Edders

I think there was a boat builder trading as Hixon Boat Builders based at Hixon near Stafford. Not sure if they are still going under that name now though. There is a boat builder in Hixon called Nick Thorpe. Tony

I have a 1949 3LW and replaced the original washable gauze version with a Fram cartridge type filter. I still use SAE 30 oil (Morris Golden Film). Will this be OK or should I now use mild detergent oil? Thanks Tony

Thanks everyone for your info. Much appreciated. Tony.

Hi Richard, Have you had a suitable mounting point fitted to your boat for the rope or are you relying on the existing "T" stud? Tony and Jenny.

Hello everyone, We will be going visiting the non tidal Thames and the Trent during next year so will need to be getting an anchor etc sorted. Can anyone please advise the best type and weight of anchor (as well as length of warp and chain)? Our 71' 6" narrowboat weighs 26 tons. Many thanks. Tony and Jenny.

ebay.

Whether Bittern did or didn't reach 90 mph is irrelevant, it is still a magnificent sight and sound. The locomotives designer, Sir Nigel Gresley, was raised in Netherseal, South Derbyshire (close to where I am moored) and is his final resting place. Tony.

Hi Steve, Thanks for the photo's showing the cover removed. All perfectly clear now and given me confidence. Also thanks to everyone else for their time and info. Tony

Thanks Steve. Tony

Split Pin, Thanks for the diagram, very useful. I do have the 2BA screw on the cover, but if I remove the cover to really get the oil on all the parts, is there a gasket behind it that may need replacing? If so, I would sooner get one in advance. Regards, Tony Split Pin, The engine was built in 1949, number 80597. Tony

This is the pump in question. I have not seen one like this on any other 3LW. I have removed the brass plug which is on the cold start and put in a small amount of engine oil. I have also found the 2BA screw and removed to try and put some oil in. Unfortunately, it is a very long screw (about 1 & 1/2 inches long) and I am not sure how much, if any, oil I managed to get in using my oil can as most of it ran out behind the casing. I need a can with a very small spout, almost a syringe. I will try again when I get a suitable oiler. However, the engine has run perfectly today. Tony

Mine is also similar but the cold start arrangement is different. I am wary about undoing the 2 nuts as indicated on your photo as mine have a fine wire through each stud with a wax seal attached but, if you look further down, there are 3 bolts that appear to be securing a plate. On mine it has 2 bolts securing a plate but again with a securing wire through them both. Is this the plate I wonder? If so, do you think it is OK to just lubricate the quadrants by squirting oil from an oil can, as I cannot see any way of getting any oil into the chamber from above? Probably like you, I am worried about doing more harm than good! I also don't have the slot head screws as indicated. Thanks again. Tony

Chris, Thanks for the update. My engine usually displays the problem straight away if it is going to play up on that particular day. It doesn't stall when I put it into gear. I have run the engine today and is OK! No doubt tomorrow it will play up again. I would be interested in your engineers verdict. Steve, The injection unit looks slightly different to the unit in the manual I have. I have a pull out cold start on the "trigger box" if that is the correct name? I cannot see a 2BA screw or a cover behind the fuel pump levers. Did Gardner fit different types of units I wonder? My engine came out of a Smiths crane originally. Thanks again, Tony

Chris, That appears to eliminate that theory then. Thanks again. Tony

Chris, As my fuel tank is situated lower and someway from the engine, it has been suggested to me that the slow pick up could be temporary fuel starvation and a small electric pump in the fuel line before the lift pump could possibly overcome this problem. (The engine never had this problem for the first 2 years of ownership). A cheaper alternative than fitting a day tank. Tony

Thanks for your replies. Dove: Spring is still in place. Chris: I guess it is something we will both have to live with then? MP: Good point, the engine does have 2 big alternators driven by a big pulley. However, the last time it was reluctant to rev up (yesterday), the boat had just been on a land line for a month and I know the batteries were fully charged. I will disconnect the alternators next time it happens though and let you know the outcome. Thanks again. Tony

When I start the engine and leave it running for a few minutes, when I open the throttle, the revs will only pick up very, very slowly then suddenly burst into life. This happens whether the engine is hot or cold, in gear or in neutral. If I keep "blipping" the throttle, it will respond straight away. I have tried running run with the fuel cap off in case of a blocked breather and also stopping and immediately restarting does not clear the problem. A new lift pump was fitted last year (for an unrelated problem) and made no difference. (Note, there is no day tank) All the filters have been changed, fuel and injector pipes on the engine cleaned out and the main fuel lines cleaned out. The fuel is not contaminated. There is no discernible pattern to this behaviour and has done it on and off for a couple of years. Sometimes it can go for months running fine. As you can imagine, stopping can be a worry! Secondly, can anyone advise as to how to adjust the tickover speed. Any advise gratefully received. Many thanks. Tony .

My Gardner was restored by Danny Williamson who recommended the following: "SAE 30 grade such as Silkolene Chatsworth or similar, or a mild multigrade such as Castrol CR1. Modern multigrades are unsuitable." I use Morris SAE 30. Tony

Too much time on my hands. Tony

Thank you both for the help. That's tomorrow sorted for me. Tony

Hello everyone. There are some relatively deep scratches in the brass mushroom vents on my boat and they can just be felt by rubbing a fingernail across them. I have tried using Bar Keepers Friend and Solvol to try and eliminate them but without any great success. Short of taking them to an engineering workshop to be buffed up etc, is there any method or products out there that will do the job? Many thanks Tony

Chris, Many thanks for posting this info as I have the same setup and have trying to work out how to connect the charge controller to work through the MICC panel. Sorted it this morning. Cheers Tony

Sorry Tim. Membership of the "Hudson Club" is for life even if you have sold it! (It's about time you had another one) Tony

When we had our boat built, the back cabin was going to be our son's bedroom. The drop down table and drawer etc were retained for his PC and the cross bed space was integrated into the cupboard space above it to make a very useful double wardrobe. Even though he has since moved out, the wardrobe is much more useful to us than a cross bed. We also had bed boards and extra cushions made so we could have a longitudinal double bed instead of a single if needed. Tony