Wiff

Shame it continuously rained till christmas then froze, just wish I had been better advised by those that take the cash. I did at one point want to take the boat in a rough state and do it myself and was advised against this as it would be better if they put on the primer. Feel quite disgusted a bad job done for me all round shall not go there again! So if a coat of undercoat and not primer had been applied would I still have this problem?

so the £900 I spent on the job was totally wasted then, wonder why nobody informed me before i spent the cash!

I have a boat that was freshly painted with a rust inhibitor and a layer of grey primer last autumn by a boat yard. The paint is clearly rusting underneath and in places flaking off leaving raw rust patches, is this normal? I have been informed that I should have put a top coat on right away but I have painted other areas of the boat since in red oxide primer and no rust has re appeared. I did intend to paint the boat in the sunny weather but now find i have to treat and re prime the whole of the roof before painting I would like to know what your views are on this. Local boaters who have seen the job say it should not be flaking and bubbling rust. Thanks Heather

Okay, Working like an idiot (self employed) until after Christmas when I should be in my quiet time so I dont see much of my engine in daylight hours. Fingers crossed I can take it easy and get to know my Lister in a much more informed way than I currently do. I feel frustrated with myself for not knowing more and having to ask but I really want to know how to do things properly and as was pointed out it is so difficult to to understand directions without photos on these types of forums but it does seem looking at the photos of the lovely red painted engine I am basicly doing the right thing. I will check that starter motor as soon as time allows. As you can probably see from the photo my engine is a bit of an old work horse which though well maintained is probably feeling some of its age by now and the starter motor and batteries may well be feeling that age too as I was told on the survey the boat does need some TLC but I call it home now and cant wait to find out what a winkle pin looks like! Cheers again for all your help it is much apreciated x okay Winkle spring mot pin, Lordy lord .....

okay will have a look later today and see what it does, sorry for being a bit daft sounding but I have off forum been told some wildly conflicting information about this engine. Most of it from the previous owner and also from elderly "done it all my life mechanics" I can turn my engine off and seems like I have been given the right info from my mechanic but he called it something different. Any way will have a look later. Thank you all for your help x

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/708/dscf5036k.jpg/ link to see photos of my engine, really cannot see the control you are showing which seems to be optional on the SR2 engine, I just want the easiest and safest way to start this engine sadly full throttle on a cold day does not cut it quite. I am beginning to see that this engine is a bit specialist but bomb proof too. Being without a hands on advisor is a bit difficult and I just want to avoid flat batteries at this time of year. I also do not have the oil cup for cold starting either if that helps. Been away on business over the weekend and it is now much warmer so it will start with little fuss today I think. Maybe the real solution is lost in the mists of time!

Engine is aircooled, and I do not have that little starting control on my engine as far as I can see. Hmm now thinking it is back to the old blow torch method!will continue with decompressing and pulling out the devise seen on the photo near to the exhaust pipes and the little brassy disc at the bottom of the engine. My old and I think wise mechanic told me to use it in the winter so I think that is whaat I will do. I have a feeling that the engine in my boat is not the original so maybe it is not a marine engine. Dont know if that is possible and really so long as I can get it to go I am not rightly fussed. Been on my boat only since the end of September so I am still just moving in!

MY head hurts now!

I was shown the lever by a boat engineer who has many years of experience working with Narrowboats. He informed me that in the winter I pull this devise out from the main body of the engine and it would ensure easy starting in sub zero temperatures. It would appear that the previous owner of the boat did not know of this option as it was he who told me he always used a blow torch. I cannot see any information on he internet either. It is a mystery but what ever I do it has so far worked!

Allan you read my mind on that one. Will be making myself one with some baling wire I have aquired or I think the fire poker I made could have found yet another use!

Bit of faffing false starting flicking switches back and forth and holding the extra fuel switch open with the fuel tank dip stick and 4 Canals Lister roared back into life and has been happily not missing a beat since. Not quite sure what combination did it but no pyrotechnics or releasing of mood changing gases was required (sadly). Feel I have done well and are now saying thanks to Saint Lister with a glass of rum down my air intake! Cheers from Heather on the beautiful Caldon still living the dream x

Think the extra fuel switch is the way to go. I really dont want to think the engine is crackered just yet! As I said it has just been serviced in September and I think it is my lack of skill in using all the whistles and bells which is the problem. I usually do give it a good cranking as it does not respond instantly I just really dont need to flatten my batteries as then I would think I have another problem to fix which is not good. Will let you know how I get on x

Okay my plan will be decompress both chambers and press the fuel overide and use starter, throttle fully open and out of gear, when engine is rotating flick the decompressors over. Assuming it starts I will then drop back the throttle. plan b is fuel overide and hot air down the intake. plan c is the aerosol down the fuel intake and plan d is learn to do without the electric trickery or plan e go the pub and forget about it till spring! Unless of course anyone can dream up a plan f. Please bare in mind my boat is to be renamed 4 Canals so I am used to a bit of bother with her!

Chopping trees down will keep off the cold!

That is how I would usually start it but without the decompression levers being used, I dont think I have a battery or starter motor problem but as I have nothing to compare it to you never know as the instrumentation on here is pretty basic when it comes to power monitoring as there is not any its all down to me guessing and being in a routine with starting the engine which I do for 2 hours every evening at the moment to power pumps lights and a very small amount of TV or radio. It is possibly too much but as my engine usually starts brightly first time of asking and its fuel use is very economical to me it is what I am happy doing. The previous owner who had been boating for years told me to do the blowtorch method or a burning newspaper, which sounded a bit alarming. My lovely mechanic friend showed me the extra fuel valve so I will give it a go tomorrow. It is my first winter ever on a boat and I can cope tonight with a book and my wood stove. have downloaded the Lister manual off the internet too so I will give it a read and learn all the terms too! My laptop has a big battery that I charge at work by the way.