bargemast

Thanks a lot for the posting of that video Tim. Peter.

If you didn't know what the part with the blue Arrow is for, I presume that you've never changed the fuel filter of your engine, and suggest to do that now before you'll break down somewhere on the Seine (or elsewhere), as it's no fun getting engine troubles on a big river, or in one of the locks sharing with a bunch of big barges that are (as always) in a hurry. Peter.

That's why I wrote in the first line that the 240's were rearwheel drive, and they had therefore only U-J's in their driveshafts. Peter.

The older Volvo's like the 240 Series were rearwheel drive and much stronger than the more modern stuff. In the early 70's I had a Volvo 122S with the engine of a 123GT one of the most reliable cars I've ever had, that car was virtualy indestructible, too bad they don't make that sort of cars anymore, as I wouldn't hesitate to have another one. Peter.

I presume your not moving today then Peter.

Higgs, I agree for 100% with you, I'm the same, still listening to my favorite music of the 60's and 70's, and just can't get enough of it. One day I should become a bit more clever, and store it all on a hard disc, or some other means of digital storage. Peter.

It's a personal thing, some people want to see even a very good film only once, I have a couple that I watch probably about once a year, and while knowing what is going to happen already, I still enjoy them, almost as much as the first time. My favorite is :"The Worlds Fastest Indian", call me crazy, I don't care. Peter.

It's always a good idea to read the manufacterers installation instructions, and if the installation was done by a so called "Professional", I would avoid him/her for any future work to be done on the boat, and keep that person at a safe distance. Peter.

bizzard, I'm often wondering if there will ever be a problem for which you don't have the perfect and easy solution Peter.

Sorry, I can't cheer you up, all I can say is that I feel very sorry for the poor dog. Peter.

Of course my Samofa 2S108 wasn't a marine version, and also hadn't gone through the hands of T.R. but the engine was in very good condition, I sold the engine for only 400€. Nobody of the forum seemed to be interested at the time, but I least I made a happy buyer elsewhere. Peter.

Hope that you'll have an easier life in SE Asia. Peter.

That's surely the main reason why there are still so many around, I'm in no rush to replace the one I have in a small Tjalk (9m50) I have, as it's still running like a brand new one. Peter.

It's much better to use cables that are heavier than needed than not heavy enough, I normally do just like you do, just to play safe. Peter.

You are right, with a father like that who's willing to help his son out, it wouldn't be very hard to produce a floating shell of the right dimensions (not too large for the canal locks) brand new, as you say £10.000 will buy you a lot of new steel and a pile of welding rods. He will not end up with a boat made by a well know quality boatbuilder, but that would never happen with a £10.000 budget anyway, but fitting out the brand new shell build by his father would be well within his possibilities as a cabinet maker, and that would be something that father and son could be very proud of. Peter.

Another boat that was built in the UK and fitted as standard with a Mercedes OM 636 was the highly popular CATFISHER 28 they were fitted with a VOLVO hydraulic drive with 2 props and were incredibly manoeuvrable. I never knew that there were at least a handful narrowboats with this engine. Of course a higher price because of an engine like this in a traditional engineroom is not justified, and even less being hidden away in a soundproof box, which may be pleasant for the ears, but certainly not for the views of engine(room) enthousiasts. Peter.

I am amazed to learn that there are more narrowboats that have a Mercedes OM 636 engine, this was the first time I heard about one fitted in one. They must be pretty rare anyway, as in all the years that I've been reading about narrowboats, and looking regulary through the ads, I've never seen one listed before. Many years ago I had an old 1957 Mercedes 180D ex-taxi, that had done 500.000km when the car died, the engine was never overhauled and still running beautifully, it was bought by someone who was going to marinise her and put her in a boat, I wouldn't be surprised if she's still running. Peter.

I can't say anything about this boat, but I can say something about the engine, the Mercedes OM 636 is one of the best engines Mercedes has ever built, this engine here is quite likely the only one that's installed in a narrowboat, but there are still thousends (without exagerating) installed in boats on the other side of the Channel, I even have a Mercedes OM 636 in one of my boats. You can find them also in small trucks, generators, tractors and not to forget the famous all terrain vehicle Mercedes Unimog, it's a very versatile and virtually almost indestructible engine that Mercedes produced for about 50 years. Peter.

You were right to admit that you were wrong though. The same mistake is made by many others too, but they often don't want to understand their error. Peter.

With this clear explanation of what-and how to do, the OP should be able to cure his problem. I'm often reading your diagnoses specially of Listers, and it seems that there aren't any secrets for you with one of these, you've been, and are, a very useful helper to many. Peter.

Here's some stuff to read about the very sad tree story in the Midi. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/more-plane-trees-felled-along-canal-du-midi-in-fight-against-killer-fungus Peter.

Thank you both very much for the posting of these pictures Riverman and Pluto. Peter.