Tuesday 29 March 2016

The installation.

Tuesday 29th March

Hello again people,
As I promised just a few details of how the installation of the BMC engine was anything but straight forward.
Basicaly, the main problem was the fact that the BMC engine is bigger not only in power output, but in dimensions too.
The distance across the original main  engine bearers in the boat is 16.5 inches centre to centre.
The distance across the engine mounts on the BMC engine is 22 inches centre to centre. So as you can imagine there was actually nothing for the engine to sit on as the mounts fell each side of the original bearers.
There was much discussion about how to provide support for the engine, but, to cut an exceedingly long story down to a reasonable size, I suggested they bolt two new bearers to the engine mounts, then the new bearers could then be welded to two new cross members which could be welded to the original engine bearers. In effect it would be like a subframe for the engine to be bolted on to.
They seemed to like this idea and in fact this is how the job was done.
The rest of the installation went well, and was fairly straight forward, I had sufficient spares and piping and jubilee clips and bolts and nuts and stuff that they didn't have to supply anything other than the steel for the subframe.
Connecting the exhaust was straight forward, as was the cooling system. I had retained the wiring loom off the Vetus engine and was able to adapt it to operate on the BMC so with the aid of my notes on which wire went where and to what, even connecting the wiring up was straight forward.
Sods law meant that I would have to change the morse cable controls over. When I first bought Bracken I had to change the cables over because when you moved the lever forward the boat went backwards, and visa versa due to the rotation of the gearbox. Then when I fitted the Vetus engine I had to change the cables over again because the gear box rotated the opposite way. Now I've had to do it again! Hopefully for the last time!
I expected the engineer to come today to finish the installation. I'm missing the air filter, and also the temperature sender unit as the one on the engine is missing the electrical tag. Also he needs to replace number 3 injector as it is causing a slight misfire at low revs which causes a bit of smoke. Once that is all done I will have run out of excuses for not going out of the marina ha!
Mind you, when the engineer is going to appear is anybodies guess. I'm not going to 'slag off ' the company, other than to say they are not big on communication. I have spent a great deal of time waiting around, that's waiting for them to return phone calls, and waiting in for men that don't turn up. When I was in business for myself, my main aim was always to keep the customer informed, every step of the way. The customer always knew when to expect me, and if I was held up for any reason, I would let them know. 
I suppose it has become one of my pet hates.
And don't get me started on' being put on hold' on phone calls!!! Grrr! 
I've come to a conclusion ........... There is two time zones. There is Normal time. And there is Canal time. Everything happening on the canals happens at a quarter of the speed therefore takes 4 times as long as it would normally do! Or maybe I'm just an impatient sod!
Enough ranting from me.
Time for me to do some dinner, just want to say hi to Elise, (grand-daughter) as she has just started reading Grandads blog. Love you lots xx
Well that's it for now people, i'll write again soon.
Bfn.

Monday 28 March 2016

Out with the old, and in with the new (old).

Monday 28th March.

Hello people, well here we are a typical bank holiday. Wet, windy, cold (outside, toasty warm in here).
There's a lot been going on here over the past few weeks, I am SO loving being retired! I'm not gloating, honest, I just enjoy waking up and pottering about at my leisure, listening to birdsong and enjoying the tranquillity of living afloat. Even when its raining, the sound of the rain on the roof of the boat is somehow soothing and peaceful. I think its called 'living the dream'.

I've been painting, only the inside at the moment. Well much as I love the wooden panelling in Bracken, it does make it a bit dark so I decided to paint the galley area the same colour as the ceiling in order to lighten it up a bit.

Well it certainly worked! The galley (kitchen) area is now a nice bright 'Happy Yellow' (that's the name of the paint colour), possibly needs another coat, (it's had 3 so far) but I think it looks great.

The other 'event' that has been taking place is:-
I took the plunge so to speak, and decided to call in RCR (River, Canal, Rescue) and got them to replace the tired, worn out Vetus engine that I fitted last year. You know, the one I bought cheap off Ebay that turned out to be knackered! Yep thats the one!
I really couldn't face going through the business of fitting the replacement myself, not again, so I decided to pay RCR to supply and fit a 1500 BMC with PRM 120 gearbox.


So it was out with the old, and in with the new. Actually it's not new, but second-hand but I'm reliably assured its a good un, and as it comes with a warranty I have no reason to disbelieve them. 


The fitting of the engine to Bracken turned out to be anything but straight forward.
I'll talk more about that later.

Anyway it is in and running now, just need some adjustments to the gear linkage and injectors and I'll be ready to have a mini voyage up the cut, Hurrah!!
More later.
bfn