jhodgski

I've been unable to reply any sooner, but I went with this battery in the end: https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-290ah-expedition-plus-agm-leisure-battery-exp12-290/ Should be enough to run the water distiller on sunny days, which I will settle for. I appreciate the very helpful replies, such as from IanD. Alan de Enfield, for your information, I've never had a wooden-top boat. But maybe you can explain the point of your quoted message (and the Buzz Lightyear one)??

Thanks but mains electric isn't an option. The panels will generate more power than the distiller uses, so I expect the setup will be fine on sunny, or even moderate, summer days. But it's advice on what would be the most appropriate type/model of battery for this scenario that I'm really looking for?

Hiya, I am looking to buy a new set of (4?) leisure batteries for my narrowboat. They will be used to power some small 12v appliances but also a 240v, 600W water distiller (via a 12v inverter, so 50A) that usually runs for about 4 hours (200Ah) every day. Charging the batteries will be 600W to 800W of solar panels (via an Epever 60A 6415AN MPPT charge controller). Could you recommend any particular type or make/model of battery? Many thanks, James

Thanks for the reply. Can you recommend anywhere to send them?

One of the injectors on my BMC 1.5 is leaking. It also looks a bit cooked - though maybe that's just from the leaking diesel burning? I have some spare injectors so I am considering swapping the leaky one. I'd like to give them all a clean anyway. If this easy to do, how should I do it and what should I use? Also, would I need to buy any new washers, etc. when refitting the injectors? Thanks, James

OK, thanks. With just a thin smear of hylomar on both sides or lay it on a bit thicker?

OK, thanks both. What thickness gasket paper would you recommend for the lift pump?

The gasket paper has now arrived. 🙂 It is generally a good idea to use blue hylomar both sides for a new gasket, too? I'm especially considering whether to use blue hylomar on a new gasket for the lift pump as well. I put a new gasket on that recently, but it's still leaking oil - so thinking the hylomar+gasket+hylomar may do the trick there?

Thanks very much, BEngo. I've found someone selling gasket paper locally on ebay - hopefully he'll get back to me so I can collect this aft. Would you go for 0.4mm or 0.8mm thickness?

I didn't realise (as it was pretty dark) but the old gasket tore when I took the injection pump off. Is it OK to use hylomar with no gasket?

Lovely. Thank you, both.

Hiya, My injection pump is leaking quite badly, so I'm swapping it for the one from my old engine. However, I didn't think to get a new gasket. Would I be OK to use the old gasket, or am I better with some blue hylomar? Or should I definitely get a new gasket? Thanks in advance, :-) James

It's leaking water. It seems like the ball bearing inside (or whatever it is) has got stuck. Or, if there's a spring in there, maybe that has broken.

OK, thanks. I may actually go for the repair kit - https://www.asap-supplies.com/products/repair-kit-for-fuel-lift-pumps-with-80mm-diaphragm-6-screw-top-199042 - and save myself £20. Just need to check first that it's the right one...

OK, thanks.

I'm still here actually. I'm surprised that me omitting to mention the engine model has created such consternation / those type of responses. I didn't expect the details of the engine would be so important as I thought it would be a generic question, based on the (quite possibly incorrect) presumption that all lift pumps probably work in the same way. It's a BMC 1.5. I'll buy a new pump and gasket and cross my fingers when fitting it. Wouldn't want to risk any more upset by asking for fitting advice in the wrong way again... Thank you.

Thanks for the replies. I've just been in touch with W H Provoas, but they said their sales counter is now closed. However, they said they may be able to help me via email... Have messaged Brian S Pope, too. Also, couldn't find the link before, but this is a grease nipple I've already tried: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352412450411 . It almost fit, but the thread wasn't quite right. (Just in case that provides any clues as to the one I actually need.)

I've been advised to buy a new gasket to repair the (quite heavy) fuel leak on my lift pump. Just wanted to double-check on here that that seems like good advice? My alternative, which turns out not to be that much more expensive, is to buy a new lift pump with gasket. Thanks, Jim

...but I don't have one of the grease nipple or stern gland, I'm afraid!

Hiya, The grease nipple on my 30 year-old narrowboat has started leaking. I bought a new one on ebay, but it was the wrong thread. Any idea what thread I'm likely to need? And where I can get one online? Thank you, Jim

The boat engineer came out today to do the head gasket, but turns out the engine has had a bit of a rough time. Can remember exactly what he said but the cost to put it right (inc. slippage fees) was around £1,500. Have been keeping my eye on eBay for the past few weeks but no BMC 1500's have come up. Does anyone know of a half decent one going cheap anywhere?

Thanks for the replies. I'll make sure I mention to the engineer about the skimming/shimming. One thing I forgot to mention is that whilst my engine was overheating, the water in my calorifier was still barely warm. I already knew the engine had a tendency to overheat at low revs, but the lukewarm water coming from the kitchen sink hot tap led me to (wrongly) believe the engine was at quite a low temperature. So does that (also) indicate a water pump issue? And is it a big job to replace the water pump whilst the head gasket is being repaired? The oil pressure was nice and high (always is), so does that suggest it's just the water pump and head gasket that need looking at / fixing?

Thanks for the replies. Mine mustn't be standard greaser system. My stern gear just has a nipple. For it, I just use a standard grease gun that takes 400g cartridges. I didn't realise the K99 tub has that giant washer at the top. That should make things a lot easier than I expected. Will get a tub ordered now, cheers.

Thanks. I'm going to get a boat engineer to come out and have a look at the whole setup, so will see what they recommend. I've been given an estimate of £250 to repair the head gasket, by the way, which seems reasonable(?).

I've looked at the other posts that show Morris K99 grease generally seems to the best for greasing the stern tube, but it doesn't seem to be available in cartridge format. And I don't fancy the task of trying to transfer it from the tub into an empty cartridge without getting grease everywhere and/or getting loads of air into the cartridge. I've seen a few "marine" grease cartridges (e.g., lithium, EP2) on eBay, but I was wondering what grease cartridges other boaters use or would recommend as there doesn't seem to be any discussion of them anywhere? NB - I have a grease gun that takes 400g cartridges. Cheers, James