lewisericeric Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Does anyone have any insight into the reliability of Barrus Shire engines? I've only had experience with Beta and CanalLine engines before? Are they reliable? Expensive parts? Anything that I should be concerned about in advance (it'll be a new Barrus shire) Cheers guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy D'arth Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 As reliable as any other Jap engine, Yanmar I believe ( The Shanks is Chinese, NSG. ) parts can be expensive of course. There was a problem in times past with smoking but I think that is past now. Odd lagged exhaust instead of heat exchanger on older units, not seen a new one for a while, may be the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 I fitted out a new shell in 99/2000 I fitted a beta but sold the boat soon after completion, maybe a year. A friend fitted his out at the same time, he fitted a Shire and still owns and lives on the same boat. He has had no serious issues so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisericeric Posted March 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Interesting and good to know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booke23 Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Yes Barrus Shire engines are decent (not to be confused with Barrus Shanks). You'll often find then in hire fleets with galactic hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterF Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 We had a 40hp engine in a 2002 boat, Yanmar based, sold it in 2000 running well. Only issue we had was that it ate fan belts because it had a single belt for both alternators and water pump but they stopped building them like that years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathanA Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 23 minutes ago, PeterF said: We had a 40hp engine in a 2002 boat, Yanmar based, sold it in 2000 running well. Only issue we had was that it ate fan belts because it had a single belt for both alternators and water pump but they stopped building them like that years ago. Not surprised it chewed belts, must've been trying to power the flux capacitor to send it back in time 2 years that did it 😂😂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 37 minutes ago, PeterF said: We had a 40hp engine in a 2002 boat, Yanmar based, sold it in 2000 running well. Only issue we had was that it ate fan belts because it had a single belt for both alternators and water pump but they stopped building them like that years ago. Had the same problem with fan belts, appears it was down to the design of the larger 110a alternator. My alternator packed in so I sought a replacement, found they were ludicrously expensive but that was only academic as none were available anywhere and the manufacturers (Mexican?) were out of business and nobody wanted to produce copies of that model due I understand to the number of problems with the design. Since swapping it out, approx 5 years ago, to a generic 90a alternator I have not changed the belt once. Previously I was only getting approx 4 - 5 months per belt. On the general point I find the Barrus shire engine to be reliable. Many of the peripheral parts can be found at a lower price from other makers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterF Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 1 hour ago, PeterF said: We had a 40hp engine in a 2002 boat, Yanmar based, sold it in 2000 running well. Only issue we had was that it ate fan belts because it had a single belt for both alternators and water pump but they stopped building them like that years ago. Should have said sold it in 2020 (18 years old). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy D'arth Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 1 hour ago, reg said: Had the same problem with fan belts, appears it was down to the design of the larger 110a alternator. My alternator packed in so I sought a replacement, found they were ludicrously expensive but that was only academic as none were available anywhere and the manufacturers (Mexican?) were out of business and nobody wanted to produce copies of that model due I understand to the number of problems with the design. Since swapping it out, approx 5 years ago, to a generic 90a alternator I have not changed the belt once. Previously I was only getting approx 4 - 5 months per belt. On the general point I find the Barrus shire engine to be reliable. Many of the peripheral parts can be found at a lower price from other makers. How they ever thought a single v belt would run two alternators, especially an 110A one and the water pump is beyond me. The problem is exacerbated because the 4 pulleys form a square around the belt so that there is minimal belt wrap on the alternators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsM Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 We've also got a 40bhp Barrus Shire. It is easy to service (according to o'h) and it hasn't missed a beat. Very happy with it. However it's our first boat so nothing to compare it with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanb Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Our new build in 2015 has a Barrus Shire 45. No problems so far and very quiet. Chose the 45 for the big alternator and power for the river. However, the manual recommends run at max load for 15 minutes every 50 hours to burn off stuff which can be a bit of a pain as we just like tootling around unless we're on the river. It has a tendency to be a bit smokey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve hayes Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Barrus 40 in ours from 2005, the Yamnar engine is solid starts every time, a little Smokey in locks, probably my fault for battery charging off load. Barrus marinisation generally ok main issue is the 110a altenator driven by the single v belt, not really up to the job. VDO Hour counter packed up years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Re Smoking. Just like my Bukh. Smaller capacity direct injection engines (no glow plugs) are know to be prone to smoking at low powers and speeds. It is related to low swirl in the cylinder and it is one reason indirect injection engines were developed. DI engines will however tend to be very good cold starters and return better fuel consumption at higher revs than indirect injection engines. A tendency to smoke at low revs means incomplete combustion and that gives the opportunity for carbon particles and vaporized fuel to build up in the exhaust, hence the need for a regular high speed/power "blow out". 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 14 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said: Re Smoking. Just like my Bukh. Smaller capacity direct injection engines (no glow plugs) are know to be prone to smoking at low powers and speeds. It is related to low swirl in the cylinder and it is one reason indirect injection engines were developed. DI engines will however tend to be very good cold starters and return better fuel consumption at higher revs than indirect injection engines. A tendency to smoke at low revs means incomplete combustion and that gives the opportunity for carbon particles and vaporized fuel to build up in the exhaust, hence the need for a regular high speed/power "blow out". I had a bukh dv36 in one of my boats. Simply superb. It would start every time, even at minus 10 before the key had been fully turned. No heaters or nowt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 We have a Shire 50 hp. It was installed in 2002 prior to our purchase in 2005. I had read good reports and these engines and to be honest was a major part of our decision to buy. Both alternators have been replaced. Otherwise running well. We are liveaboards and have done some serious travelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 7 minutes ago, Nightwatch said: We have a Shire 50 hp. It was installed in 2002 prior to our purchase in 2005. I had read good reports and these engines and to be honest was a major part of our decision to buy. Both alternators have been replaced. Otherwise running well. We are liveaboards and have done some serious travelling. Presumably really quickly, with 50hp in a narrow boat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luggsy Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 We have the 45 just over 7 years old 4500 hrs never missed a beat starts first time every time , pretty quiet had a few people ask if it's electric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 (Mind you I have 44hp in one of mine... its like a speedboat) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 6 minutes ago, MtB said: Presumably really quickly, with 50hp in a narrow boat! Went like the clappers on the Northern rivers. It is perhaps over powered. Got an egg whisk for the propeller!😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 46 minutes ago, Nightwatch said: Went like the clappers on the Northern rivers. It is perhaps over powered. Got an egg whisk for the propeller!😊 Get a nice 27 x 14 fitted and you'll be able to keep CRT at bay in 20 mins cruisin time a fortnight! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Or even 22 x 18 ...................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George and Dragon Posted March 8, 2022 Report Share Posted March 8, 2022 20 hours ago, PeterF said: Should have said sold it in 2020 (18 years old). I was wondering how you managed to sell it in 2000 16 hours ago, luggsy said: pretty quiet had a few people ask if it's electric Shire 40. Had the same on a couple of occasions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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