NarrowBoat engine conversion

[Boater Sam]

A new Canaline engine will drop straight in with the mountings changed for not a lot of money. They were designed to replace BMC 1.5D & 1.8D engines, the later is a straight swap.

More suited to the hull and prop size, guaranteed, and cleaner.

Sell the historic lump of iron and use the money to buy something sensible.

[OldGoat]

43 minutes ago, Boater Sam said:

A new Canaline engine will drop straight in with the mountings changed for not a lot of money. They were designed to replace BMC 1.5D & 1.8D engines, the later is a straight swap.

More suited to the hull and prop size, guaranteed, and cleaner.

Sell the historic lump of iron and use the money to buy something sensible.

While your suggestion may be eminently sensible it's likely / will fall upon deaf ears.

If the OP is trying to do the replacement inexpensively, I'd like to add the following:-

Years ago Teddesley boat co built a 70 footer with a ford  escort diesel engine (well it was a ford small diesel).  It was beautifully installed in a soundproof box mounted well forward and to one side. Great to drive. However the transmission was a nightmare Lots of UJs and a couple of Plummer blocks (?) to stop the long shaft whipping up and down. Parts had to be custom made and Peter M probably wish he hadn't done it!

My point is that to do what is proposed may well add up to costing a lot more than replacing the BMC in the first place. 

 

[Tony Brooks]

I’m wondering how accurate the diagnosis of piston slap is. I am not sure I could detect slap in a running BMC diesel. Might well be timing chain slap, that would retard the timing and may well be an "in the boat" fix.

 

Could be a burned valve or a tight clearance, both of which are cheaper than messing about cobbling a different engine with remote gearbox in. Also no mention of testing the glow plugs or de-carbonising their holes.

 

Not sure I would jump straight to needing a new engine.

[Neil Smith]

1 hour ago, Tony Brooks said:

I’m wondering how accurate the diagnosis of piston slap is. I am not sure I could detect slap in a running BMC diesel. Might well be timing chain slap, that would retard the timing and may well be an "in the boat" fix.

 

Could be a burned valve or a tight clearance, both of which are cheaper than messing about cobbling a different engine with remote gearbox in. Also no mention of testing the glow plugs or de-carbonising their holes.

 

Not sure I would jump straight to needing a new engine.

exactly, the loss of compression on one cylinder could well be a valve problem so easily sorted in situ.

 

Neil

[Alan de Enfield]

9 hours ago, Neil Smith said:

Is that something to do with emissions and affects boats built after a certain year unless replica historic boats.

 

Neil

 

9 hours ago, philjw said:

Isn't this boat too old to be affect by the RCD?

I could be wrong so suggest anyone considering it should consult the authorities.

 

My understanding is that the NEW legislation applies to any engine installations (&/or other major work - including anything which could affect stability) and is effective from the date of the legislation even if retro-fitting into an older boat.

 

Any engine must be 'approved' and the approval number and emissions & noise documentation must be provided by the engine manufacturer.

There are exceptions for 'historic' boats.

[philjw]

24 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

My understanding is that the NEW legislation applies to any engine installations (&/or other major work - including anything which could affect stability) and is effective from the date of the legislation even if retro-fitting into an older boat.

That got me looking around. The RYA site www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/cruising-tips/hints-tips/Pages/changes-to-recreational-craft-directive.aspx

says:

This means that any CE marked vessel* that undergoes a Major Craft Conversion must undergo a Module PCA assessment before being placed back on the market or put into service (whichever is the earlier). The legal responsibility for this is placed on the person who is placing the vessel back on the market or putting it back into service after the Major Craft Conversion has been carried out.

 

It goes on to say that this is not yet law.  So their interpretation is that boats that pre-date the RCD will not be caught.

[Alan de Enfield]

25 minutes ago, philjw said:

It goes on to say that this is not yet law.  So their interpretation is that boats that pre-date the RCD will not be caught

Thank you my info was obviously 'faulty'.

 

Cruising in the English Channel and the signal is a bit 'flakey' and couldn't get to do much searching.

[philjw]

9 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Thank you my info was obviously 'faulty'

I think you did a good job in bringing this to attention.  There will be plenty of people who will be impacted. Let's hope that there is more publicity when it does become law.

Who would have thought that there would be any kind of internet access in the middle of the channel?

[Alan de Enfield]

5 minutes ago, philjw said:

Who would have thought that there would be any kind of internet access in the middle of the channel?

Hot spotting on my phone.

[rusty69]

5 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Hot spotting on my phone.

You filthy bugger!

[Alan de Enfield]

2 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

You filthy bugger!

It comes off.

 

In Plymouth.

Edited July 26, 2018 by Alan de Enfield

[TheCandleBoat]

23 hours ago, philjw said:

Isn't this boat too old to be affect by the RCD?

I would have thought so, to my knowledge the RCD came into force after the 90s

[peterboat]

Much as I dislike BMCs I would check the valve clearances first and then if they are ok remove the head to check for a burnt out valve before I installed another engine. As Tony has said heater plugs for starting better [very cheap of ebay and they worked for me] The stripping wont cast anything if you do it yourself and it could be a very cheap repair.

[Tony Brooks]

And if you do take the head off then take the glow plugs out at the same time. They may well snap so you have to drill their pins out. With the head off you can shake any tip that is left after drilling and the swarf out of the pre-combustion chamber throat.  Once they are out use drill about 1/2mm larger than the pin to clear carbon from the hole The BMC manual will tell you the proper size. I think its about 7/64"