Replacing an Engine

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, OldGoat said:

BW refused me permission many years ago - they said the canals weren't suitable for horses.......

Just as well - a potty idea -

Hire a boat

borrow / build some cross trees

Box my Irish Draught-cum hunter- failed showjumper all the way up from Sussex.

 

The horse would have loved the job - he enjoyed working in harness.......

My wife 'drives' (horse and carriage) and we thought it would be a nice idea to do the same with the NB but C&RT said "towpaths are not suitable for horses.

 

We were discussing this whilst our 'townie' (Stoke on Trent) daughter in law was with us, she went very quiet and then said "won't its feet go soft and wrinkly, and, how will you get it out of the canal in the evening"

How we laughed …………………...

[TheBiscuits]

16 hours ago, WotEver said:

Horses need a regular service? Who knew...

I understand they much prefer composting to pumpout ...

[WotEver]

30 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

I understand they much prefer composting to pumpout ...

Which is understandable, I guess. 

[Mad Harold]

19 hours ago, David Mack said:

 

Is there anything actually wrong with the existing engine? Any replacement will not be noticeably more efficient, and if you are looking at a second hand engine, not necessarily more reliable either.

If it is just generally worn out you can still get exchange reconditioned units, which would save all the alterations associated with a change of engine model.

 

The BMC 1500 is a reliable and durable engine.A more modern japanese based conversion may well be quieter and smoother,but I doubt it will be any more fuel efficient or reliable.

It will be far easier and cheaper to replace your engine with the same.

You could also look at having your present engine completely overhauled.It doesn't have to be done by a marine specialist,there are several outfits,on line who overhaul engines (usually for road vehicles) at reasonable prices.

The BMC 1500 was used in many applications the one that comes most readily to mind was the black taxicab.

The technology of this engine will be well known to most engine overhaulers.

19 hours ago, David Mack said:

 

Is there anything actually wrong with the existing engine? Any replacement will not be noticeably more efficient, and if you are looking at a second hand engine, not necessarily more reliable either.

If it is just generally worn out you can still get exchange reconditioned units, which would save all the alterations associated with a change of engine model.

 

The BMC 1500 is a reliable and durable engine.A more modern japanese based conversion may well be quieter and smoother,but I doubt it will be any more fuel efficient or reliable.

It will be far easier and cheaper to replace your engine with the same.

You could also look at having your present engine completely overhauled.It doesn't have to be done by a marine specialist,there are several outfits,on line who overhaul engines (usually for road vehicles) at reasonable prices.

The BMC 1500 was used in many applications the one that comes most readily to mind was the black taxicab.

The technology of this engine will be well known to most engine overhaulers.

[David Mack]

21 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:

The BMC 1500 was used in many applications the one that comes most readily to mind was the black taxicab.

 

I thought taxis used the 2.2/2.5 engine. The 1.5 was used in various vans.

[alan_fincher]

29 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:

The BMC 1500 was used in many applications the one that comes most readily to mind was the black taxicab.

 

7 minutes ago, David Mack said:

I thought taxis used the 2.2/2.5 engine. The 1.5 was used in various vans.

Yes, this is a commonly repeated myth.  The B series diesel (either 1500 or 1800) was never used in Black Cabs.

The 1500 was used in the J4 Van, and the 1800 in the Sherpa.

The diesel version of these vans must have had a very luck-lustre pereformance - although the output is more than enough in a narrow boat, I can't see them accelerating a medium sized van at any reasonable pace at all.

[Boater Sam]

1.5D also used in the Farina Austin Cambridge/Morris Oxford saloon. a veritable snail.

1.8D powered Sherpa vans went too well, they used to fall over on roundabouts.

 

Never in any taxi or Land Rover.

[Fender151]

We had that Morris Oxford, I first learned about car ingines from HELPING my dad to decoke the beast before the annual holiday. One year we did 6 European countries in three weeks,  remember being stuck to the leather bench seats for days in Italy, it always got us back.

The fun we had !!!

 

[Mad Harold]

19 hours ago, alan_fincher said:

 

Yes, this is a commonly repeated myth.  The B series diesel (either 1500 or 1800) was never used in Black Cabs.

The 1500 was used in the J4 Van, and the 1800 in the Sherpa.

The diesel version of these vans must have had a very luck-lustre pereformance - although the output is more than enough in a narrow boat, I can't see them accelerating a medium sized van at any reasonable pace at all.

When I first got my boat (BMC 1500) a couple of old boaters commented that the BMC 1500 was a good engine,but may have done a quarter of a million miles in a taxi before it even saw a boat.

Shouldn't listen to towpath myths.

[alan_fincher]

17 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:

When I first got my boat (BMC 1500) a couple of old boaters commented that the BMC 1500 was a good engine,but may have done a quarter of a million miles in a taxi before it even saw a boat.

Shouldn't listen to towpath myths.

It is a popular towpath myth, but it doesn't make it true!

