Search the Community

Hey looking for some advice, currently servicing our bmc engine which has 3 old fuel filters fitted that I've replaced, got 3 new ones on there and started bleeding the system which was going fine as normal for the first 2 filters, then the final 3rd filter I can't seem to get any diseal to come through (got the bleed screw open and the manual injector pump is working but can't get any fuel to come through) tried taking the filter off and putting back and there doesn't seem to be any obvious issue stopping it from getting through after the 2nd filter which bleed successfully. Anyone got any troubleshooting advice or ideas on what the issue might be?

Hi all looking through this forum I am struggling to find the definative reference for a replacement oil filter for a 1.8 bmc. I understand this may be a hard to answer question as when visiting a motor factor I was presented with the 3 options all much smaller than my original which may or may not be correct My thanks in advance

Hi all, I have these ancient metalastik type rear engine mounts on my BMC 1.5 that have given up and need replacing. This one had broken before and was fixed as part of an engine rebuild by Calcutt Boats, it looks like they just filled the centre with a rubber washer. I know these are obsolete, does anyone know of a source to buy some used or a way of changing to a different mount? A search of the forums revealed I'm not the first with this issue but I couldn't see how it was previously resolved.

Gents - I am bewildered by the 'cooling' circuit of my recently acquired boat. The 'cooling circuit' does not include passing water through the block and head!! Surely enough, the thing overheats... Someone has mounted the Jabsco pump 'backwards' on a steel blanking plate that covers where the car engine water pump used to go. This plate was not a quick bodge, includes a welded-on boss for mounting the alternator etc. The usual Jabsco pump cover is missing and the pump face is screwed to the plate from the inner side. I can not for the life of me understand how the water was meant to circulate in the block. As you see in the photos the Jabsco pump sucks in raw water and pumps it to the bypass end of the manifold. The large boss on the front of the manifold is routed to the thermostat housing, but from there the whole engine is a dead end!! When I took off the pump/blanking plate no water came out. Before I get and old car pump to provide hose access into the block (without using this pump to pump coolant) and construct a bracket to mount a new Jabsco near the timing cover - can anyone think what might have been a logical reason for blanking-off the normal engine water input? I will add that the vendor had the impeller replaced and the mechanic splice/re-routed the hose from the Jabsco to go into the small bypass boss on the back of the manifold - from wherever it went before (but not the usual coolant input on the front of the block). Of course the whole system looks OK- lots of water coming out of the exhaust!!

Does anyone have a good guess of what could be making this sound on my BMC 1.8? Could it be loose timing chain, something with pistons, or something else? The sound is louder on the left side of the engine, maybe at the front but I'm not quite sure. I just recently had fuel pump renewed, as it had leaked diesel into the oil during the winter. This sound probably has nothing to do with this, but it appeared at the same time. engine_noise2.mp4

Just found out today that my BMC 1.5 could cost thousands to repair... The chap could only have a quick look at it, but there's a major knocking noise coming from somewhere and it will only operate at very low load. Very smokey, etc. He can't get to having a proper look at it until next month, but he reckons it could cost thousands to repair... With me not having thousands, I was wondering what my other options are? It might be considering getting hold of a replacement engine - so would I have to replace it with another BMC 1.5 or can something else go in? And where's a good place to get hold of a decent used engine at a reasonable price? Thank you, James

I have purchased a macwester wight 30 sail boat 1970 with bmc captains diesel .I'm looking for any and all information I can find. Pictures, Manuals,parts etc. Any info you have would be appreciated. The motor has not run for about three years. Anything I should know before I turn it over?

Hello and thanks for having me. I'm embarrassed to say I don't know what horsepower my bmc is, nevermind its registration number. There are no papers with my boat.. I bought it from a Dutch man who didnt seem to know much more than me. Ive found a series of numbers that don't make sense to me.... Here they are..SPE 44 755 619 BMC. I need to know what the engine is to get a replacement water pump. I'm enclosing photos so you can see. Thank you for reading! Dawn

Hi there, I've got a problem with my BMC 2.2 diesel engine that is giving me no end of trouble - any knowledge or advice would be much appreciated. Basically, the engine starts fine with the normal amount of smoke which dies down after a short while. The boat runs nicely, doesn't hunt or miss and will run for over an hour whilst moored up either just on idle or revving the engine during the process. The problem occurs when I go up river. After about 10 minutes of cruising at a slow speed the revs drop . If I push the throttle forward then the revs pick up again but after a while they drop again. This happens repeatedly until the throttle is fully open but the engine is only doing perhaps 1000 rpm. The engine will then stall and not restart. After about 10 mins the engine starts and all seems fine but again it will do the same after another short run up the river. At no point is the engine overheating and is maintaining about 60 degrees when warmed up. So far I've done the following. Replaced fuel pump and all filters. Emptied and cleaned tank and put in fresh diesel. Cleaned air filter. Replaced fuel pipe on inlet side. Checked and cleaned tank vent (and tried with fuel filler open) Checked for diesel bug. Bled (several times) filters, injection pump and injectors. I'm really stuck on what it could be. Any suggestions? Philip

Hi all, I have a BMC 1.8 that ran fine, then I had a leak from the fuel pump that meant I had to get it reconditioned. Now at idle it runs really lumpy and produces white smoke. It seems ok in gear and moving, maybe with the odd splutter. I know removing and reinstalling the fuel pump can mess with the timing, I'm pretty dim with these engines can I only twist the pump one way or another and repeat as a trial and error method or is there something that would be easier? Thanks in advance.

