Help.....I'm frozen

[MtB]

12 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Not that, despite what the OP says, I have been had once by a London boater swearing there was free parking close to the boat only to find that it was on double yellow lines. I also find driving in London very stressful. I have no wish to get mixed up with ULEZ bureaucracy. When I visit to try to help boaters it is on a FOC basis, I so don't see I should not specify where I will and will not attend. Quite apart from all that, I know I would have great difficulty walking the 100 yards the OP mentions after an hour's drive. I find your question rather odd.

 

I too have completely stopped working in London due to problems with customers bending the truth about parking arrangements, and then ULEZ was the last straw. 

 

[Tracy D'arth]

I stopped working in London after the Queen's coronation.

[Tony Brooks]

2 hours ago, Vanessageard said:

called someone who said it was the solenoid?!?,

 

On the vast majority of inland boat engines, there are just two solenoids, neither of which would be likely to stop a running engine.

 

The starter solenoid, that in the vast majority of cases would only prevent you starting the engine, or the stop solenoid, that would either prevent you stopping the engine or, if stuck in the stop position, prevent you starting the engine.

 

On some engines (mainly Beta) the starter solenoid looks a pig to get at, the starter motor has to be removed and that is not easy with the engine mounting bar being in the way.

 

On many engines, the stop solenoid can be disconnected, allowing the engine to be stopped and reset to the run position manually.

 

If the boat was running and just lost power and stopped, then it being a solenoid problem gives me the impression it was a misdiagnosis. In that event, a fuel problem seems more likely. When were the fuel filters last changed, and when was the bottom of the fuel tank last cleaned? The other possibility would be very bad overheating leading to seizure, but once the engine had cooled in most cases it should at least have turned over on the starter.

 

As others have said, the make and model of engine will help to get better advice, as would a description of what was happening as it failed.

 

 

[Chris Lowe]

5 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

As others have said, the make and model of engine will help to get better advice, as would a description of what was happening as it failed.

If you don't know the make and model, post a load of photos for our experts they are very likely to recognise it.

[Tracy D'arth]

20 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

On the vast majority of inland boat engines, there are just two solenoids, neither of which would be likely to stop a running engine.

 

The starter solenoid, that in the vast majority of cases would only prevent you starting the engine, or the stop solenoid, that would either prevent you stopping the engine or, if stuck in the stop position, prevent you starting the engine.

 

On some engines (mainly Beta) the starter solenoid looks a pig to get at, the starter motor has to be removed and that is not easy with the engine mounting bar being in the way.

 

On many engines, the stop solenoid can be disconnected, allowing the engine to be stopped and reset to the run position manually.

 

If the boat was running and just lost power and stopped, then it being a solenoid problem gives me the impression it was a misdiagnosis. In that event, a fuel problem seems more likely. When were the fuel filters last changed, and when was the bottom of the fuel tank last cleaned? The other possibility would be very bad overheating leading to seizure, but once the engine had cooled in most cases it should at least have turned over on the starter.

 

As others have said, the make and model of engine will help to get better advice, as would a description of what was happening as it failed.

 

 

It could of course be the fuel solenoid on a CAV pump,  as on BMC 1.8D engines.

[Tony Brooks]

5 minutes ago, Tracy D'arth said:

It could of course be the fuel solenoid on a CAV pump,  as on BMC 1.8D engines.

Yes, or a Bosch rotary, but I feel it less likely that an energise to run solenoid would suddenly fail and close. I can see its electricity supply failing for some reason. That is why I was careful to use words like "the majority" to allow for the odd balls.

[mrsmelly]

1 hour ago, Tracy D'arth said:

I stopped working in London after the Queen's coronation.

The M25 was built for a reason. I havnt been inside it for over 25 years when I brought daughter out after finishing Uni. I aint ever going near it ever again!!

[kevinl]

OK, so the starter motor requires a whole load of electricity, more than a little key can handle.

The light gauge wiring to the solenoid trips the big heavy duty supply to the starter motor, via a suitable "fatter" cabling that a key lightweight cable alone couldn't handle, boat isolator key switches exempted as they are a key, but not like you put in a door or a padlock.

Same system works on most cars, you turn the key and the light gauge wiring trips a heavy duty switch for you to power the starter motor.

Sorry if I've explained it badly but I hope it makes some kind of sense, the big supply of electricity is activated by a light electrical contact, aka the solenoid.

K

 

 

 

[Arthur Marshall]

I know they have mixed reviews, and certainly do not always off the cheapest solution, but I do think any new boater who knows little about engines, electric supply and gas should join RCR as a priority. Even if they can't fix it under their terms, you will have immediate access to a fairly reputable engineer or at least a tow to a decent yard.

I'd still recommend this after my mixed experiences with them - fifty fifty for engineers but some good advice and two gearbox repairs partly paid for.

ETA it might be worth the OP checking she doesn't have some kind of policy with them with her insurance.

