Tracy D'arth

Doing short 5 minute warm ups will do more engine damage than leaving the old oil sat in the sump over winter.

Make sure that there is not a flow restrictor in the hose connection on the shower head. Make some of the holes bigger?

It is possible that the diaphragm has gone stiff or the small ports from the venturi are furred up so that the valve is sluggish to open and supply gas to the burner. Get it serviced professionally and see how you go, its probably overdue anyway.

I think that in the present a pair of rose tinted glasses are a prerequisite for buying a Springer. Don't be mislead or deluded about what you are buying. Its an old very cheaply made boat that was never made to last this long and was not even a mid market product when new.

Two Chinooks?

Just dump the water/antifreeze and replace with fresh unless you can use a wet vax to suck it up and reuse it. It is probably a good idea to replace it anyway, the corrosion inhibitors being ineffective could be part of your problem anyway. You don't need to drain out any more than necessary.

Nothing unusual about a 1.8D having a 260 PRM box, many had the earlier 160 and mine has a 280. I know of many that have done many more hours than yours. If you maintain it well it will not break, just wear gracefully. These engines were good for 400,000 to 500,000 miles plus in the vans

Is bear steel anything like monkey metal? Or is it sheep metal? Sorry, could not resist, its been a terrible day for me.

It would help but there are lots of places and people around Nantwich who can sort this out for you. If you need help PM me.

Most likely the cooler. Its the only place where the oil and water come together unless the gearbox breather is getting flooded with water from the deck.

He's a character 'aint he pard?

Liverpool is a fascinating city, lots of history and architecture. Ignore the doomsayers, Scousers are on the whole friendly but like everywhere there are the idiots and scallies. Beatles feature largely. The two cathedrals are interesting and awe-inspiring. There are many vibrant pubs and restaurants but explore the ones off the well beaten tourist trail.

After all the time that has passed since they were built, as cheap as possible, I would not go near a Springer. With current inflated prices they will be extremely poor value, an almost certain money pit, and in need of huge expenditure that you will never get even close to recouping. Buy a better boat, they were always junk compared to most other boats.

There is only one injection pump, driven by the chain in the front of the engine. Now, there are 4 injectors, one for each cylinder. The pipes to undo are the ones connected to the injectors on the top of the engine.

You are guessing instead of finding out the reason. Glow plugs only preheat the combustion chambers to ease starting. In the present temperatures a fit engine will start without them. Define "lumpiness " please. Was it running on all 4 cylinders? Was the exhaust clean- white- black or other? Like blue? Would it tick over and rev up on demand? Did it overheat? Was it losing water or oil?

You are a little wrong. Prices are in a bull market. A ten to twelve year old 45 footer is worth around £45K if in good running order. 30 year old 45 footers are fetching £30K in good order. Wrecks that need overplating are fetching £20K

I would try to find him, it will be easier than trying to buy a new one. Your best hope will be a secondhand one from a scrap pump/engine. Problem is it falls out when the pump is removed so easily gets lost. I am shocked that Wilkinsons could not help you, I'll remonstrate with him next time I see him.

I asked a fabricator that question, the answer I got was that there were other problems using Corten and he would not entertain building a shell from it.

There are steels that corrode more slowly than plain common Bessemer mild steel. Open hearth steels and pure iron corrodes less. Corten steel is even more resistant, they make containers from it. A lot depends on the quality of steel used, shipbuilding steel to EH36 is less corroding but there are many specifications. Maybe your builder had some better specified steel available than mild steel.

Springers were built in large numbers for the lowest economy market. Many owners spent nothing on essential hull maintenance. The youngest are now 30 years old, the early ones are approaching 50 years old. They were made by Sam Springer who was an oil tank fabricator using some secondhand steel when he could get it. They were "v" bottomed which makes hull repairs more tricky. There will be very few, that have not been over plated, still afloat and in an insurable condition. Insurance companies are now demanding 4mm of steel all over the hull below waterline with no pits leaving any less thickness. As they were thin to start with, this means that by now all the original hulls will be below the insurance acceptable level.

What happened to the original one? 1.8 D was an automotive engine, Leyland LDV Sherpa van. They have this torsion bar in the end of the master splined drive for the injection pump. It loads the spline to avoid any backlash which would alter the injection timing point.

Never a waste of time to answer questions, its how most of us old timers learnt. From other's mistakes!

CAV would have not made it so if it was not needed. It takes the backlash out of the pump drive so it is possible that it could run without but its not correct. Have you tried a Lucas CAV agent? If you want the best advice try asking R Wilkinson Diesel Service Ltd They are in Stockport, a long way from you but I have always found them to be reliable and helpful. 0161 476 4645