Jump to content

DRP

Member
  • Posts

    141
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by DRP

  1. They treated us very kindly at the Rodley Barge last Autumn, letting us tie up for a couple of days. We could step off the deck straight into the pub garden.Nice unpretentious pub. I can't say they'll always let people tie up by the garden, but there are good visitor moorings next door ,just before the swing bridge.
  2. Sorry for the late update. Don't have internet on the boat. Ribble got through Eshton Road lock easily on Saturday afternoon. There was quite substantial bulging of the wall, but there was room to spare. The word from CRT was that the lock is now closed until it is repaired.
  3. Spoke to CRT this morning. They are taking boats through by bow hauling only, 9.30am to 4.00pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The lock will then be closed until it is repaired. We are hoping to take Ribble through last on Saturday, so that if our 14ft 3ins beam comes to grief, nobody else will be held up.
  4. Those who insist on cycling at speed on towpaths should be encouraged to use clip-in shoes, especially where the towpath is in poor condition. Over time, the problem will then disappear.
  5. Nice colourful website. Has clearly provided work (and lots of it!), for idle hands during the lockdowns. Just need to persuade CRT to keep some water in the canal, now, so that people can actually do some boating.
  6. I liked the video.Good job, Mike. How many millions could the EverGiven's owners have saved if someone on the bridge had ever had a canal holiday? As for nearly two pages of off-the-point discussion - J**us! Is this sort of thing related to atmospheric pressure, I wonder; a bit like clicking and pixellation on the TV?
  7. Many thanks to all, for comments and suggestions. Plenty to think about there. I will report back.
  8. Mmm, thanks.Followed the link. See what you mean by "at a price" Yes,after days scouring the Internet this may be the way to go. Ring gears seem to be advertised by vehicle they are meant for, rather than by size. Bit like when you try to buy a car tail lamp bulb.
  9. All those of a nervous or sensitive disposition, look away now. After trying very hard to put it off, I'm reaching the point of fitting electric start to Bellatrix's engine. Yes, I know she's been fine for eighty-odd years without it; and yes it's satisfying and fun to start by hand on a nice day when the engine is warmed up - but on a cold morning, when she hasn't run for a while, even if you've followed the RN handbook advice to leave little oil in the cylinders, you've used tilley-wicks, and even a blow lamp down the inlet manifold, it's a b**tard! And possibly dangerous for someone not in the first (or even second) flush of youth; the uncomfortable feeling in the chest might be to do with having toast BEFORE trying to start the engine, but then again . . . I've found a marine engineering firm that will machine the flywheel. What I need is the experience and advice of anyone who has done this conversion - particularly where do you get a starter ring gear for a 22inch flywheel, and what is a suitable currently-produced starter motor (12volt). Any and all suggestions gratefully received.
  10. DRP

    Ribble

    Exhibition went down well with the angling fraternity,many of whom were pictured. Biggest problem was the heat,which meant that people couldn't stay inside for very long.
  11. DRP

    Ribble

    Thank goodness they've used it at last! Ribble is in Knottingley convalescing after a bottom transplant, and looking forward to returning home when we're all allowed to move about again.
  12. Many congratulations to ivan&Alice for starting a thread that has allowed so much virtue signalling. As the years went by, I grew to really dislike anglers, but then cycling became much more popular, and anglers didn't seem so bad.
  13. Hi Steve,

     

    I checked with the gasket people today.Once they've made gaskets to order they keep the pattern on file under the name of the person who ordered them. They can make them to order after that; you'd need to quote my name (David Poole), and tell them you have my permission to use "my" gasket pattern. They charged me £43 for two sets ( I thought I'd have a spare set in case I ballsed it up).

    http://direct-gaskets.co.uk/contact-2/

    Is the link if you want to contact them.

    Otherwise, I could go in and order a set for you.

    Regards,

    David.

    1. sparrowcycles

      sparrowcycles

      Thanks David, that's great news. 

       

      I will give them a call tomorrow and order a set! Your write up read nicely, it's exactly that sort of thing that really helps people down the line and is, I believe, what forums are really about. 

       

