vulpyfox

Do an Oil change every (insert engine service hours) or 12 months, what ever turns over first. also for the sake of a few extra quid change the filter every service. if its a little over then dont panic but dont leave it years, oil degrades and loses it's full protective factors when exposed to air and engine impurities. my lister TS2 had not had a proper service for some time when I purchased 'Tipsy Vixen' It didn't even have an oil filter, she run but rough as a badgers arse! She had a flush oil run (clean cheap oil or the right grade) a cheap filter at the cost of £3, blank plate was removed and filter fitted, run for some hours then drained of oil, cheap filter removed, clean "fairly" good quality oil refilled and normal quality oil filter refitted. she runs beautifully now with hardly any smoke, quieter too. on chopping up the cheap catch filter, it was full of oil sludge black carbon bits etc etc but thankfully no metal fragments! you shouldn't need to double up on the filter with yours but if the oil is really bad consider a clean flush and run first, then after that just log your services in a little service book.

Tipsy Vixen (On the Grand Union)

My weed hatch isn't the best located one but it does it job and I'm sure glad tipsy has it!

yup that's quite a common wrap around point for ropes, best thing is you know where to look next time ^.^ (and you know there will be a next time!!!!) Try grabbing one of them little snake cameras I linked you to further up, they are great for hide and seek games in the weed hatch

I rely on the sound and vibration of the engine,frame. I can soon tell if something is upsetting tipsy's old air cooled lister....

most of these like mine clip to the gutters using wooden or plastic brightly coloured gutter clips, this part floats well and serves as a warning if lost (it also helps to retrieve it should you lose one overboard) however some people just tie them up to the boats side fittings, they can be ripped off or come untied, I guess this is when the problem starts, I have salvaged 2 of these, one was on a bank the other was stuck on my prop with a few meters of rope, I managed to cut it free with a knife and retrieve it. Its not the worst thing I've had stuck around tipsy's prop, get yourself a cheap snake camera unit with inbuilt leds, they can save you a lot of money when it comes to prop jams http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LCD-2-4-Video-Inspection-Borescope-1m-Endoscope-Pipe-10mm-Camera-Snake-Scope-/111299062279?hash=item19e9f0ea07

Tipsy really struggled though the sludge for 2 locks before the marston staircase, be careful in this area.

Hmmm This is making me want to fit an oil pressure dial as well as a light/buzzer to my TS engine. Seems a sensible call as all I have atm is the mechanical hour counter ^.^

I just blew all my UP's for today

Does sound like an airlock, leak or fuel starvation, have you used any tank flush or diesel bug treatment lately? Remove inspect and change filter and look for perished/cracked rubber hoses, lose or leaking unions. also just check nothing is blocking the air inlet and check the air filter has not collapsed on itself.

Well got my 1st boat ^.^ Shes a 50ft Mike Heyward, Will be bringing her back to down from northampton start of next month, excited!!!!!! A big change of life for this fox!

Comma oil is pretty good (been using it on turbo and no turbo car diesels over the years), even comma should meet the min requirements! Fuch (fox) also do good value for money (I have also had good results with morris oils) (try GSF - online or shop) for value. Hope this helps a little. I'm running a TS2 on mine ^.^

That's great news ^.^ I'm hoping to also get on the water soon ^.^

I hope the progress is going well