International Rescue on the Langollen

[zenataomm]

Not sure about the enthusiasm to contact the boat owners in Colorado ....... what are they going to do?

[rustydiver]

Hum RCR we are with them not overly impressed with them. We broke down called them out the man turned up with no tools he used mine. He left his in the van. He was a commercial vehicle mechanic. Give him his due he did sort off diagnose the problem received a phone call a few days later to inform me I should contact the insurance company for a clam. I said what for. The engine fire she said.

I had some wires melt on a hot engine and short out. The wires are now rerouted off the engine.

 

Hope they get it sorted knowing what it is like to breakdown sometimes you just feel helpless. I'm sure if any off us lived closer we would be there like a shot to help out.

Edited June 19, 2016 by rustydiver

[Horace42]

If RCR can't fix a broken fan belt then really what is the point? Imagine if the RAC or AA turned up at the roadside and couldn't change a broken fan belt on a car. I think most people would demand their membership fee back!

 

I'll stick to doing my own repairs, that way I've only got myself to blame.

If the AA can't fix it on the road side, they tow you to the nearest garage, or load you on to a trailer - or take you home if you pay extra for this sort of cover.

 

But a fan belt !. Apart from the time delay, getting one should be the easiest thing in the world. What's going on

Like Claude, I do my own repairs - and I carry spare fan belts.

But that doesn't help our stranded friends.

[Paul C]

It does appear that the fan belt is monumentally poorly located on this boat, then someone fitted a wooden bulkhead to finish off any chance of reasonable access, then nailed the coffin shut by attaching some pipework to the bulkhead? Its a weird one.

[RLWP]

But a fan belt !. Apart from the time delay, getting one should be the easiest thing in the world. What's going on

 

No idea, I haven't seen the installation

 

Richard

[bargemast]

Are these poor Yanks still stuck ?

 

Of course not all boaters are members-and readers of this forum, but I don't think that it would be too difficult for them to ask

any passing boat kindly for a tow, they do speak the right language.

 

Whatever the score, I do wish them all the best, and hope they don't regret the Holiday swap for their condo too much.

 

I don't think somehow that they're ready to renew this experience, and that while it could have been so nice.

 

Peter.

Edited June 20, 2016 by bargemast

[andyb116]

As someone who works on these engines frequently (if it is a 4 pot shire), they can be a right pain, depending if it is a tnv or a tne model the belt is a an odd cross sectional size and a critical measurement, a standard automotive belt of the same length will not fit, I have tried! The adjuster set up is quite strange and very fiddly with very little adjustment and some times requires removing the domestic alternator to do the job. I do know that the chandlery at Nantwich canal centre normally stock this belt. Hope this is of some help and they get sorted.

[Arthur Marshall]

I'm pretty sure if RCR can't do a repair in situ they will tow you to the neaarest boatyard. I got offered that when my clutch disintegrated but they advised me to limp home if I could as the cost would come off their contribution to the cost.

[RLWP]

As someone who works on these engines frequently (if it is a 4 pot shire), they can be a right pain, depending if it is a tnv or a tne model the belt is a an odd cross sectional size and a critical measurement, a standard automotive belt of the same length will not fit, I have tried! The adjuster set up is quite strange and very fiddly with very little adjustment and some times requires removing the domestic alternator to do the job. I do know that the chandlery at Nantwich canal centre normally stock this belt. Hope this is of some help and they get sorted.

 

Thanks Andy, I suspected that the job wouldn't be trivial. I have also wrestled with a Shire in the past and know some of the odd things they can throw at you

 

Richard

[Horace42]

 

Thanks Andy, I suspected that the job wouldn't be trivial. I have also wrestled with a Shire in the past and know some of the odd things they can throw at you

 

Richard

I jumped in thinking it was a belt supply problem. But if it is an access problem like has been suggested, I would cut holes in holes in panels and decks to get to the 'nuts-and-bolts' to fit a new belt. Then fit covers later. Not necessarily an easy task of course.

 

But not being the owner of the boat - or even worse by not being able to contact the owner - it is not such an easy decision to make.

 

I can't help with a practical solution. I wish them well

[churchward]

As someone who works on these engines frequently (if it is a 4 pot shire), they can be a right pain, depending if it is a tnv or a tne model the belt is a an odd cross sectional size and a critical measurement, a standard automotive belt of the same length will not fit, I have tried! The adjuster set up is quite strange and very fiddly with very little adjustment and some times requires removing the domestic alternator to do the job. I do know that the chandlery at Nantwich canal centre normally stock this belt. Hope this is of some help and they get sorted.

It sounds tricky.

 

I have no experience of these engines or have the required belt. I live 30 mins away from Llangollen but it seems there is not much I can do.

[zenataomm]

So what was wrong with my suggestion back at #4 ?

No need to cut holes no need to slacken off nor re-tighten anything.

 

Just thread the open end around the required pullies, cut to size and restore to a loop with the metal connector.

[Bunny]

I thought rcr would lend you an outboard to get you to civilisation , or was I dreaming that ? . Anyway would that help in this situation ? Or is the boat too large for an outboard ? . Sorry nowhere near to tow them . Bunny

[Paul C]

They're 1 mile from Llangollen on one of the busiest waterways, they're not stuck out in the sticks. If its necessary, it would be easy enough to "hitch a lift" to Llangollen (and back) for supplies. Its possible the fridge is now warm and spoiled some food, but in summertime I can't think of any other negative consequences apart from some inconvenience, in running out of electrical power due to flat batteries. Also if the cassette is full, then simply pouring it into another boater's pump-out toilet would buy them a few more days. So I don't think there's any critical/logistical issues which can't be overcome quite easily here.

