Well, I hope you all enjoy your summer cruises...

[beancounter]

... 'cos we're not having one. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

We should be on the boat now; instead I'm at work while the top half of the engine is being re-built. The boat will be u/s for about 2 weeks, and then I'll be surgically parted from a wad of dosh so we can lurch on toward the next problem...

Jeez, why be a boat owner...

Yours in misery

John

 

[FullCircle]

Something to cheer you up. See PM..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MoodySabre]

Oh dear. As an owner of a similar vintage M31, what was the problem and how did it manifest itself?

Bet you're glad it's not a heatwave. Blooming windy on the Orwell last weekend.

Hope it's all fixed soon enough to catch the Indian summer!

 

[Athene V30]

[ QUOTE ]
catch the Indian summer!

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I wish!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Don't be so cynical.... of course there will be an Indian summer.... its just it'll be in India.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Sorry to hear of your ongoing woes John...

Hopefully she'll be all fixed before too long...

 

[beancounter]

[ QUOTE ]
what was the problem and how did it manifest itself?

[/ QUOTE ]

Roger,

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...

We'd noticed an oily/diesely discharge from the exhaust - we could see it spreading over the water when running the engine whilst berthed. Discussions with the marine engineers pointed towards oil in the cylinders rather than unburnt diesel (we were making more blue smoke than previously). A compression test was ambiguous about whether oil was getting in through the valve guides, or up through the piston rings.

We opted to have the head removed, valve guides checked/replaced, valves lapped and the head machined. This should reduce the oil inflow and improve compression. Tackling the pistons was deemed uneconomic by the guys - probably 50% of the cost of a new engine. (They reckon the life of a Volvo 2003 is about 2000 - 2300 hours.)

We arranged the work for after our cruise. However, on going to the boat a few days ago, there was diesel in the engine compartment. Mopping up and then running the engine for 30 mins produced a little more diesel - source not obvious.
Neither of us fancied a week on the boat with a fuel leak. Rather than get the work done in a hurry. and possibly duplicate effort when sorting the head out, we reluctantly said "Oh, s*ddit - have the boat for a couple of weeks and deal with both problems"

Hence the grumpy post /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Think I'll take up stamp collecting...

 

[MoodySabre]

John

Thanks for info - bad news compounded by cost.

I'm surprised that they give such a low mileage for the life of the engine. Mine had done 2700 odd on the non-working hours meter and I have added another 100. A bit of white smoke but runs just fine. I'd read elsewhere that 4000 or 5000 was more likely but I guess it's down to usage - 15 mins out of the marina and back is probably worse for it than running for several hours.

Fingers crossed!

Roger

 

[beancounter]

Thanks Roger.

I think you're right about the usage. Apart from time, I'm told that diesels should be worked hard. We're certainly guilty of not "pushing" the engine - other than the occasional "Ohmigawd get me out of here" manouevre.

cheers

John

 

[beancounter]

Thanks Neil - our fingers are crossed too.

Congrats on what seems to have been a great Pirate "muster". Are you now the East Coast Group's official Redcoat? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jezjez]

If you've seen any of my recent posts about getting to Belgium but not back you'll know my sister's boat has had the same problem - diesel and blue smoke in water. The engine is being replaced in belgium and has been sitting in an expensive marina for 3 weeks. We were told the injectors needed servicing and that it was fine to bring home to uk and went back for it but hte engine cut out immediately we set off - so we wasted the ferry fare etc as well on going to retrieve it. Still waiting for the new engine now.

 

[Koeketiene]

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