Timleech

http://www.narrowboatpainting.co.uk/Pages/JohnsRestorations.aspx Shame we don't see him riding it off into the sunset. Tim

Closer to the former, as I understand it, seems it may be that safety mechanisms fitted when the lift was rebuilt are not adequate mechanically. A small issue in the grand scheme of things, but not a five minute job to fix properly. Tim

Seems reasonable to me. The canoeist needs it to be seen. Tim

They will tolerate being pretty tight, but of course there is a limit... It's possible that Amal have stocks of the part, but it won't be cheap. Having failed to get any reply from them over another part, I decided to make one as I was building up a complete spare pump. See:- http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=70676&page=2, Post No21 I made it with extra thread length and a deeper brass cap nut, just to reduce the risk of stripping the thread. Be aware that these fittings came in different sizes for different engines, but I should think all the LWs have the same fitting. The banjo on mine has a bigger hole in the inner face, a Dowty washer would be no use on that. No idea why, but it's not the only one that I've seen like that. Tim

The wording seems a bit ominous, though probably written by somebody who knows nothing. Tim

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/3511/anderton-boat-lift

Saltersford is a more scary prospect, surely? They say there must be 'good sight lines'. Did anyone go and check? Tim

It would be bonkers to try to count those separate firing strokes. At 400-ish rpm, they do meld pretty well together even though you can distinguish them if you really feel the need. Tim

Yes, but two combustion strokes are close together and generally sound like one 'beat'. If you get it running really slowly you can distinguish the two. Tim

Earliest canal boating, probably a hired rowing boat with my father on the Bude canal. No idea of the year, maybe 1960-ish. Tim

Alternatively, consider using a rocker switch. That will need a neatly cut rectangular hole. Tim

Sorry, your point is lost on me, I simply said that it was particularly important to leave top gates closed.

But it can't (shouldn't) be empty if the top gate is open!

There are various special cases, but normal on canals is to shut all gates if nobody is within sight. Particularly important for top gates, because bottom gates generally leak more. Tim

Why bother when you really can just count the beats against a clock? Tim

If anyone wants a solid cordless jigsaw for DIY money, I have a Milwaukee that I bought secondhand some years ago but never really used - I couldn't really get on with the slider switch. I don't think the previous owner used it much, either. I'll try to dig it out in the next couple of days and see how the battery is. Tim

A standard 3kW immersion heater would just about keep one reasonable radiator, or a couple of small ones, hot if running flat out. 3kW x 24 hours x 30 days = 2160 units, multiply that by what you are paying per unit. Tim

We knew them as clerestories on the Hotel Boats Mabel & Forget-me-Not, where they housed water tanks as well as providing ventilation and illumination. Tim

count the number of 'beats' in a minute, and double it. Tim

More to do with having a transversely mounted inline fuel pump, methinks.

I need to use the cold start button (for a cold start) on my 4LW because there is a heavy alternator load almost immediately, without the excess fuel the engine will fire but not pick up. Tim

Certainly on Nationals any list on the boat can have a small effect on tickover speed, because the weight of various components is either being pushed uphill or downhill according to the angle. Mind you, the National governor design is crap, especially when it has 50 to 80 years' wear built in. The original RN governor is a bit better, but I can still imagine that sort of effect arising. I think they did imrove the governor design for later engines, but can't remember the details. Tim

Does it change if you rock the boat?

If you don't need it, don't use it. Tim