Any Gardner 6LXB experts?

[Woodpile]

Help - before I shoot myself...

I've got water in the sump oil. It's spurting up through the valve gear into the rocker cover box. A non-Gardner engineer has had a quick look and reckons it's probably a cylinder liner seal gone - and doesn't reckon it can be got at without the engine coming out.

Can anyone think of any other likely/possible causes that would require less drastic action? Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers!

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[sailorman]

Wot asking a favour & no Bio filled in

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[Woodpile]

I'm looking for advice, not a date!

(Seriously, does it matter..?)

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[sailorman]

try a date with london transport <hr width=100% size=1>

 

[cliff]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.paulgardner-engineering.co.uk> here </A>

Same as your bio - short and sweet although the link should be of some use

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[omega2]

Not familiar with Gardner engines but sounds a lot like head gasket gone, can you do a compression test? if so the cylinders should read fairly evenly, if one is down I think your problem is the gasket/liner/piston. But which I am afraid I cannot help you with, in all probability the engine will have to come out of the boat to be reconditioned, unless it is just the head gasket,a pressure tester on the header tank should find this, pump it up to say 10lbs and observe the dial if it drops the gasket has failed, if it does not drop, start the engine and watch the dial, if the pressure rises or fluctuates greatly the head has still got to come off. Sorry cannot suggest anything else or a quick fix.

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[Woodpile]

Sailorman, that response tells me more than your bio ever could. Sigh...

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[Woodpile]

Omega2 - thanks for the tip. When I heard the news today, I was too upset to think about anything except the potential bill but now I'm wondering why my engineer might have thought 'liner seal' before 'head gasket'. Anyway, I'll do the compression test and keep my fingers crossed. If it's a head gasket there's room to do it in situ...

Cliff - thanks for the link. Very helpful.

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[sailorman]

@ least im up-front wot r u hiding behind,
try this just done a "Gardiner search" 4 u dear heart>
http://www.gardner-marine-diesels.co.uk/engines.html

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[Woodpile]

Sailorman, thanks for the link. They may be old bus engines, but aren't they beautiful? If you continue in this vein I may have to pop round and leave a box of Milk Tray on your balcony...

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[sailorman]

im a duskie dark type really.
u must be a BIG BOY to own a manly Gardener

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[sailorman]

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<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by sailorman on 18/10/2004 21:44 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[jeffro]

Wat a gardner gone wrong cant belive it ! just sell your house and kids to pay for it and it will last for a hundred years seriously theres a guy in Folkestone thats an expert i beleve his name is harrison Freedom marine will no his number if you ring them Etching hill in Kent sorry you will have to ring enquiries as i dont have the no to hand Jeffro

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[fishermantwo]

I'm with Jethro on this one. Find a specialists on Gardners, preferably a one man operation. There should be someone around that did their apprenticeship with Gardner. I have a Gardner 6 LW in my commercial fishing vessel that is nearly 60 years old and still all original. There were several fishing boats and charter vessels in this port that used to have 6 LX motors. Replacing one cylinder liner and piston in situ is not a big deal. Just find that specialist, they will be around somewhere, they can't all have emigrated.

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[Woodpile]

Deep joy! A Gardner expert has been consulted, and in all likelihood the problem stems from perished seals within the cylinder head assembly – in which case the engines won't have to come out. The possibility is being investigated, and I may not have to shoot myself...

As a point of interest (to someone out there perhaps?), I've been informed that the 6LX unit can be more problematic in marine installations than other related Gardner units - not because it lacks any of the legendary (ahem!) Gardner reliablity, but because it lacks the removable access plates to the crank and bottom end of some of the other engines. Which is why a 6LX may have to be removed for a liner seal job, while others may remain in situ. At least that's what I understand.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who replied!

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[NickRobinson]

I used to operate a Daimler Fleetline 'decker with a 9ltr(?) 6cyl Gardner.

Beautiful item and I wasn't paying the bills. Local bus garage knew them backwards (it was a little time ago.) Mine had two 3 cyl blocks/heads and did 46 mph tops and 9mpg (9t GVW). One winter it froze and split the cylinder liner, bus garage said, 'we've got a full refurbed one on a pallet, but we don't run these any more....' slotted it in over the weekend -

Used to play with the individual cylinder fuel stop levers while running, would still move on 3/4 cyls. (semi auto box)

Hope it's not too problematic-

Nick

 

[sailorman]

I used to operate a Daimler Fleetline 'decker with a 9ltr(?) 6cyl Gardner.

Beautiful item and I wasn't paying the bills. Local bus garage knew them backwards (it was a little time ago.) Mine had two 3 cyl blocks/heads and did 46 mph tops and 9mpg (9t GVW). One winter it froze and split the cylinder liner, bus garage said, 'we've got a full refurbed one on a pallet, but we don't run these any more....' slotted it in over the weekend -

Used to play with the individual cylinder fuel stop levers while running, would still move on 3/4 cyls. (semi auto box)

Hope it's not too problematic-

Nick

An 8 year old thread

 

[NickRobinson]

An 8 year old thread

Argh! must pay more attention.... (But a 25yr old reminiscence so probably Ok)

N

 

[Bilgediver]

Omega2 - thanks for the tip. When I heard the news today, I was too upset to think about anything except the potential bill but now I'm wondering why my engineer might have thought 'liner seal' before 'head gasket'. Anyway, I'll do the compression test and keep my fingers crossed. If it's a head gasket there's room to do it in situ...

Cliff - thanks for the link. Very helpful.

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Does the Gardener have crankcase door plates on it that give access to the main bearings etc....If so then you xhould be able to see if a liner seal has gone by filling the water space and looking for leaks. Are there any engine attched water pumps that can leak to the crankcase???? These are usually good engines and maybe visiting a canal forum will get a more fruitful response.

You will get help here too.

http://www.gardnerengineforum.co.uk/Web PDF Versions/Newsletter 6.pdf

 

[chrishelen]

I am not a expert on these engines but i do look after a few L2's and a couple of 4lw's.

I think you must remove the heads and check out the little rubber washers on the top of the block,even if the look ok you need to change them,also the little ally tubes they sit on,they do come out.

if you have a copper head gasket you must anneal it before you put it back on.

in my expieriance most water in sump oil come from these critters. they cost pennies from an outfit called "Tony Redsure vintage diesels" google it, he is very helpfull.
hope you sort it
chris