Further engine work in November has been the stripping down of the big end, this has revealed some scoring on the journal and shims on the bearing spit line, big end ovaled vertically, shims removed and oval removed, bearing reassembled.

Aux engine re-piped with 1/2 inch valves and 3/8 copper pipe. exhaust needs to be repiped to 1/2 inch.

Main engine supply pipe reduced to flexible pipe only.

New regulator valve fitted with extension so can be operated from the steering position.

Main cabin, shower tray turned 180 degreees to move drain. Pipe work to waste pump extended.


Set of Whit spanners obtained from Marcus at Stafford Hardware
Boat frozen in Nov 26/27/28/29 Dec1 , likely to continue !

Link motion reassembled and tested Sunday 14/11/2010. Changes to main steam pipe to remove severe bends appears to be sucessful with better power to prop shaft at all steam pressures, further reduction planned to remove excess length in main steam flexible hose. Boiler steamed for 1hour 30 minutes. Boiler saftey valve lifted at 110 psi, sealed at 95 psi, boiler blown down and refilled twice. Engine much quieter, but identification of major knock associated with big end bearing, need to strip remetal/remachine, one set of nuts 1 1/8 in whit, other not yet known.

Link motion dropped to fix die block. Die block found to have four sacrificial brasses, fixed by 2BA brass countersunk screws. Brasses replaced and new screws from MaccModels. New w brasses 1/8 inch think and have removed 3/32 inch spaces in the link motion. Link to be assembled and tested w/e Nov 13, 2010.

Boat at Hoo Mill for boiler washout and some general engine room work. Inside of the boat progressing well but not finished yet.

NB Radnor

This is the first entry for a new steam powered narrowboat, moored at Hoo Mill , Staffordshire