Jump to content

1939 sea plane tender - perkins S6M - gearbox issues, may need to find replacement!

Marcuswarry

By Marcuswarry
in Others

 Share

Featured Posts

Marcuswarry Engager

Marcuswarry

Posted
Posted

Hello, I'm new to this great forum, and generally to boating to be honest (steep learning curve!). I hope you're all enjoying this amazing sun, long may it last!

 

Sorry to dive straight in with a question... I hope to be able to contribute more myself, when I know more about boats and engines in the future!!

 

I recently acquired what I was informed to be a 1939 larch on oak sea plane tender by vosper. I have a perkins s6m engine and gearbox in her too.

 

I'm trying to do some research, and I can't find anything else quite like her... I'm beginning to wonder if she might be a torpedo boat instead... As it seems vosper made more of these... If anyone could help she's any light, or point me in the right direction on how to find out for sure. It would be hugely appreciated!

 

I'm typing this on my phone, and can't work out how to attach a picture! If you text me, I'll happily send you one! 07879 812 789

 

I'm currently on the Thames, near Eaton, more precisely near Boveney Lock, and I was heading to Kingston, until the gearbox sadly gave way! So I'm stuck here for a little while. I'm using the time to do some research, to give her a lick of paint and obviously to sort out the gearbox (the main thing!).

 

Here's a little bit of background on the issue. Last weekend on 5th and 6th April, the engine started like a dream, and I took her from Caversham to Cookham, down the Thames.

 

On the first morning, we sadly ran aground, and had her in reverse for an hour or two, to try and free her. We eventually got rugged free by a friendly wide beam...

 

Shortly after this, we could not find the reverse gear at all... Just a bit if grinding... But not action. We pressed on with just the forward gear, and used ropes to stop, which worked ok. I put in some new oil into the gearbox too... And we checked the levers... But even manually pulling the bit directly linked to the gearbox, did nothing.

 

This weekend, just gone, we set off on Saturday and things went quite well from Cookham to Boveney Lock... And then we lost forward gear as I was trying to pull out of the lock! So now I'm really stuck, and it's a bit of a emergency really. I'm trying to get to my mooring in Kingston.

 

It's a fantastic adventure of course, but it's a bit of a worry that all these things keep going wrong.

 

Canal & river rescue came on Saturday to try and get her started, but they couldn't. It seems like the gearbox may have seized (no idea why).. And it may need to be removed and reconditioned. I can't help wondering if it may be easier, quicker and more economical to fjnd a replacement perkins s6m gearbox perhaps? And wondered if any of you may have one for sale, or indeed just have a view on my predicament?!

 

I think I may do a spot of painting now. We fixed up the hull (larch on oak) over the winter, replacing about 20 m of planking! However, above deck,she needs a bit of tlc to say the least. Still, it's a lovely sunny day for it!

 

Thanks in advance for anything you're bale to suggest to help me!!

 

Best regards,

 

Marcus

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Proper Job Veteran

Proper Job

Posted
Posted (edited)

The Perkins S6 was produced between 1932 to 1961. The M on your S6M may designate 'marine', but that's just an assumption.

 

Is it the original gearbox and is it a Perkins box or one made by another manufacturer?

 

Photographs would obviously help

 

RLWP of this parish is your man. There's nothing he likes better than a good (or bad) gearbox

 

edit: I see he got there first wink.png

Edited by Proper Job
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Alan de Enfield Veteran II

Alan de Enfield

Posted
Posted
RLWP, on 14 Apr 2014 - 11:40 AM, said:

Two complete engines and gearboxes here: http://www.bmpt.org.uk/boats%20for%20sale/Perkins%20S6M%20Marine%20Engines/index.htm

 

£4,500 each

 

Richard

 

To me that does not seem a bad price for a rebuilt engine and gearbox.

 

You'd pay that for a modern Japanese thing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
RLWP Veteran II

RLWP

Posted
Posted (edited)

 

To me that does not seem a bad price for a rebuilt engine and gearbox.

 

You'd pay that for a modern Japanese thing.