Hello all, I hope it's been as sunny for you as it has been in the Midlands. So.. I have bought a boat with a slightly ill 1.8 BMC, it's coming together but for some reason it didn't have a dipstick when I bought it (just a snapped off pencil down the dipstick tube) I am going to fabricate my own but was hoping that a kind soul on the forums might help by measuring the complete length of theirs from the stop lip on the 'bung' (ie the length that sits inside the tube) and also the distance from the bottom to the high/low markers. Such a simple thing a dipstick but it has to be right! All the best Steve

Hi all, Long story short, I had my pump reconditioned some months back. It's always ran like crap at idle but luckily on Saturday a mechanic came out and sorted the timing out and it sounds great now, not perfect but good enough without getting the pump off and using a timing tool. Anyway, the pipes that come out of the back of the pump seem to be leaking around the nut, hard to tell as I've ran out of TP and Kitchen Roll but it would make sense as these were slackened to turn the pump. Is it just a case of removing the throttle plate and making sure they're all tightened up or are there any washers in there that may have likely perished?

Could anyone identify this gear box please. It's attached to a BMC 1.5 with polar heat exchanger. The gear is slipping on high revs and I have been told there is a clutch tensioner but not so sure. Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi i was hoping someone will be able to help me find out what starter motor i need for my bmc 2.2 in my narrowboat. I have recently had the starter motor replaced but they have put the wrong motor back on it and they dont have my original motor still to get the part numbers from. If there is anyone that can point me in the right direction of what motor i need to find or even better if anyone has one for sale it would be most appreciated.

Hi everyone, iam looking for some advice regarding my raw water cooled 2.2 ltr BMC plumbing. Now i currently have plastic polly pipes connecting my engine to the calorifier. Iam currently re plumbing the boat and am working on the calorifier so i wondered whilst iam there could i re pipe the engine in copper or would the vibrations from the engine running cause me problems for soldered joints. all opinions welcome. cheers. Darren

Hi I'm looking for a good reliable mechanic to service a BMC 1.5 engine boat currently in Hackney wick. Cheers Markymark

Hi guys a bit of advice needed for a mechanical learner here, I have a raw water cooled (from a mud box) 2.2 ltr BMC diesel engine and the water pump has developed a constant drip when the engine is turned off after an hour ish of running. This "drip" is now quite bad and about a litre dripped out over night from the pump and a old hose (now fixed). Now i can see a loose rubber O ring that in the pump (between the cast bits) that seams wrong, my other theory was the impeller inside the pump? or possibly the thermostat? there my three guesses what dose every one think? My main worry is in the tray i placed under the pump to catch the water there seams to be some trace of coolant (blue/greeny colour) which could of possibly come from a loose hose which i have now tightened and that drip seams to have stopped and could have been a separate issue??. Any way i now need to put more water and anti freeze in the bowman can i use standard 50/50 blue anti freeze and coolant from halfords? or do i need something different. Cheers

Our bilge looked like this when we first picked Freyja up from Aquaduct marina. Looking towards the stern, SWSBO wouldn't let me have an engine room, so I made an effort on the engine 'ole!

I love this BMC engine since I heard its sound. It came with Ten Broeke boat which I've imported from Holland in 2019. Since then, I was lucky to sail 150-200 working hours on rivers (Danube, Sava, Tisza) and canals in Serbia. 1 - A problem arose: oil mixed with fuel after many oil dipstick checks. Diagnosis: bad Fuel injection pump and also AC pump (12v) which was used to replace old and not functioning original mechanical AC pump. Just one of four injectors working properly when tested. 2 - Solution and work: a. fuel pump rebuilt with new sealings and replaced idle part. b. new nozzles attached, c. new mechanical AC pump attached in order to replace 12v ac pump, d. old rubber fuel hoses replaced with new ones, d. drained out mixed oil and fuel (about 7 litters) and filled with SAE30 oil about 4,5 liters. 3 - After rebuilt issues: unstable engine, hard to start (even it is cold outside, before was better), a lot of smoke (with now particular color), low revs when idle, changing revs suddenly, knocking inside in engine - strange sound, smoke with now color on the oil filler cap, a burst of oil particles when oil dipstick pulled out. What I will do: a. check for fuel pump angle on engine block, b. check if I replaced old nozzles with proper ones (Tony Brooks suggestion) @Tony Brooks Where to find those pintaux type of nozzles? Thanks. Video immediately after fiting back Fuel Injection Pump and first ride shows no trouble at all. Its was 10c outside. Surprisingly I gained speed 2km/h more than It was before. After those videos, I have tried to start engine when was 1C outside (much more cold than first time) and noticed all described problems.