How Old is Your Engine?

[OAF]

Got a 1928 hot bulb diesel, currently not fitted in a boat, as for hours??? god alone knows, always starts first time and smokes like a good un until warm.

What Hot bulb diesel is it?


I too have a hot bulb single cylinder 8hp@800rpm Seffle with reversing gearbox, that last ran about five years ago, it just needs a new injector pipe and she will run again, I turn it over every now an again so that she doesn't seize, will fit it in to a boat one day!

 

[Assassin]

Its a Hornsby Akroyd, and sorry had a senior moment because its a 1908 and not 1928. Even got the original paraffin blow lamp for starting her.

Believe its about 7 1/2 HP version from trying to trace its history, ticks over at 50 RPM and rises to around 325 RPM at full revs.

Is yours a kick start version where you kick the flywheel to start her.

 

[OAF]

Its a Hornsby Akroyd, and sorry had a senior moment because its a 1908 and not 1928. Even got the original paraffin blow lamp for starting her.

Believe its about 7 1/2 HP version from trying to trace its history, ticks over at 50 RPM and rises to around 325 RPM at full revs.

Is yours a kick start version where you kick the flywheel to start her.

That must have a big flywheel to run that slow? Mine has a spring loaded pin in the flywheel which you pull out to kick it, the engine was built in the late fifties I believe and fitted in to a wooden working narrow boat.

 

[Cymrogwyllt]

Who needs an engine anyway?

I will admit to planning to fit a small one to a battered old grp kayak. Never did it though. I had visions of the kayak and me doing 360's due to the torque reaction.

 

[kcrane]

2 Volvo 9.4 litre straight six D9 575hp, 4 years old with 470hrs.

 

[burgundyben]

twin perkins 1407s diesels, fitted in 1965, no idea how many hrs, l is a little
rattly but start and run well, neither use any oil.

Tell us more about your boat Dunmor?

Twin Bedford 330's

Commissioned with the boat in 1966, one rebuilt in the 1980's due to seizure after a failed oil pressure switch, the other is as fitted.

Oil and filter every year, totally unknown hours, have to gradually top up about 5 litters over a season.

Start very easily with no smoke but a bit of smoke at full chat, but clears in about 5 mins.

What boat?

Got a 1928 hot bulb diesel, currently not fitted in a boat, as for hours??? god alone knows, always starts first time and smokes like a good un until warm.

Got to love a hot bulb semi diesel.

 

[rosssavage]

2x VP TAMD61A.

5.5l 6cyl turbo diesel, 306bhp each.

2700 hrs.

Start on the button every time, but nicely smoky until warmed up.

Standard maint IAW VP manual. Always use VP oil and parts - mostly obtained from the Volvo truck and bus centre in Hayes cos they're the same bits but orders of magnitude cheaper than penta badged bits.

 

[nairda96]

Mid 60's bedford TK 220. 3.6 ltr and about 70hp, Don't know the hours but use's no oil and about a gallon an hour at max cruising speed, A bit smoky when cold

 

[Bassplayer]

commisioned 1974, engines hours? average 500 a year, use oil at a about half pint an hour, service? oil filter once a year, performance, never had any, just keep going, smoke like chimneys at start up, been in bits a few times only as far down as the heads, refuse to "stop", What are they? FORD SABRES, what else.

My Sabres smoke a lot less since I changed to SHPD oil and fitted thermostats to the oil coolers. Donarf warm up quicker now.

 

[boatmaster]

1971 ford watermota (pre crossflow 4 cyl petrol), service once a year, hours unknown but i do about 150 to 200 per season. to my knowledge head never been off. had new exhaust manifold, carb and a few replacement core plugs that corroded out. Burns absolutely no oil at all, starts easily doesnt miss a beat. uses 1/2 gallon per hour. lovely engine, quiet too!

 

[[2068]]

>>How old is your engine and how many hours does it have?
Volvo Penta KAD32's
2003, 650 Hours

>>Has its efficiency decreased over the years?
Nope.

>>Much maintenance involved?
Yup.

>>Any interesting engine stories?
The "crispy exhaust manifold" one from a previous AD31 XD.