 

It does sound like they've had some bad luck in 1) a belt snapping on a difficult-to-fix engine 2) the timing, being over the weekend 3) the fact that the cassette loo is full 4) the fact that they don't have a mobile phone 5) the fact that its an unfamiliar boat and an inexperienced crew. But then they were happy enough with the private arrangement of doing a "swap" of a private boat for their (holiday?) home in USA, which is obviously much cheaper than a proper hire boat which would have (hopefully) easily dealt with the issues.

[Bod]

I'm headed that way, and have tools.

Will be going up Hurlstun(?)flight tomorrow am.

PM me the boat name & crew names, if I find them I'll be in touch.

Do they have Belt that should fit?

 

Bod

[RLWP]

Do they have Belt that should fit?

 

Bod

 

No - that's the whole problem

 

Richard

[Bod]

Any good motor factors in that area?

 

Bod

[churchward]

Any good motor factors in that area?

 

Bod

Certainly not in the local Llangollen area for something a bit specialist like this alternator belt by the sound of it you would likely have to go to Wrexham at least.

[RLWP]

Certainly not in the local Llangollen area for something a bit specialist like this alternator belt by the sound of it you would likely have to go to Wrexham at least.

 

Which takes us right back to the original problem. The Barrus Shire is fitted with an unusual section and length belt, only obtainable from an industrial belt supplier

 

If it was an ordinary car belt, we wouldn't have heard about this

 

Richard

[Bettie Boo]

 

Which takes us right back to the original problem. The Barrus Shire is fitted with an unusual section and length belt, only obtainable from an industrial belt supplier

 

If it was an ordinary car belt, we wouldn't have heard about this

 

Richard

 

Sorry, I didn't realize we were talking about a Barrus Shire engine.

 

If it's a 40hp, I can supply the car part number to get the replacement belt for it. And or the name of the company where we got ours from.

 

I remember getting that part # was a proper pain when ours went the first time. It took about 8 calls to different dealerships and parts suppliers before I found one that could translate the # in the engine manual to a car part and then order the belt in for us.

[RLWP]

I think the engine is a "Shire"

 

 

 

Sorry, I didn't realize we were talking about a Barrus Shire engine.

 

If it's a 40hp, I can supply the car part number to get the replacement belt for it. And or the name of the company where we got ours from.

 

I remember getting that part # was a proper pain when ours went the first time. It took about 8 calls to different dealerships and parts suppliers before I found one that could translate the # in the engine manual to a car part and then order the belt in for us.

 

Richard

[Bettie Boo]

As someone who works on these engines frequently (if it is a 4 pot shire), they can be a right pain, depending if it is a tnv or a tne model the belt is a an odd cross sectional size and a critical measurement, a standard automotive belt of the same length will not fit, I have tried! The adjuster set up is quite strange and very fiddly with very little adjustment and some times requires removing the domestic alternator to do the job. I do know that the chandlery at Nantwich canal centre normally stock this belt. Hope this is of some help and they get sorted.

 

And I'm meant to know that that ^^ actually means Barrus Shire?? I thought we were talking about one of your ol' putt putt engines, which I know nothing about!

 

 

Which takes us right back to the original problem. The Barrus Shire is fitted with an unusual section and length belt, only obtainable from an industrial belt supplier

 

If it was an ordinary car belt, we wouldn't have heard about this

 

Richard

 

^^ First post in the entire thread that the word Barrus is actually used!!

 

Give me a break - I come from 30+ years of hospitality work. Ask me a question to do with food/drink or customer service and I'm your girl

 

 

ANYWAY - we managed to get ours from a very helpful young man named Lee from a company called Woodley Auto Factors 011 894 40024

 

He was able to take the number we had in the engine manual and translate it to a car part # (that was the first hurttle) and then ordered the part in for us to pick up the following day. Luckily we were moored fairly close to Reading at the time

 

What size Barrus are we talking about? ours is a 40hp and I have the part # they will need for a replacement if that helps at all.

[RLWP]

If it was an ancient putt putt engine it would have been fixed with chewing gum and a length of hairy string ages ago

 

Richard

[Tacet]

It sounds as if there is more than one belt on this engine and somehow removing the outer, intact belt is difficult.

 

But just in case it is a 4 cylinder, TNE series 45hp with a single belt driving water pump and two alternators it is (probably) an XPA1157 belt - which is not difficult to get.

[Paul C]

 

 

What size Barrus are we talking about? ours is a 40hp and I have the part # they will need for a replacement if that helps at all.

 

Part of the issue here is its an indirect call for help. The original poster was passing by and helped out by calling RCR on their behalf. I think the OP has now left their boat and returned to London, though. The stranded American boaters don't even have a working phone although you never know, they may have by now taken a trip into Llangollen and bought a PAYG SIM? In any case, they're not on the forum so was a general call to anyone in the area who can do better than RCR.

 

RCR have probably sorted it out by now anyway, now that its Monday and the shops are open etc. We'll never know the outcome to this one unless someone else comes across them and relays the story!