When I had a BMC 1800 of unknown origins, I did try to research the possible uses of the engine, and it is surprisingly difficult to get good data on quite why so many were built, because not that many went into vans, I believe.  Obviously some were built and marketed directly for marine use, but again I'm not sure it was that many.  One suggestion is that many were used to power things like refrigerator units, but I really don't know how accurate some of he claim are.

 

Strange that a unit that seems to have been ill-regarded in motor vehicles became almost the de-facto choice for leisure narrowboats, and particularly hire fleets for many years.
 

They get a lot of bad press - properly looked after they are a good narrow boat engine, and I'm not at all convinced that modern day Kubota and the like, will still be going strong in such large numbers in 50 years time.

It always amused me that my boat engine might have come out of one of these!....

 

Edited January 16, 2020 by alan_fincher

[MtB]

1 hour ago, alan_fincher said:

It is a popular towpath myth, but it doesn't make it true!

When I had a BMC 1800 of unknown origins, I did try to research the possible uses of the engine, and it is surprisingly difficult to get good data on quite why so many were built, because not that many went into vans, I believe.  Obviously some were built and marketed directly for marine use, but again I'm not sure it was that many.  One suggestion is that many were used to power things like refrigerator units, but I really don't know how accurate some of he claim are.

 

Strange that a unit that seems to have been ill-regarded in motor vehicles became almost the de-facto choice for leisure narrowboats, and particularly hire fleets for many years.
 

They get a lot of bad press - properly looked after they are a good narrow boat engine, and I'm not at all convinced that modern day Kubota and the like, will still be going strong in such large numbers in 50 years time.

It always amused me that my boat engine might have come out of one of these!....

 

 

How curious, I had a Sherpa for a number of years but I don't remember it having sliding doors!

 

 

[cuthound]

7 hours ago, alan_fincher said:

It is a popular towpath myth, but it doesn't make it true!

When I had a BMC 1800 of unknown origins, I did try to research the possible uses of the engine, and it is surprisingly difficult to get good data on quite why so many were built, because not that many went into vans, I believe.  Obviously some were built and marketed directly for marine use, but again I'm not sure it was that many.  One suggestion is that many were used to power things like refrigerator units, but I really don't know how accurate some of he claim are.

 

Strange that a unit that seems to have been ill-regarded in motor vehicles became almost the de-facto choice for leisure narrowboats, and particularly hire fleets for many years.
 

They get a lot of bad press - properly looked after they are a good narrow boat engine, and I'm not at all convinced that modern day Kubota and the like, will still be going strong in such large numbers in 50 years time.

It always amused me that my boat engine might have come out of one of these!....

 

 

Neither am I, as I'm sure all ICE engines will have been banned by then ?

[Alan de Enfield]

7 minutes ago, cuthound said:

Neither am I, as I'm sure all ICE engines will have been banned by then

2030 is the date that no new ICE engined boats will be allowed, 2050 is the date when no "non-zero emission" boats will be allowed on UK waters (Inland & coastal)

 

 

In Maritime 2050, the Government set out its vision for the future of zero emission shipping: “In 2050, zero emission ships are commonplace globally. The UK has taken a proactive role in driving the transition to zero emission shipping in UK waters and is seen globally as a role model in this field, moving faster than other countries and faster than international standards. As a result, the UK has successfully captured a significant share of the economic, environmental and health benefits

associated with this transition.”

 

By 2025 we expect that:
i. All vessels operating in UK waters
are maximising the use of energy
efficiency options. All new vessels
being ordered for use in UK waters
are being designed with zero
emission propulsion capability.
ii. Zero emission commercial vessels
are in operation in UK waters.
iii. The UK is building clean maritime
clusters focused on innovation and
infrastructure associated with zero
emission propulsion technologies,
including bunkering of low or zero
emission fuel.

By 2035 we expect that:
iv. The UK has built a number of clean
maritime clusters. These combine
infrastructure and innovation for
the use of zero emission propulsion
technologies. Low or zero emission
marine fuel bunkering options are
readily available across the UK.
v. The UK Ship Register is known as a
global leader in clean shipping and
the UK is home to a world-leading
zero emissions maritime sector,
with:
a. a strong UK export industry
b. cutting-edge research and
development activities
c. the global centre for investment,
insurance and legal services
related to clean maritime growth.

Edited January 16, 2020 by Alan de Enfield

[system 4-50]

2050:  At dusk, one by one, a group of old men make their furtive way to gather in the back of a dingy, derelict, high street store.  With a last look outside to check that no uninvited passers-by are about, one of them lifts a concealed trapdoor revealing a collection of jerrycans.  The contents of one are poured very carefully into the tank of an engine hiding behind the cans, and, with a nod from all assembled, one man starts the engine.   Fitted with an enormous silencer, the men gaze in awe at the beast.  Fully 60 seconds goes past before the same man utters "Enough!" and shuts the engine down.  The men disperse individually to avoid arousing suspicion, until next time.