LEO

Well that's scuppered it, the arm chair surveyors and valuers have struck again - any of you chaps looked at or lived in a 300/400 year old cottage which has been restored? people pay good money for them - perhaps the same applies to carefully restored boats. It would be nice to see it for real and then pass judgement - then one gets a genuine opinion............... I made quite a good living buying old, clapped out houses, restoring and selling them (for quite high sums), boats are a similar commodity. Provided the work is done well what's the problem?. It's the same having an old working boat which is re-plated. re-built and re-fitted, only one is working in a developing market which the 'arm chair' valuer can't see..

I tend to agree on this ----- but getting it to open is a start and with some diesel and lubrication it may flush the rust out. Not sure if you saw a recent posting on the tiller removal but the poster featured a picture showing the problem. In the background were details of his weed hatch lid with grease nipples in the correct place - at the end of the hinge.......

Could be, it has the brass Barley Twist canopy supports, but is not as decorated as the Showman's engines on display these days. It wold be interesting if the signage on the wagon was clear. There is a really good gathering of steam engines and machinery on the 7/8th July = Chiltern Hills Traction Engine rally at Prestwood Bucks, well worth a visit......

Excellent, I noticed these as a poster a few days ago was having problems with his gas locker lid and applying lubrication. Removing the tiller - I would try to get some old fashioned wood splitting wedges and ease one under each side if the round boss. tapping each to try to force the tiller off, having got these tight a sharp tap on the boss nay free it. L

I hope it comes off easily, don't forget to tie a rope to it in case it does and drops into the canal. Boat looks well made and looking at the picture you have grease nipples at the ends of the weed hatch hinges!!!. L

It would have been better to drill the holes on top of the hinge so that the lubricant would drain from a 'well'. The grease nipples were drilled and tapped at the end of the hinge, you have got to get lubricant to the end of the hinge. The security doors I mentioned esrlier worked so well and easily they nearly caused accidents and safety notices had to be posted. Hope this helps, but the holes are really in the wrong place.

Drill a small hole in the outer housing and either tap it and fit a grease nipple (and apply grease) or leave hole open and insert penetrating oil until it operates freely and find small plastic plug to seal the hole. We had this problem on heavy exterior steel security doors and option 1 (grease nipples) was the best. But in either case lubricant has got to reach the far end of the cup. Hope this helps

Sorry, but the installation in the pictures is not safe and the BSS regs are clear on this point. Interesting that it's a Ted Spenser boat, l know of one other and that does not comply with regard to gas storage - it's not possible on a tug style boat to store 2 upright 13Kg gas bottles upright in a dedicated front locker without flooding the locker up to the level of the vents. I know some owners, faced with this problem, flood the locker for the BSC examination and the dry it out for the next 4 years. but it's crazy to carry on like this - as it is with your set up. I was faced with a similar problem with my tug style and a dedicated front locker, I modified this and installed small 4KG bottles, more expensive, but safer and saves drying out the locker after each BSC inspection or boating with corks in the gas vents! - you could weld plates to provide sealed self draining units. on the front of your lockers and install side vents and go for small bottles this would make them compliant, and allow access to lift the bottles out through the front doors. Hope this helps. L

Excellent, countryside really looks good, lots of water in the reservoirs. A few tips on the background filming would be interesting, were it was filmed from, heights and how much editing was needed and possibly type of drone. Very impressive though, thanks for sharing.

Hi KK mentioned a Kingfisher on the Tring Summit in post 10, and there should be more as they have nested in one point on the summit for 100 years or more, excavating long tunnels in a sandy bank. Sadly a few years ago during the nesting season heavy rain caused the bank to collapse and a nest was lost. I saw 7 fledglings one afternoon a few years ago at the Berko end of the summit as they left the nest and often I see them among the boats of the LT moorings. If you are travelling along the summit you may well see/hear them beyond Tring station bridge.

Wise words, Whale Gulper every time.

Hi, I have a conventional PV system with a 'Solar Immersion' fitment added (Google 'Solar Immersion' for details). I have a conventional domestic hot tank with a top fitted immersion. I went for a 1Kw extra long heater (purchased from Solar units? on the internet), I chose a 1KW unit as this works when perhaps weather conditions are allowing the PV unit to produce 1Kw and also when using power for domestic use often there is 1Kw + spare to power the immersion as well as the appliance being used. It heats up HWater quickly to a very high temperature, but I am not sure how much of the tank gets heated, some users suggest fitting a pump helps circulate hot water in the tank , improving the performance, but to date I am happy with the quantity of hot water produced. My domestic unit produced 490 units in May and last quarter 970 units, this is down on previous years due to poor weather, I shall get a payment from nPower of about £190 soon. Hope this helps, let me know if you want more info. >

Hi, I have a similar system which powers up a 240v/1Kw immersion heater on my 4 Kw PV system at home, it's brilliant, but gets the water very hot. It's wired in and switched on 24/7, catching any surplus power after domestic use, once water hot surplus electric diverts to the grid. I will be interested to learn how you get on.

I have had Morris oil from this shop, agree great price but my mate who brings it down South for me is laid up at the moment and had been for a while.

I had problems with the starter motor on 'Keb' when I owned her and tried to buy a replacement unit. One guy suggested putting the Starter motor in a bowl and then spray 2 cans of WD40 through. Then leave it to dry for 24 hours. This I did and it was as good as new....amazing amount of crud came out though.

Thanks for all the replies and information. The Millers oil at Classic Oils works out to £5 per litre, not sure about the costings on Morris oils. I used to buy Morris oils in 25 litre drums but have found these unwieldy so the switch to 5 litre containers in no hardship. I may give ACS a ring, or get some Morris oil delivered to home.

I normally buy Morris Sae30 for my 2LW from Classic oils Aylesbury, but they have been forced to change premises and now only stock Miller's oil. Both seem to be the same spec and similar prices, but the Miller's is supplied in traditional 5 litre cans. Any thoughts on the Miller's product?. It was nearly an expensive visit ....... the owner imports cars from New Zealand and had a nice Austin A30 for sale - £4950, looked lovely and I started driving in an A35 years ago.....

I've got one and a ladder on the mooring. Fell in one cold November day changing a gas bottle. Only way out is via a ladder or failing that a hearse..............................

I have one of those, purchased it in 1976, nice bits of kit!.

Cheerfully agree with you, I bought a Bosch 12v one brilliant - No more chewed up screwheads.... they are well worth the money. Impressed with the size of screw they can drive.

I find these small cordless screwdrivers poor - even the Bosch ones - I noticed in Wickes to-day they were selling good 12V Bosch drills for £58 - a much more useful but of kit. Have used these for several years - much better.

There have been problems at this car park for several years, not somewhere I would chose to leave my car overnight. A drive round the immediate area might interest you.....