Bukh DV10 one cylinder engine

[Tullynessle Turnip]

Tues 29th July 2014

Hi! I posted this a few days ago on the Motor Boat Forum and it has been suggested to me to ask here on the PBO Forum, so, here goes:

We have recently bought a canal narrowboat in England, UK. It has a Bukh DV10 engine, one cylinder, made in Denmark.
We have the owner's manual, workshop manual and a repair manual - none of these tell how to change the gearbox oil, for instance: looking at the diagrams on the repair manual there seems to be a drain plug underneath the gearbox, and a filler plug on top, and the book says "oil level control through the overflow plug" but doesn't say what or where the overflow plug is! All 3 guides are somewhat lacking in proper descriptions all round!

Are there any people here who know about the Bukh DV10 diesel engine? I would like to find a list of mechanics/service places in England for this engine, also; I wrote to Bukh's head office in Poole (UK) and they just gave me the cold shoulder and said contact T W Marine, a company/boatyard that apparently specialises in Bukh's, They are in Furness Vale, to the east of Manchester (UK). T W Marine don't give an e-mail contact address on their website so yesterday I sent a letter to them by 'snail mail' - let's see if they reply... (a week and half has passed since then and no reply).

Our narrowboat in in Oxfordshire at the moment. The engine is OK at the moment but needs inspecting & servicing as soon as possible - I have already changed the engine oil 2 times (within 4 days, the first oil, you could say, used to flush it) - I put a new oil filter on with the second lot of new oil.
I would like to have the gearbox oil changed, and the coolant (water + antifreeze) changed, and the zinc rod (anti-corrosion device) examined/changed, for starters.
This engine is from 1985, 29 years old, but as the boat is 25 years old the engine may have been used for just 25 years. I should like to look after it and keep it going for a few more years yet.
(the engine uses its own water, sealed system - gets pumped into a tank on the side of the engine bay and, as the other side of tank is in contact with the canal, this cools the water - from this tank it goes back into the engine).

tullynessleturnip@yahoo.com

 

[Paddingtonbear]

You will have more luck on canalworld forum although even there you might struggle as they are not that common, somewhat old and a little underpowered unless you have something like a Springer bug. Good luck with your search, I will ask around for you and post any replies on here not canal world.

 

[Poignard]

I have a BUKH DV10, three years older than yours and still running well despite it operating in a more hostile environment

There were different makes of gearboxes fitted to these engines. Mine (and maybe yours) has a dipstick and not a level plug. It has a drain plug underneath which is completely inaccessible in my boat so I change the oil by sucking it out using a PELA vacuum pump. This is a less messy way of extracting the oil in engine and gearbox anyway, so I suggest you buy or borrow one.

I'm surprised you didn't get a helpful response from BUKH (UK) Ltd in Poole. I have always found the man in charge (Al) very helpful and knowledgeable but I have only ever contacted him by phone.

 

[VicS]

There were different makes of gearboxes fitted to these engines. .

I can confirm that. I have two versions of the owners manual which describe different gear boxes. Both have dipsticks and one manual specifically says that it is "drained" using a pump via the dipstick hole

 

[Tranona]

As already suggested you need to phone Bukh in Poole with your questions. most gearboxes need the old oil extracting out of the dipstick or filler hole as a drain plug (if fitted) is invariably inaccessible without taking the engine out.

With regard to your cooling system - it is what is known as keel cooling and you will need to put antifreeze in it. Drain the system, flush it out and refill with an antifreeze mix - same anitfreeze as used in a car. Doubt you will need an anode as these are for use in corrosive seawater, but your coolant will have inhibitors to prevent corrosion - again just like a car. The anode is a pencil type screwed into the engine and can be a bit of a pig to get out.

 

[Tullynessle Turnip]

Thanks for your answers - I was hoping to drain the gearbox via a sump plug. In an emergency I guess I can suck the oil out with a syringe + plastic pipe (already have that equipment).
I have asked on canalworld.net but nothing forthcoming from the people there about Bukhs...
I'm not with the boat now so can't examine the gearbox at this moment. I did put a digital camera underneath the engine on kitchen towel and on a 10-second timer so pulled it bit-by-bit to get a complete picture of the underside of the engine; I didn't get all of the gearbox though... (so will have to continue that photographic project when I get back to the boat!).

 

[banger]

Don't say where you are in Oxfordshire, but go and see Matt in Banbury Boatyard, or Mike Wheeler at Aynho Wharf, they will give you details of mechanics who operate around the area.

 

[Burnham Bob]

for draining oil its probably best to invest in a proper pump. the SEAGO one is £25 and you'll find it better to use a purpose made unit - especially if access is a bit limited. you need to make the job as easy as possible. its also worth finding out exactly what oil you need to refill. my beta 14 gearbox uses ATF fluid whereas my Yanmar 1GM10 gearbox used the same oil as the engine.

 

[SadlerPete]

E-Mail enquiries to T W Marine can be found on their website front page between "gearboxes"and "postal address" ?
You could even try phoning them.Nick And Steve can and will strip and repair any part of your engine, even over the phone for you.
Two more genuine and helpful people you couldn't wish to deal with, wonder if the same can be said for you?
Pete Wilson
Alter Ego
Holyhead