 

I agree. It wouldn't take long to spend that if the gearbox needs complex parts making for it

 

Richard

Edited by RLWP
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wanted Experienced

Wanted

Posted
Posted

Well done for joining Marcus, you'll find what you need here, catch you soon (Robin - Facebook)

 

Photo's need to be linked via a hosting site, download the imgur app on your phone and copy and paste embeded codes.

 

:cheers:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Alan de Enfield Veteran II

Alan de Enfield

Posted
Posted

 

I agree. It wouldn't take long to spend that if the gearbox needs complex parts making for it

 

Richard

 

If the existing G/Box is very poorly, and I guess that would only be found by actually spending some money initially on removal and strip down then it could be a viable way of 'moving forward' (so to speak)

 

And - presumably the cost could be reduced as :

 

1) The price is open to offers / negotiable

2) You could replace the current engine and gear box in 'one go' getting in effect a new set up - then sell off the current engine for (what) £2000 + and give away the old (siezed) gearbox.

3) The BMPT may be interested in a part exchange - particularly if its going into a wartime vessel.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
billS Rising Star

billS

Posted
Posted

I'm trying to do some research, and I can't find anything else quite like her... I'm beginning to wonder if she might be a torpedo boat instead... As it seems vosper made more of these... If anyone could help she's any light, or point me in the right direction on how to find out for sure. It would be hugely appreciated!

 

 

 

The boat in the picture was definately not a torpedo boat, at this period they had planing hulls and 2 or 3 petrol engines.

 

I'm also pretty dubious about her being a seaplane tender - these were also mainly high speed launches.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Marcuswarry Engager

Marcuswarry

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thank you for all your amazing help!

 

Canal and river rescue are putting an estimate together to take the gearbox out, and to fix it... So will see what comes back from these guys. They really seem to be incredibly friendly and helpif in my dealings with them so far... So I'll see what happens, whilst also starting to look at what a replacement gearbox, and DIY option might cost too!

 

Carlt, how funny that you know the boat already! Yes, she was up in Sheffield! I got her down to reading on a low loader... And had her on hard standing over the winter, fixing up be hull, and slapping on some bitumen etc. Sorry you missed out on this one, please feel free to pop around for a cup of tea when she's in Kingston!

 

Bill, thanks for your input. Yes, I've searched around for see plane tender images all over the place and not seen one like this... Or one made by vosper yet.. Or even one that is larch on oak..

 

Any idea where I could find a authority on World War Two vessels? It would be superb to find out exactly what she is, and to be able to start to piece together some history!!

 

Thanks for all your help!!

 

Marcus

Link to comment
Share on other sites
carlt Veteran II

carlt

Posted
Posted

You could ask on the Airfield Information Exchange forum or trawl the threads Clicky.

 

Not the most obvious place but they do have a marine section with some very knowledgeable members.

 

Also the Ships Nostalgia forum is amine of information Clicky but be warned! I usually set aside a day before logging in as it is stuffed with boat porn and you end up stuck in there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Marcuswarry Engager

Marcuswarry

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks proper job, I'll look out for you too! What boat will you be in? Thanks for the link!

 

Thanks Carl, I'll give that a go!

 

Just had another thought. The canal & recover rescue guys were very helpful, and clearly knew their stuff... However, they may not have been familiar with the specifics of a perkins S6M gearbox, as obviously they are rather old. I wonder if someone with specific knowledge of the gear box, may be able to have a look and make adjustments on site potentially?

 

I'm holding out a little bit of hope for that, as when reverse gear went, and then forward gear about a week (and 20 miles) later. There was no Big Bang of obvious noise or immediate cause... And maybe something just wriggled out of place?! Like I said in the initial post... Forward is now quite jammed... But maybe there's something just stuck in the way?! Reverses is free, but it just can't find the gear - it simply grinds a bit... With no action.

 

I wonder if it may be worth a perkins specials of swinging by, to see if they can fix it on site?! Before incurring the cost of removing the whole thing and having it taken somewhere else and either fixed... Or then replaced?!

 

Thanks for all your thoughts!

 

Marcus

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wanted Experienced

Wanted

Posted
Posted

Marcus, I would defo have a chat with Richard who has posted above this one, although O haven't had any work done by him personally I know enough to know that reputation and engineering is his thang, oh and he has impeccable taste in music..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.