Midnight

I'm very grateful for the help received. Despite the engine running for 2 hours today I suggested my friend does the following: 1/ Replace the water trap with a CAV filter/water trap positioned lower with new joints on every connection 2/ Add a vent to the working tank as suggested by Tony maybe drilling the dolly (or replacing with a ready drilled one) with the flame trap screwed to it 3/ Replace the filter housing as belt and braces

Thank you plans are afoot to add a vent to the other tank as think the vent hole in the locking filler cap gets blocked when it's screwed down tight

I'm down looking at the problem but the engine has been running for over an hour. Three maybes 1 before starting the engine I bled it at the filter housing the one with the plastic black button on top 2 noticed a very very slight damp patch on the water trap outlet. I wiped it dry and it still is 3 the vent for the tanks is on the reservoir tank. The two tanks are connected at the bottom with a square pipe. The working tank has the filler and the syphon tube. It's a plastic locking cap and I'm not sure the vent on the cap isn't blocked when the cap us screwed down tight. Am I correct in thinking the vent on the reservoir tank will work for both tanks. The boat is 34 years old so it's a long shot if its a vacuum issue.

Thank you for your suggestions. I'm going to take a look tomorrow (Wednesday) we can discount the vacuum theory it does same with diesel filler cap off. It has two connected tanks but I'm told the syphon tube is in the one with the filler. I asked if any work was done prior to the problem but apparently not since they were on their last summer cruise before Covid. The boat stood idle for quite awhile hence my thoughts that some gloop floating around in the tank but the diesel was polished recently. I'm hoping to spot an air leak maybe a cracked connection or filter housing as suggested by Tony Brooks but you would think a Beta recommended engineer would have spotted that. I'll run it until it stops then check how much fuel is in the filter. Several years ago they had a problem with cutting out but only the tidal Ouse (several times - different engine) I went with them down to Selby and it did stop and refused to start for 20 minutes after a branch jammed the propeller. Turned out the fuel lines were laid over the exhaust which must have caused the diesel to boil when the engine stopped. The boat is built like a canoe so only had a 23hp engine back then.

I'm going to see on Wednesday not that I can do much more but checkout what's been suggested.

Thank you Tony for your reply. Some more information from my friend. The boat is a Norton Canes about 32 years old it has two diesel tanks with a connecting tube. The engineer who looked at it was recommended by Beta Marine. He checked every pipe and joint in the fuel lines and changed the diesel filters for Beta supplied filters. The engine ran for over an hour afterwards so it was assumed he had fixed it. The next day it ran for the usual few minutes before spluttering and stopping. It's done same ever since. No other work was done since the first Covid lockdown except to have the diesel polished. You mentioned cracked filter heads is that the top part of the filter cartridge or the part of the engine the filter cartridge screws onto?

A friend of mine has an issue with a Beta 30 cutting out after a couple of minutes. He's had several boat engineers looking at it including a Beta engineer. The concensus is a vacuum issue with the diesel tank but he tried it with the fuel cap off and still same problem. The fuel lines and filters have been checked. My guess is something floating around inside the tank so I suggested he runs the engine until it cuts out then removes the engine fuel filter to see if there's any fuel in it. If it's empty we will know it's a fuel issue. If full he needs to look elsewhere. I'm not a diesel engineer but am surprised one of those who have looked at the problem haven't done that. Any other suggestions or similar experiences with same engine?

If you have a smart phone try using the 'UK Aerial Alignment' app from Google Play. I used it all over the Midlands and North West last year and could usually get at least one or two of the major channels. I find it works better if you stand away from the boat.

Guitar (badly), mandolin (hopeless), fair to sh*te blues harmonica written few songs with canal theme. Arthur Marshall late of this parish on the other hand is rather good and has written some very nice stuff, http://www.arthurmarshall.co.uk/

Good news indeed. Once the rudder is fixed Lady G will have some good options. Gargrave is a very nice stop with shops and services. Based on past experiences of other boaters I know C&RT Yorkshire will be a bit more accommodating than North West seems to have been.

Now let's think who would be more experienced at fixing paddles a locky with 30 years experience or a road contractor?

I never mentioned contractors

Surely the C&RT inspectors that go around assessing the state of the infrastructure will have a very good idea if not they are in the wrong job. Then there's those locks with only one working paddle. Those eleven cancellations from the winter works programme which the inspector probably already flagged up as urgent.

"We never stop working to improve our canals and rivers, so that they make life better by water for everyone, every day." Eleven cancelled winter stoppages so far - Mr Parry have you stopped working?

Sorry I thought this was the "Another canal side property for sale" thread 😆