For those who like looking at old engines

[koukouvagia]

 

This is a photo taken by Kelvin for publicity purposes and shows one of the Kelvin K2 engines with an Alley and MacLellan's Sentinel foghorn compressor. These were supplied to the Northern Lighthouse Board circa 1939/1940. Each lighthouse had three sets – two working and one on standby. Each Kelvin did no more than 500 hours per year and were regularly and lovingly maintained. They were decomissioned in 1985 and were due to be scrapped. Some were rescued by Phil Trotter at R.W.Davis and I was lucky enough to get one of these. (I can't tell from the picture whether it's mine or not.) There's a fascinating account here by an ex-lighthouse keeper who looked after some of these Kelvins when they were in use on the Isle of Man.

Phil, who lent me this picture, still has one of these engines left. When compared with the prices of, say a new Gardner or a Russell Newbury, they are remarkably good value. According to Phil, people like looking at Kelvins in other people's boats but think they are too complicated for their own use. It's a shame to see such a great engine languishing in a boatyard.

[dave moore]

 

This is a photo taken by Kelvin for publicity purposes and shows one of the Kelvin K2 engines with an Alley and MacLellan's Sentinel foghorn compressor. These were supplied to the Northern Lighthouse Board circa 1939/1940. Each lighthouse had three sets – two working and one on standby. Each Kelvin did no more than 500 hours per year and were regularly and lovingly maintained. They were decomissioned in 1985 and were due to be scrapped. Some were rescued by Phil Trotter at R.W.Davis and I was lucky enough to get one of these. (I can't tell from the picture whether it's mine or not.) There's a fascinating account here by an ex-lighthouse keeper who looked after some of these Kelvins when they were in use on the Isle of Man.

Phil, who lent me this picture, still has one of these engines left. When compared with the prices of, say a new Gardner or a Russell Newbury, they are remarkably good value. According to Phil, people like looking at Kelvins in other people's boats but think they are too complicated for their own use. It's a shame to see such a great engine languishing in a boatyard.

 

Hi all

I'm saddened to hear that Kelvins are regarded as too complex for use by the majority. If you're the kind of boater who simply wishes to turn a key and untie, this is probably true. I've run a J3 in Resolute for almost 10 years and , as a non mechanical/ specialist engineer bloke, have found no problem with the petrol start procedure nor the basic oil change/ filter sort maintenance required. We converted to Glow plug start following magneto problems 7 years ago and I'm not sorry not to be using petrol regularly (tho' I'd like to get the magneto sorted - have a contact - in future ,just to have the petrol start option on high days and holidays. They look wonderful, masses of paint and copper and brass and sound even better. On tick over, it's like a giant pocket watch. So much "grunt" if needed, too...I'd have to have a shedload of counter arguments to contemplate changing it!

Cheers

Dave

[bargemast]

They are absolutely beautiful, and I love peeping in engine-rooms with an engine like that, sadly enough there are not too many around. I'm sure that Phil will find a buyer for his engine, now that everybody knows about him having one laying around. He probably wants to sell it if he can build to boat that go's with it.

 

Peter.

[Ray T]

I like looking at engines!

 

Koukoukvagia I'm sure you will recognise this engine!

 

[BEngo]

Hi all

I'm saddened to hear that Kelvins are regarded as too complex for use by the majority. If you're the kind of boater who simply wishes to turn a key and untie, this is probably true. I've run a J3 in Resolute for almost 10 years and , as a non mechanical/ specialist engineer bloke, have found no problem with the petrol start procedure nor the basic oil change/ filter sort maintenance required. We converted to Glow plug start following magneto problems 7 years ago and I'm not sorry not to be using petrol regularly (tho' I'd like to get the magneto sorted - have a contact - in future ,just to have the petrol start option on high days and holidays. They look wonderful, masses of paint and copper and brass and sound even better. On tick over, it's like a giant pocket watch. So much "grunt" if needed, too...I'd have to have a shedload of counter arguments to contemplate changing it!

Cheers

Dave

 

 

I have had a J2 for the last 20 years boating. It was in store for a couple of years before that after I assembled it from a pile of parts. The reason people think the K and J are complicated is because all the pipework is exterior, the push rods are in separate tubes and of course it has assorted changeover levers. Compared with something like a Dorman DSM, a Lister JP or an FR it looks complicated, so people think it is. That's handy on the Thames, as the lockies usually don't mind you keeping it going, and it draws the gongoozlers. A jumbo jet flight deck is a complicated looking place, but most of it is quite simple when you know what it does. The Kelvin J and K are the same.