Edited January 16 by Arthur Marshall

[Tony Brooks]

1 hour ago, kevinl said:

OK, so the starter motor requires a whole load of electricity, more than a little key can handle.

The light gauge wiring to the solenoid trips the big heavy duty supply to the starter motor, via a suitable "fatter" cabling that a key lightweight cable alone couldn't handle, boat isolator key switches exempted as they are a key, but not like you put in a door or a padlock.

Same system works on most cars, you turn the key and the light gauge wiring trips a heavy duty switch for you to power the starter motor.

Sorry if I've explained it badly but I hope it makes some kind of sense, the big supply of electricity is activated by a light electrical contact, aka the solenoid.

K

 

Have I missed the bit where the OP said the problem is that it won't start. I thought she said "I was moving location when the boat stopped, I called someone who said it was the solenoid?!?, "

 

That does not sound like a starter or battery fault initially. I also fear that anything we may try to suggest to the OP may very quickly get more technical than she is happy to consider.

 

I await clarification of exactly what happened and what engine we are talking about. I suppose it is even possible it is a very bad prop foul, but in that case the engine should at least start unless it has jammed in gear.

[Stroudwater1]

3 hours ago, Tracy D'arth said:

I stopped working in London after the Queen's coronation.

Please can you clarify- Victoria,  William and Mary Camilla or Elizabeth (in which case 1st or 2nd) 😊

 

More relevant it could be worth contacting the Canal Chaplains in this situation. No personal dealings but I’ve heard they can be helpful. Social services as another poster mentioned maybe good. Most hospitals have a social worker team I believe. 

https://www.waterwayschaplaincy.org.uk/about-waterways-chaplaincy/
 

 

 

[ditchcrawler]

5 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Please can you clarify- Victoria,  William and Mary Camilla or Elizabeth (in which case 1st or 2nd) 😊

 

More relevant it could be worth contacting the Canal Chaplains in this situation. No personal dealings but I’ve heard they can be helpful. Social services as another poster mentioned maybe good. Most hospitals have a social worker team I believe. 

https://www.waterwayschaplaincy.org.uk/about-waterways-chaplaincy/
 

 

 

Ironically this just came up on my FB page 

 

[trane]

In their first post the OP stated that "someone" has examined the engine and at their request the OP purchased some parts. This engineer/mechanic/boater then never returned. Assuming that that someone have some knowledge of marine engines if we knew what parts were requested we may get some idea what they believed the problem is. 

 

[Tracy D'arth]

48 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Please can you clarify- Victoria,  William and Mary Camilla or Elizabeth (in which case 1st or 2nd) 😊

 

More relevant it could be worth contacting the Canal Chaplains in this situation. No personal dealings but I’ve heard they can be helpful. Social services as another poster mentioned maybe good. Most hospitals have a social worker team I believe. 

https://www.waterwayschaplaincy.org.uk/about-waterways-chaplaincy/
 

 

 

Cheeky Monkey!!!!      Elizabeth II of course.

[LadyG]

1 hour ago, trane said:

In their first post the OP stated that "someone" has examined the engine and at their request the OP purchased some parts. This engineer/mechanic/boater then never returned. Assuming that that someone have some knowledge of marine engines if we knew what parts were requested we may get some idea what they believed the problem is. 

 

It could well be a red herring, someone just fabricating a story to extract cash from OP.

[Tony Brooks]

3 minutes ago, LadyG said:

It could well be a red herring, someone just fabricating a story to extract cash from OP.

 Once she is out of hospital and fit again, some photos may help.

[LadyG]

5 hours ago, Chris Lowe said:

If you don't know the make and model, post a load of photos for our experts they are very likely to recognise it.

OP is in hospital, I think she needs to find a good engineer to get things sorted, even if the probs can be identified, that does not get the boat going. I've never found photos help sort anything.

Surely only a few engines need specialist engineering skills?

Edited January 16 by LadyG

[Tony Brooks]

Just now, LadyG said:

OP is in hospital, I think she needs to find a good engineer to get things sorted, even if the probs can be identified, that does not get the boat going.

 

No, but it may allow her to sound knowledgable, so less ripe for sharp practice.

[David Schweizer]

2 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

 Once she is out of hospital and fit again, some photos may help.

 

That could be some while. The OP says she is currently in hospital being treated for Pneumoniam, If her experience is anything like mine, she will not be recovered for quite a while. I was admitted into hospital with pneunomia at the begining of June last year, and it took several months for me to start feeling much better. I certainly would not have had the stamina to operate a boat for at least three months, hopefully she will recover sooner.

[Mike Tee]

^^^^^^ exactly my experience as well - only hospitalised for just under a week (gallons of antibiotics pumped in did the job) but told to expect a 2 to 3 month recovery period before feeling “normal” again, whatever that is!

[matty40s]

On 16/01/2024 at 18:40, Tony Brooks said:

 Once she is out of hospital and fit again, some photos may help.

Of the boat and heaters of course