|
|
Post by JohnV on Feb 1, 2023 18:40:35 GMT
Still plugging away at the whispergen ..... there has been progress but it really is a two steps forward and one step back kind of job. Replacement of the main electronics and the internal rewiring completed and the controller now seems to be doing what it should, that is definitely a bit of a relief. Commencing the installation programme with filling and purging the pipework started to find as it prssurised that I had a leak. so draining down and fixing required. These jobs have been interspersed with various other little jobs, crew pick ups and a little wiring job in the yard so have taken a couple of days. Next stage, bleeding the fuel system ...... The original fuel pump (external fitting) has incredubly small and delicate outlet pipe and during transport this got bent and the pipe was cracked. I decided to use a slightly bigger pump of the same type that I used in my diesel polishing system a few years back (it cleaned about a ton of fuel for me and then was used by a trip boat with contamination and also for a tug so it has done a lot of work) It was working fine when I put it away but now it isn't. The normal technical persuasion methods have been tried (thumping it) without success .... I would guess it was damp when stored and has seized. The plan is to repair the original with plastic metal (replacements are ............ rare as ....... very rare things  )
still at least it is progressing  |
|
|
|
Post by pattyann57 on Feb 2, 2023 6:39:48 GMT
I suppose on a plus side JohnV is keeping u meaningfully occupied..
on a minus.. what a b pain!
Not much being done here on the DIY... the 'little' must do's are being ignored.. though suppose door ordered and all repairs to windows, back door and French windows will be done at the same time.
|
|
|
|
Post by JohnV on Feb 2, 2023 11:13:32 GMT
Fuel pump repair !!! this is the end with the connection still intact ..... you can see from this view how delicate the pipe is  SAM_3906 by mudlarker, on Flickr this the other end  SAM_3910 by mudlarker, on Flickr Hunting through my junk box I found this blanking cap with the same thread as the existing pipework that connected to the pump and carefully drilled a matching hole  SAM_3915 by mudlarker, on Flickr unscrewed the end cap of the pump so that there would be no heat transferred to the plastic internals and soldered the two together  SAM_3917 by mudlarker, on Flickr Now reassembled  SAM_3920 by mudlarker, on Flickr Just have to keep my fingers crossed it works  |
|
|
|
Post by duncan on Feb 3, 2023 17:56:45 GMT
Sorry I am crossing threads a bit, but following a post in the Photo thread I guess you should be on the early part of this video John, 1.45 in;
|
|
|
|
Post by JohnV on Feb 3, 2023 19:59:08 GMT
Sorry I am crossing threads a bit, but following a post in the Photo thread I guess you should be on the early part of this video John, 1.45 in; Hi there duncan .... I wasn't on that trip ..... but the Elanor Rose was the one I crewed down the trip before (and took the photos from in my entry for the photo competition) They were on there way to Hull actually and not Goole as was said on the clip ..... both of them were in the drydock together until just a couple of weeks ago ...... they then went back to York (and no I wasn't on that trip either, I was elected to be the crew pickup driver) They had an interesting trip back, as the railway bridge at Selby broke down and Eleanor Rose couldn't get under on the flood and had to wait for it to be fixed. That meant that they had a fun time bashing up to Naburn against the ebb |
|
|
|
Post by JohnV on Feb 11, 2023 7:25:53 GMT
Finally the light at the end of the tunnel !!! Although there are still some miggles to sort out in the engine room, even if I do nothing more, I am now completely free from shore power dependence during the winter (with the solar, I already was during the summer months) I was still having problems with the fuel pump which had a tiny crack in it and was sucking in air. This caused the Whisper gen exhaust to produce a massive smoke screen. As it's computer controls the pump I suspect it was seeing that as insufficient fuel, increasing the pump flow to compensate and flooding itself Adding plastic metal to the pump body solved that (but there was still an irritating tiny fuel leak at another point) The final cure being when peterboat came up trumps with another fuel pump. It has been an incredibly frustrating and long drawn out process.
I don't think I would have started if I had known how much work it would take. A lot of thanks are due to peterboat.
