28/4/2024 0 Comments 28th AprilSo, flooring finished, just need to re-install the step I took home to varnish, I turned to the engine vibration problem. Quick recap; Seren used to have a terrible vibration problem which I tracked down to someone having fitted engine mounts for a much bigger engine (75Kg static load on each of four mounts). Seren's engine, flywheel housing and gear box total about 100Kg but not evenly distributed, the rear mounts are forward of the flywheel and there is no support under the gearbox. I did a little calculation and figured there's about 40Kg on each of the rear mounts and 10Kg on each of the front ones. So last year I fitted lighter mounts and she's a LOT quieter. Except on tick-over when she vibrated almost as badly as before. I suspect some previous owner replaced Seren's engine and the current one, A Perkins (Kubota) 3 cyl diesel is wider than the original. It does just about fit but access is terrible and, I discovered, the engine mounting brackets and their hex-head screws are VERY close to the engine bearers. The rear mounts especially as the engine is tilted a little to align with the propshaft. A 'feature' of 3 cyl engines is that they vibrate fore/aft. At cruising speed (~2000 RPM) the vibration is damped by the mass of the engine but at tick-over <1000 RPM it becomes more noticeable and is enough for the screw heads to contact the engine bearers. Back to Crick tomorrow to refit it. Then I need to investigate the starter motor problem. I'm hoping its just the awful damp weather has corroded the connections. If I have to take the starter off it's going to be a big job because it's hidden under the exhaust manifold/heat exchanger so that would have to come off first.
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22/4/2024 0 Comments 22nd April
I got a rugging tool from one of the daughters for my recent birthday and that works fine. The tricky bit is cutting thousands of rags.
Other news, I've started painting the plywood for the weed hatch cover/step, it'll need a lot of paint to keep the damp out. Yesterday I took a load of allotment rubbish to the tip and acquired a couple of steps that seem to have been cut from a step-ladder. I might use them instead of the plastic stool for the bottom step. 20/4/2024 0 Comments 20th AprilI haven't blogged for a while as progress on Seren has been slow. I can only get there about once a week and there's a limited amount one old codger can do in a day, even with Gareth's help. However, today we finished the floor, sort of. It still needs a good clean and some rugs but here it is as of this afternoon: I've also been working on replacing the rear step making it lower and smaller than before and using a folding step to make getting in and out easier with dodgy knees. <- This is a trial assembly, it's all in pieces again now and at home waiting for several coats of paint. Then of course there's the actual step to make from decking off-cuts to put on top. The floor is sturdy and attractive in a rustic sort of way but needs rugs so I've started making a 'Rag-Rug'. I've never done it before though I grew up with rugs my mother made. There will be photos when I've done a bit more. |
AuthorPhil, owner, captain, chief engineer, electrician, carpenter, cook and comms manager of Seren Archives
April 2024
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