 

[oldgit]

My early 1980s Volvo twin AQD40A both had just under 4000 hours on the clock when sold.Bought with 1700 hours and serviced on a "sort of" regular basis using only the cheapest of pattern service parts,they never failed to start or let me down.
Only had to refurbish alternators and a starter motor during 10 years of ownership.
Pretty sure nothing major had ever been done prior to my ownership
Please do not ask about the outdrives.

 

[Latestarter1]

Try this for size.........1965 built Hauley V, Dartmouth Lower Ferry.

Originally fitted out with Lister main engine by Phillip's.

Lister would not cope with duty cycle around 5,000 hours/year. Idling, up to rated speed/power, then idling, then back up to rated power, exacty what a diesel engine hates. Tried Gardner, still no better than the Lister. Ended up with Cummins N855-195, 195 Hp @ 1800 rpm. Never a trace of smoke just heat haze from stack and delicious bark when motor is given the beans.

Regularly do 25,000 hrs to overhaul, pistons, liners recon cylinder heads, fit to go again. One engine did 75,,000 hours with crank journals still within re-use tolerances.

 

[[2068]]

If I do 100 hrs per year, it will take me until the year 9511 to clock up your 750,000 hrs.

Even assuming that there might have been an extra "0" in there somewhere, 25,000 hours is still 250 years worth of use for the average leisure boater.

Still happy with an engine that might go "bang" at 4000 hrs.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

A summary from the thread so far.

Older technology diesel engines are pretty darned reliable if fed clean fuel, clean air and oil and coolant changed reasonably regularly. They may be less fuel effiicent than the most modern equipment, but the cost of replacement is way above any potential savings.

 

[burgundyben]

A summary from the thread so far.

Older technology diesel engines are pretty darned reliable if fed clean fuel, clean air and oil and coolant changed reasonably regularly. They may be less fuel effiicent than the most modern equipment, but the cost of replacement is way above any potential savings.

An excellent summary!

 

[[448]]

A summary from the thread so far.

Older technology diesel engines are pretty darned reliable if fed clean fuel, clean air and oil and coolant changed reasonably regularly. They may be less fuel effiicent than the most modern equipment, but the cost of replacement is way above any potential savings.

Spot on.


Me - VP MD2B 1974 in a raggie. Had the boat 10 years. 200 HOURS p.a. Oil and filters changed every year. Starts as soon as the decompressor is dropped in. No smoke. No oil consumption. Less than half a gall diesel an hour. Wonderfull engines.
Dave

 

[ian38_39]

A summary from the thread so far.

Older technology diesel engines are pretty darned reliable if fed clean fuel, clean air and oil and coolant changed reasonably regularly. They may be less fuel effiicent than the most modern equipment, but the cost of replacement is way above any potential savings.

But how big would your two old technology diesels have to be to get your 40' planning hull to 30 knots?

If the engines are low revving and under stressed they are bound to last a lot longer but what is the point if you can't even fit them in the boat and if you could they were heavy enough to sink the boat?

Do wonder about the latest disposable hi tech engines, can't see them lasting to the dizzy heights of more basic but still high performance engines.

 

[oldgit]

"But how big would your two old technology diesels have to be to get your 40' planning hull to 30 knots"
If the engines are low revving and under stressed they are bound to last a lot longer but what is the point if you can't even fit them in the boat and if you could they were heavy enough to sink the boat?


The mystery is why would anyone in a rational state of mind want to do 30 knots anywhere ever being fully aware that if you want to go fast you will pay for it now in fuel and later with repair bills.... a lose lose situation if ever there was one.

 

[ian38_39]

"But how big would your two old technology diesels have to be to get your 40' planning hull to 30 knots"
If the engines are low revving and under stressed they are bound to last a lot longer but what is the point if you can't even fit them in the boat and if you could they were heavy enough to sink the boat?


The mystery is why would anyone in a rational state of mind want to do 30 knots anywhere ever being fully aware that if you want to go fast you will pay for it now in fuel and later with repair bills.... a lose lose situation if ever there was one.

It makes you wonder why the horse and cart was replaced doesn't it?