Had a look at No 3 and sandstone copping stones dislodged badly--apparently by an ascending boat l was informed. Looked like quite a big job to escavate bricks behind and relocate. Reversing out managed to collect load of crap on the prop and dislodged rudder--thank goodness for those islands on the BCN mainline took 2 hours to clean off only to collect old tyre on departing Simon
  23. Definitely worth checking valve clearances as could be a bit tight espicially when hot and loosing compression--had it on a mini engine once. Worth a wobble on the rockers when hot should be a click of metal against metal when lifting and dropping when vlave is closed, if not try slacking off?
  24. Pleased to report moved starter back as suggested and clacking noise disappeared and appears to be working ok--will keep you posted!! Many thanks Tim Fingers crossed Simon Edited to say--just shows you dont always believe the manuals--experience better
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.