Without his ability to source bits and being able to pick his brains, I might have been in fairly deep doodoo. I will potter on with the changes needed but the pressure is off, automatic features can remain manual or partly manual for now. When I get things back tidy and covers on things I will get the camera out. |
|
|
|
Post by duncan on Feb 18, 2023 10:57:01 GMT
telemachus you certainly are getting some good results with that printer .... it's certainly helped you produce some DIY that looks like production run !!! Yes it is amazingly useful. Quite a steep learning curve with Fusion 360 (CAD programme) and the finer points of driving the 3D printer, but I’ve now got a good enough grasp of both. Well for Fusion 360 I probably understand about 1%, but that is enough for simple things. How about this for 3D printing;
|
|
|
|
Post by JohnV on Feb 18, 2023 15:37:17 GMT
Yes it is amazingly useful. Quite a steep learning curve with Fusion 360 (CAD programme) and the finer points of driving the 3D printer, but I’ve now got a good enough grasp of both. Well for Fusion 360 I probably understand about 1%, but that is enough for simple things. How about this for 3D printing; I think an Australianism is the only comment I think of, that is apt "Strewth" |
|
|
|
Post by peterboat on Mar 14, 2023 9:06:21 GMT
Well I think my pressure relief valve on the water system is leaking, last night every half hour the pump spooled up and repressurised the system! I cant find a leak, the bilges are dry so pretty certain the valve has lost its spring! oh well another job to do
|
|
|
|
Post by JohnV on Mar 14, 2023 12:40:14 GMT
A dry sunny day here so have been taking the opportunity of doing a bit more redecking of the walkway
I think I said ages ago that the supposedly good quality WBP ply that I bought during the lockdown was total crap and was delaminating like mad.
2 sections of it quickly became unusable so the swinging section I replaced with an original gangway that I had at Benfleet (that ply is about 8 or 9 years old)
which although battered was still safe enough although only 6mm (but genuine quality).
To try it out I bought a sheet of 13mm Sterling board which has now lasted longer than the first of the ply panels although has become a bit "bouncy"
In spite of the weight increase I bought 3 sheets of 18mm Sterling board and have now replaced the last remaining original ply section and re-decked the
swinging section.
Did part the day before yesterday but stopped by the rain so it was good to be able to get stuck in today.
Had enough now (quite knackered !) as I started quite early this morning (about 7.30) and apart from a couple of phone calls and tea breaks been at it steadily
I spoke this morning to the Harbour master and he tells me that the problems with the Ennerdale bridge are fixed (hastily looking for fingers crossed emoji)
and to the drydock who reckon the Yorkshire Belle will be coming out next Monday (all things etc)
So fingers (and toes) crossed I might get my drydock after all
|
|
|
|
Post by dogless on Mar 14, 2023 15:35:17 GMT
Photos would be great JohnV if you can manage it 👍 Rog |
|
quaysider
Gobby
The Basil Fawlty of 'Hotel Boats'...
Posts: 89 
|
Post by quaysider on Mar 15, 2023 8:24:28 GMT
I'm finally working my way through my pre-season job list. Yesterday I had an easy win with a 'poo tank' inspection hatch... I dunno WHY I've been struggling to lift the mattress and bed boards with 1 hand and shining a torch with the other to check how much space there is in the tank for the last 6 years ... Simple solution - inspection hatch. TICK.    |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2023 13:40:09 GMT
I'm finally working my way through my pre-season job list. Yesterday I had an easy win with a 'poo tank' inspection hatch... I dunno WHY I've been struggling to lift the mattress and bed boards with 1 hand and shining a torch with the other to check how much space there is in the tank for the last 6 years ... Simple solution - inspection hatch. TICK. You could keep goldfish in it. |
|
|
|
Post by JohnV on Mar 15, 2023 13:51:53 GMT
You could keep goldfish in it. |
|
|
|
Post by peterboat on Apr 5, 2023 16:45:54 GMT
I have had a productive day re-arranging my battery bank on the domestic side, I have a 24 volt system which comprised of 6 Lifepo4 batteries, in S3 P3 it didnt work! all the batteries were out of kilter with each other but balanced internally!! Anyway they are now P3 S2 with a bank balancer on them, its telling me what I know and hopefully doing something about it, i should know in a few days. However the cables on this balancer are so short that its on my knees and bum in the air to read it! Longer wires to be added later methinks as it something I want to keep an eye on
|
|
[/