      Best regards, steve

  14. I suspect back in the mists of time, an iron connector was used because it was cheap from a plumber's merchant. As the least "noble" of the metals round there, its demise was probably predictable to those with a chemical turn of mind. I've played safe, and used marine grade bronze connectors and ball valve, although I think DZR would have done. I'm very much hoping these will see me out, but I'll be checking at each docking in future. (Since this discovery, I've been told that inspection and dismantling of seacocks is a requirement in certification and recertification of commercial and passenger vessels - good thing too!) Sorry, forgot to mention that the flange itself was OK.Although it looks rusty in the enlarged photo, once cleaned up it looks to be a yellowish metal so I'm guessing it's bronze. The old seacock and strainer certainly are, so the connector was iron caught between two bronze fittings.
  15. Yes, I'd been intending to take the old gate valve apart, to sort out its failure to completely shut off the flow, and being on the slip seemed the ideal opportunity. When I undid the plumbing, it just fell off! Bearing in mind the Aire and Calder Navigation is deep enough to pass barges drawing more than 7 feet, We were glad (and lucky) to have made it to Knottingley. I've already made the resolution to dismantle and reassemble the seacock every time we do a routine docking ,in future! The new one should keep us afloat
  16. I don't know if they kept a record, but I'll check with them. Here is the horrible old seacock, and the dissolved iron coupling flange . Ever felt you'd just dodged a bullet?
  17. OK, now the major worries are nearly sorted out (I spared you the frightening tale of the accidental discovery of the failed water intake seacock - AFTER we'd spent a day on the river Aire getting to Knottingley),perhaps I'll have a better look at these valves when the weather improves. If someone commented on this, I think i could post a picture, but at present the site won't let me upload any more.
  18. I think I'm going in the opposite direction. The bearings were so terribly worn in mine, that members of the Kennet crew who came to "have a go " on Ribble complained of a harsh grumbling from the gearbox; we hadn't noticed as it hadn't changed since we took it over(!). So I'm looking forward to a quieter life for a different reason. I haven't heard any of the Lister experts I know say it makes it quieter - in fact most have said things like "you don't really need that for canal use; it never gets hot enough." Mind you, they said that about the compression ratio knobs, "You're never working it hard enough on the canal; It might be worth trying them on the river". We did try them on the river. Didn't go any better, but produced vast amounts of smoke - so we closed them again and haven't undone them since!
  19. Refitting the whole thing was less dramatic than the taking apart. The unworn new inner roller bearing has a brass cage that stops the rollers falling out, so the outer ring is placed in its housing first. The gasket was hung on the upper stud and on the four large bolts that go through the gearbox. The small bearing on the gearbox output shaft is not fitted until the large gear shaft and casting are bolted into place. I had expert help to do this - it would be a hellish job to do single-handed. Note that the upper pair of large bolts require you to remove the gearbox cover to tighten them. If,for any reason, you remove the lower two large bolts, don't lose the thick spacer washers between the gearbox and the reduction gear casing. After all this, it's a relief to add SAE50 oil, and re-connect the prop shaft. In Ribble's case, all this has been done whilst she's on the slipway having her bottom done, so the engine alignment will need checking when she goes back in the water.
  20. Whilst waiting for the new bearings, I got Direct Gaskets Limited of Hull to make up a set of new gaskets. Then after cleaning up and re painting the castings, reassembly. The shaft oil seals go in first. A press fit - well, cover with a piece of wood and a gentle hammer tap. Put the shaft through, and fit the new large (and shockingly expensive) thrust bearing.A hydraulic press would have been nice, but the inside of the old bearing used as a drift, and careful tapping of a length of angle iron placed over this allowed the bearing to be fitted. Don't forget the gasket before bolting this to the main casting. The large gear had been the very devil to remove, and a trial fitting suggested it would be a struggle to re-fit. However 10 minutes on the "cool" plate of the AGA (other ranges are available), and it slipped home with only a couple of gentle taps with a hammer. The roller bearing went on easily, as did the retaining nut and a new split pin.
  21. The whole heavy lump then went home to be worked on at a bench. Dismantling is described earlier in this thread. All the bearings were taken to George Lodge of Hull, who measured them and supplied replacements. They also obtained "bespoke" leather oil seals from Autospin of Birmingham. After the event, Sparrowcycles kindly let me have the relevant pages from the Lister workshop manual. This shows the inner bearing on the output shaft to be a ball bearing, but mine was a roller bearing so that's what I used.
  22. I think you're right Frangar, but to quote a famous quizmaster,"I've started, so . . ." After undoing the small dome-headed studs, and the large dome nuts, the casting that holds everything loosened easily, and the whole thing pulled out. I must emphasise it really is heavy, and despite the rope on the shaft to take the weight, the whole thing tried to plummet into the bilge, while little rollers flew everywhere. Leaving a view of the empty casing, with assorted sludge, and bits of worn out bearings.
  23. If my experience is typical, it's a good idea to clear out all the water, oil and slime in the engine bilge, because if your box is as worn as mine, you get an explosion of bits of bearing and little rollers when it all comes apart. You can fish for them blind in the sludge and slime if you prefer. I was warned that when it comes apart, the shaft, casting and gear is heavy, so make provision to take the weight. After draining the oil (not really an issue as the seals had been inoperative for years), and disconnecting prop shaft couplings, the shaft pushed out of the way giving lots of room.
  24. Ribble's reduction gear is now back together and safely re-installed. At risk of hi-jacking this thread, I thought I might add some notes that might be helpful to anyone doing the same job for the first time. If anyone more expert disagrees with anything, please feel free to say - and Moderators please delete the lot if you think it's a waste of time. The anatomy of a Short boat means you have to do this job semi-bent-double, under the fuel tank.I took this picture after the job was done, but you get the idea.
  25. I think the £31 is the pre-VAT price. I'm waiting for the supplier to come back to me about the thrust bearing and the roller bearing before I put the order in. They say the lead time on the Weston seals,with leather business end is 2-3 days.I'm happy to order some extra for anyone who wants them (- but not seeking to undermine anyone's trade).
×
×
  • 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.