Wiggo's Annual Odyssey, Day 3

[Wiggo]

Well, Day 2 was spent in Poole doing not very much. I looked up the specs of the coupling on Tinternet to find there were two versions, measured ours and rang the engineers to confirm the right part number. Of course, they had the wrong one just about to come down to us with a man in a van. After some ringing round, they managed to secure the right one direct from R & D Couplings, so right now we're waiting for DHL and the man with the spanners.

So I thought I'd do a bit of maintenance. As we came in to Poole I noticed the revs falling off on the port engine again, just before I had to shut it down, so I assumed that whatever we had in that tank was blocking another filter. Swapped filters and discovered a nasty case of diesel bug for added fun so the tanks are now awash with Fuelset. I have now cleared the local agent out of Racor fine filters, so assuming that a) the coupling ever turns up and b) the wind dies down so we can go somewhere, I expect to be using a lot of filters.

Oddly, the boat never seems to cause any problems when we don't use her....

 

[epervier]

"Oddly, the boat never seems to cause any problems when we don't use her"....

I found the same to be true when shes on the hard over winter, makes you wonder

hope you're fixed soon

 

[mjf]

Jezz.......you have all the luck Wiggo.

No wonder you lot always wear lifejackets

 

[hlb]

You seem to be fololowing the great MF tradition.

I thought we'd got the bug tuther day. But the fuel came out the filters like fine wine.

 

[Wiggo]

So the engineer chap turned up and fitted the new coupling pretty much on time, apart from getting stuck in a bit of traffic. The old coupling was shagged (I'll post a pic later).

Shaft aligned to within 0.004" and off we went. Cleared Cobbs Quay and needed to give it a bit of a blip as we were being blown around holding for the 14.30 bridge lift. Vibrated like hell as soon as I put any power on. Floor up, and the engine was shking on its mounts fit to bust as soon as it went in gear (it had been fine on the pontoon at tickover while the engineer checked the shaft running with a dial guage).

So now we're back in Southampton, after limping 40 miles back at 5.5 knots on one engine. Tomorrow, I'm getting a bottle jack and lifting each corner in turn, as I assume that the coupling failing trashed an engine mount (or vice versa).

Bloody boats. That's put the kybosh on our holiday and I have a charter next week, so I have very little time to get this sorted... ;-(

 

[oGaryo]

Graham, you have the patience of a saint mate... really hope you get this sorted soon, you're well due some good fortune boating wise by the sound of it

 

[hlb]

Dunno what your worrying about. We've been a week getting half way round Anglsey. At least you have something exciting going on. Spend a few days in Holyhead, if you want your mind blowing.

I think I'd have that engine out and a fresh start on the mounts. Your stern gland will only stand so much abuse, as I found out.

You seem to be going through a very similar problem to me. Kept reporting the problem. Engineer kept saying it was fixed. The only time I knew different was the big BANG.

 

[hlb]

Graham, you have the patience of a saint mate... really hope you get this sorted soon, you're well due some good fortune boating wise by the sound of it

He'll be OK, he reads the News Of The World. So anything else will be taken in his stride.

 

[iangrant]

So poo

So the engineer chap turned up and fitted the new coupling pretty much on time, apart from getting stuck in a bit of traffic. The old coupling was shagged (I'll post a pic later).

Shaft aligned to within 0.004" and off we went. Cleared Cobbs Quay and needed to give it a bit of a blip as we were being blown around holding for the 14.30 bridge lift. Vibrated like hell as soon as I put any power on. Floor up, and the engine was shking on its mounts fit to bust as soon as it went in gear (it had been fine on the pontoon at tickover while the engineer checked the shaft running with a dial guage).

So now we're back in Southampton, after limping 40 miles back at 5.5 knots on one engine. Tomorrow, I'm getting a bottle jack and lifting each corner in turn, as I assume that the coupling failing trashed an engine mount (or vice versa).

Bloody boats. That's put the kybosh on our holiday and I have a charter next week, so I have very little time to get this sorted... ;-(

So why do we pay "engineers" so much money to fix stuff? Every time there is a problem they say - " oh it's all OK" and it's not, sorry but they have no idea.

Logical conclusion on engine vibration? it's not the mounts making the engine vibrate it's the other way round! Summat is inherintantly wrong and the "engineer" MUST find it or don't pay him

Ian

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Bloody boats. That's put the kybosh on our holiday and I have a charter next week, so I have very little time to get this sorted... ;-(

What rotten luck. Hoping you get it sorted finally very soon.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Solitaire]

Bloody boats. That's put the kybosh on our holiday and I have a charter next week, so I have very little time to get this sorted... ;-(

Well the only consolation is that you can claim the repairs against charter income.

 

[mjf]

So the engineer chap turned up and fitted the new coupling pretty much on time, apart from getting stuck in a bit of traffic. The old coupling was shagged (I'll post a pic later).

Shaft aligned to within 0.004" and off we went. Cleared Cobbs Quay and needed to give it a bit of a blip as we were being blown around holding for the 14.30 bridge lift. Vibrated like hell as soon as I put any power on. Floor up, and the engine was shking on its mounts fit to bust as soon as it went in gear (it had been fine on the pontoon at tickover while the engineer checked the shaft running with a dial guage).

So now we're back in Southampton, after limping 40 miles back at 5.5 knots on one engine. Tomorrow, I'm getting a bottle jack and lifting each corner in turn, as I assume that the coupling failing trashed an engine mount (or vice versa).

Bloody boats. That's put the kybosh on our holiday and I have a charter next week, so I have very little time to get this sorted... ;-(

Bloody Hell Wiggo - I'm sorry to hear all this.


Have to say I would be very inclined to change all the mounts cos heaven knows what damage is done with vibration and odd loadings