Monday 6th of August 2012
I much better day than yesterday. Not only that, but we had a call back about the boatyard moorings and so we are now moored up at Market Drayton and getting our laundry chores done. Add to this being able to take care of the much needed shopping and we seem to be on a roll.
Not many boats passing through today. So I spent some time doing an engine oil and filter change. This was straight forward and took about half-an-hour. I also decided to adjust the Morse control cables. I had to replace a broken cable quite early on our trip.
Over time the forward and reverse changeover control cable has lengthened due to usage. It needed some fine adjustments made to correct the controls and to give the correct engine speed when in the tick-over position. This is not an easy adjustment to make on Rosie due to the access to the Morse adjustments being quite restricted. An hour and several scratches later all was well. I had forgotten how hard replacing the cable had been. This was a timely reminder.
I was now on a roll and so I also decided to adjust the stern gland (or packing gland) as it has a steady drip of water that amounts to about two or three pints of water in 24 hours. A stern gland is a type of stuffing box, used to seal the rotating prop shaft against ingress of canal water. The gland is usually packed with string which has been soaked in tallow or heavy grease. The gland nut allows the packing material to be compressed to form a watertight seal and prevent water leaking up the shaft.
Often graphite grease, pumped from a greaser is used to help improve the seal. Over time the string wears and the stuffing box needs to be tightened. Eventually after several years the string in the stuffing box will need to be replaced. It is important not to over tighten the stuffing gland or any other internal seals may be damaged. The gland should not be water tight, there should be a few drips per hour. About half a pint of water a day. This allows any small build up of pressure to be released.
Not many boats passing through today. So I spent some time doing an engine oil and filter change. This was straight forward and took about half-an-hour. I also decided to adjust the Morse control cables. I had to replace a broken cable quite early on our trip.
Over time the forward and reverse changeover control cable has lengthened due to usage. It needed some fine adjustments made to correct the controls and to give the correct engine speed when in the tick-over position. This is not an easy adjustment to make on Rosie due to the access to the Morse adjustments being quite restricted. An hour and several scratches later all was well. I had forgotten how hard replacing the cable had been. This was a timely reminder.
I was now on a roll and so I also decided to adjust the stern gland (or packing gland) as it has a steady drip of water that amounts to about two or three pints of water in 24 hours. A stern gland is a type of stuffing box, used to seal the rotating prop shaft against ingress of canal water. The gland is usually packed with string which has been soaked in tallow or heavy grease. The gland nut allows the packing material to be compressed to form a watertight seal and prevent water leaking up the shaft.
Often graphite grease, pumped from a greaser is used to help improve the seal. Over time the string wears and the stuffing box needs to be tightened. Eventually after several years the string in the stuffing box will need to be replaced. It is important not to over tighten the stuffing gland or any other internal seals may be damaged. The gland should not be water tight, there should be a few drips per hour. About half a pint of water a day. This allows any small build up of pressure to be released.
Daily Total
Miles: 0.0
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 0.0
Miles: 0.0
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 0.0
Accumulated Totals
Miles: 1038.5
Locks: 753
Swing / Lift Bridges: 119
Tunnels. 19
Pump Outs: 12
Engine Hours: 2312.3
Miles: 1038.5
Locks: 753
Swing / Lift Bridges: 119
Tunnels. 19
Pump Outs: 12
Engine Hours: 2312.3
Later......
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