RLWP

Tape measure have two ends, the safe end and the dangerous end. I try to stay at the safe end, not the one with the casing and the numbers. The end with the hook on is much safer Richard

Which end? Richard

If you can't fix it easily Frank, I'm in Kenilworth and boat engines and gearboxes (and cement mixers - how did that happen?) is what I do. Happy to offer advice too Richard

Right, its a GHS4SIK, you have it slightly mixed in the title According to this: http://www.vetus-shop.com/vetus-diesel-generator-4kva-32kw-p-3277.html it is a single cylinder Farymann F1.02 single cylinder engine So, it can't be the same problem I saw before - not enough cylinders... Richard

That bit is wrong - last time I had an engine like that, the head gasket had gone Richard

How are you doing this? Richard

I can assure you that if you were relying on the split pin alone to hold the prop on, you are in big trouble! The prop should be firmly on a taper, and held by a nut. It needs freeing from the taper to get it off The nut stays in place by being done up tight, so it is friction on the face of the nut against the prop and extension of the shaft stub that holds it in place As a final belt and braces step, the nut has a split pin Richard He was no fool - I doubt he would have sold many films made in muddy rivers. Working by hand in the invisibility of a cold, running, muddy river like Police divers do would be a complete nightmare for me

The OP does have a significant problem though - he is in London. Getting any engineer to work in London is difficult Richard

You can't talk about Pete's prop like that! Richard

So, magnesium body, thermite core and a detonator http://humanities.uwe.ac.uk/bhr/Main/ww2/images/incendiary.jpg Should be a nice scrap metal job Richard

Phosphorous is what ey used in incendiary bombs. Locked away in the mud at the bottom of the cut? Who knows Aren't there parts of the BCN where phosphorous gets dredged out? Richard

Finding the prop is a job for a keb. Heaven only knows what else you'll find Try not to pull out any incendiary bombs Richard

Do let us know how you get on, and don't hesitate to ask if you get stuck Richard

I'm pretty sure Charity Dock has a dry dock. They should be able to sort you out refixing the prop too Richard

Where are you? Richard

As I started to read that, I thought you were also trying to get me into cold water. Fortunately, it all came good in the end Richard

Jolly fun from 2010: Richard

Wuss! Tawny went through a phase of this just before the Great Stilsons episode. We never lost the prop, fortunately You should be able to get a key in and the prop on, even the split pin in (or piece of coathanger in an emergency). We found it nigh on impossible to get the nut tight enough with the boat in the water I'd recommend booking some dry dock time Richard What's the water temperature? Richard