 

All that copper, bronze and brass mean a bigger Brasso bill, but I wouldn't be without mine. Goes well, sounds lovely, idles like a sewing machine with a perfectly clean exhaust (once warm) and doesn't burn too much diesel. what more do you need.

 

When at work most Kelvins were routinely looked afterr by scottish fishermen, so they are robust and simple. The starting routine is pretty simple and I managed to teach both my wife and my brother-in-law how to get it going quite quickly. I always use the petrol and hand start, but they use the petrol and the starter motor. Either way any sign of a poor start is quickly apparent so it's time to clean the plugs, but I always have a spare serviceable magneto in stock. My spare was bought new from Lucas in 1984 ish and cost then £177-00. A rebuild costs more than that now.

 

Yes, you have to wipe up the odd oil weep and it's always a good idea to keep an eye on them them to see how the water pump is doing or what has decided to become loose, but they are a reliable, low-stress highly Green engine. They will keep going even when badly neglected, much more so than any light weight high-efficiency modern machinery.

 

 

 

N

[JohnO]

Lovely picture J, sort of explains why them K's were so big when you can see what they were drivin'.

[Timleech]

Phil, who lent me this picture, still has one of these engines left. When compared with the prices of, say a new Gardner or a Russell Newbury, they are remarkably good value. According to Phil, people like looking at Kelvins in other people's boats but think they are too complicated for their own use. It's a shame to see such a great engine languishing in a boatyard.

 

I'll bet he still wants some serious money for it, though

 

Tim

[RLWP]

 

Is that a huge centrifugal clutch between the Kelvin and the compressor?

 

Richard

[springy]

mmmmmm.... engine porn

 

 

 

springy

[koukouvagia]

Is that a huge centrifugal clutch between the Kelvin and the compressor?

 

Richard

 

Yes. There was no flywheel as such on these lighthouse Kelvins and the heavy clutch housing, mounted at the rear of the engine would have doubled as a flywheel. You can see the clutch lying on the ground in this picture of one of the Langness Lighthouse engines click when the three Langness Kelvins were dumped at Laxey on the Isle of Man.

Edited April 19, 2010 by koukouvagia

[tom_c]

here are three more pictures of kelvins for those of you who prefer their engine porn in a petrol version the engines are a kelvin ricardo F4 and a kelvin poppet valve 6/7hp the exhaust manifold on the f4 is a fabricated copy of the original as the original had large pieces missing

[NB Alnwick]

Yes. There was no flywheel as such on these lighthouse Kelvins and the heavy clutch housing, mounted at the rear of the engine would have doubled as a flywheel. You can see the clutch lying on the ground in this picture of one of the Langness Lighthouse engines click when the three Langness Kelvins were dumped at Laxey on the Isle of Man.

 

Interesting to see that the compressor bears the 'Sentinel' trade mark and logo - "Ever watchful & on the alert" - which serves as a reminder that the well known 'Sentinel' steam road vehicles started life with Alley & MacLellan in Glasgow over a Century ago but production subsequently moved to a new plant in England during the First World War - this became the 'Sentinel Waggon Works' at Shrewsbury.

 

With the insecurity that surrounded the production of land based steam haulage, the company decided to divest itself of the Shrewsbury operation and concentrate on marine equipment including steel motorboats. The Sentinel Waggon Works at Shrewsbury survived in various forms, enjoying a well documented history of financial ups and downs until taken over by Rolls Royce in mid 1950s.

 

As far as I know, Alley & MacLellan in Glasgow continued to build marine equipment and compressors at Glasgow until the early 1950s but I didn't realise that they also retained the 'Sentinel' brand for their products.

[billh]

here are three more pictures of kelvins for those of you who prefer their engine porn in a petrol version the engines are a kelvin ricardo F4 and a kelvin poppet valve 6/7hp the exhaust manifold on the f4 is a fabricated copy of the original as the original had large pieces missing

Tom,

You do realise that the F4 won't run properly don't you? It looks very nice , but to run well it has to be painted green.

Also, it should be installed in a * wooden* boat not a garage. Do I see a Lucas RF4 magneto on there? If so, keep a close eye on the distributor wheel, the plastic gear teeth are easily damaged.

Bill