BD3Bill

Honestly it wouldn't surprise me if they sneak an awful lot of biodiesel into the Gasoil/Red. I have Bug, I deal with it regularly. The BD3 has the cone type separator before the CAV filter, very little gets through to that. Plus I run off the bottom of the tank regularly. Not broken down... The pump ULSD/DERV is cleaner burning and less 'aromatic' IMHO only, just thought it might be of help to the OP. I do cut it about 75/25 with red at the moment, but that Red comes from a very high turnover PFS forecourt source at 99p and no silly forms. My view is if I am buying DERV for propulsion I ain't diddling HMRC. I hate to think of the state of the bottom of some marina's bulk tanks! At least PFS's are taking action to minimise it in their tanks... and they DO have it in a big way. How long before the Oil Companies HAVE to start adding biocides ???? My background in Groundscare/Irrigation/Agriculture/HGV has taught me a lot about diesel contamination over the years. I was talking to the guy servicing the AGA at my bosses house and they are getting Bug/Contamination problems in Kerosene fired stuff now, they is no escape from it !! Cheers Bill

I have taken to running our BD3 on pump ULSD, there is an improvement in the smoking, but it still does it. I try to cruise at a speed that doesn't create a wash, about 750rpm seems to be the sweet spot with little smoke. After a flight of locks a burst of throttle ( often in neutral ) clears the 'throat'. Warming the engine up well before getting underway may help too.

And I'd been so good and not posted this in the past! MtB's dislike for this engine is well documented and didn't want to upset him as he's a mate... ahh well. Cheers Bill

I need a tool to crimp the copper tube terminals onto 70amp wire. £28 on ebay for a ' bolt cutter ' type. Seems like a lot of money, many are £60 or more. What do other people do ??? Cheers Bill

Again very many thanks Tony. Probably four foot run to the the batteries from the alternator, will get onto VWP and order some + terminals to suit. Top tip for charging the starter from solar, could I do something more permanent like a link with an additional isolator switch? You have saved me yet more brass as I was going to get a twin output solar controller eventually. Cheers and Good Luck to you Bill Of course it does, brilliant! (crossed posts) Thanks! P.S. I'm lucky to have a proper engine room although getting round the bloody great lump in it is a still a squeeze, luv my BD3! :0)

Thanks for the reply. No I don't particularly want to spend money on gizmo's. I like simple. The main alternator output runs down to the starter motor… I know this is wrong/outdated. Hence why I want to update the charging system. Can you recommend a QUALITY voltage sensitive relay to me? Off to study your excellent TB Training site once again :0) Cheers Bill

I feel I may need to replace the little Durite split charge diode on our boat. It is, I do realise, really just a basic switch that stops the starter gong flat. Not that it has gone wrong or we have flat batteries. The solar we have keeps the domestic batteries charged well between our fortnightly visits. What would be nice is to know that the domestics are getting a full charge when the engine is running and not over egging the starter… So we have 1x 110amp starter battery 2x 110amp domestic batts 1x 70amp Lucas a127 type alternator (geared suitably and spinning out 14.5v) although the firm I bought it from reckons it will produce up to 85amps. We have a low power requirement, no 240v/Inverter, no computers or telly, hairdryer blah blah. The car stereo is probably the biggest draw. we have all LED lights. Moored up the solar copes with the fridge when aboard. I am thinking of lashing out on a pro split R, but with a regulator fitted to the alternator do I need to/can I ? ? Cheers Bill

I don't have 3 phase pal !!!! :0) btw I used to work in a sheet metalwork factory so I do understand and spent plenty of time covered in muck n grime from the buffer okay? now a hobbyist… Nice idea & good luck, but you will find folk on this forum are very resentful of business type posts okay? :0) Cheers Bill

Funnily enough I recently bought a bench grinder and all the polishing kit. ( Ebay £ 70 ) Initially to do a set of motorcycle engine cases…. Anyway I am in the process of bringing the mushroom tops home and buffing them up, very shiny! Spray with silicone spray and wrap in cling film & replace… until winter is over. The kit includes a drill arbour so will be doing the portholes with the drill & genny during the spring. Cheers Bill

Sorry couldn't resist Cheers!

LoL MP. When we went to see our Tub R&J were aboard. The lovely Jayne & I made a pact to disembark them at the first bridge ole out of Hatherton we come to. Fortunately they had scampered orf before we took over..

One of those that do. Thank you so much for such an erudite perspective. Only owned our Narrowboat for some two years, wished for it for 30 years….. long time. My lasses family were on the Cut up to WW2 though, so we have respect for the old ways. Cheers Bill Good for you. My first attempts were awfull, but I have stuck wiv it and have had similar praise from other boaters, which makes it so worthwhile.

Agree Alan, mediocre would be a word for it….. my words would result in suspension from CWDF though, suffice to say some people have some front :0))

Each to their own though? Tolerance and respect for others perhaps? * watches CWDF fly into another popcorn-based diatribe * :0))

Interesting that the one in the first picture has a price tag on it with £155 written on it !!!

Agree totally, but there is no way I would strip an old can with good period decoration, no matter how battered. That would be wrong. :0)

I have to agree with Dave Moore. The Chinese one's leak, have very poor soldering, and the painting is very poor considering the historical quality that the chinese used to produce on porcelain ! I bought a gallon one from Hilmorton and wire brushed the painting off & re-decorated it myself ! It leaks. I bought a cheap 3 gallon from eBay (unpainted) waiting for it to be RE-soldered by a mate, it leaks and the base ring snapped off in transit the solder was so poor. How's a budding amateur like me supposed to go on eh? :0) I even had a galvy bucket leak ! But the Chinese have had their money !! BAH !!! Rant over Cheers Bill

I tried the upside down method recently, worked like a charm, converted to it. It will never catch on though…

On the River Nene is it ? Good job CRT don't ask for 15K up front for a mooring on an auction isn't it !!! ( Yes I know they don't run the Nene ) ( Tongue firmly in my cheek ) :0) but it does have a 50hp Perkins ! Lol

Top link thanks!

It's funny isn't it? How folk do differ. (and Landlords ! ) I have always found the Red Lion very hospitable and the Braesnose impersonal/generic. ahh well … Edit... I always get the asking for food question in BEFORE ordering a pint btw.

This is a bit fishy. Nobody ever bothered about the Festival being a problem. A brand new marina opens close to the village and suddenly it's a topic for discussion….. mmmm Very fishy

Forgive my ignorance, as I have never been on the BCN, Is there any problem with Continuous Moorers in this area? Do they monopolise the 'safe' areas?

Top old school tip, nice. We had been wondering about what to do when aboard for a long time and the fridge is full up, now we know. Thanks :0)