Learning to service my own engine.

[Geoffrey Hammond]

I am delighted that my boat is now finished, afloat and a joy

.

It is my intent have fun, and to look after it as well as I can, as economically as I can.

 

One part of that intent is to care for its engine – to learn about and to be able to service it myself. The engine is a 1952 Lister JP3M.

 

I know little enough presently, so am minded to use the services of RCR to arrange an individual servicing session this Autumn. It would appear that an RCR engineer will spend four hours with you, talk you through your engine and guide you through its service so that you will be able to do the same job on your own in future. The cost is £150.

 

Has any forum member had experience of such an RCR individual serving session – did it work for them?

 

It may be that other forum members will recommend instead other engineers, in the Midlands, whom they believe, from their experience, could help even more – especially as it is a vintage engine.

 

For me, what is key, is that I have actually to do the service myself rather than just watching – and that I am helped to understand what I am doing and why. I think I have the greatest chance, then, of understanding and remembering and learning!

 

All advice happily received!

[Smelly]

I wonder whether one of Tony Brooks'courses might be a better investment.

 

http://www.tb-training.co.uk/index.htm

[Alan Saunders]

It depends on your previous experience and aptitude. If you regularly service a petrol engine, a diesel is much the same; the only added 'complication' is bleeding the injection system.

 

It is better to understand how the engine/transmission works than to blindly follow a procedure learned in an afternoon.

If you can read a manual and understand the names of the working parts you can achieve the same at zero cost.

 

A good technician will identify possible problems not covered by the standard 'service' (oil/filter change) .

Good luck, you will get to know your engine better than someone who services it occasionally.

 

Old Diesel engines can be filthy things resulting in smelly overalls and indelibly black fingernails - a box of surgical gloves is a good investment!

And when you drop the filter drain plug into the oily bilge will you happily fish around for it?

 

My overalls stink of transmission oil after crawling under a medium sized truck (Albion Reiver) and the Laundrette will not accept them.

 

HTH, Alan

[luctor et emergo]

Find somebody with knowledge about said said engine (several members on this site are available), bribe with the promise of a bottomless cup of tea ( and a crate of ale to take home...), and I have a feeling that you will not only be able to get a step by step of how to love your engine, you may even make a friend in the process. It has been known to happen.

 

Alternatively, pay a disinterested stranger hundreds of pounds.

 

Hmm, I can be disinterested..

[Alan Saunders]

I wonder whether one of Tony Brooks'courses might be a better investment.

 

http://www.tb-training.co.uk/index.htm

Absolutely! That was my first thought but, I thought Tony had retired?

At the very least, read his website before proceeding!

[Boat&Bikes]

Iv only been involved with boats since buying one last year.Although having spent most of my adult life working on petrol engines of many differing makes i had no experience of working with diesel engines.I had RCR out for the one to one and found it excellent,take into account that you get a service in and £150 isnt to bad a price.The RCR chap spent ages with me and talked me through lotsa details,not only engine detail but boats in general.

 

 

Ian.

[Jayseaess]

I am delighted that my boat is now finished, afloat and a joy

.

It is my intent have fun, and to look after it as well as I can, as economically as I can.

 

One part of that intent is to care for its engine – to learn about and to be able to service it myself. The engine is a 1952 Lister JP3M.

 

I know little enough presently, so am minded to use the services of RCR to arrange an individual servicing session this Autumn. It would appear that an RCR engineer will spend four hours with you, talk you through your engine and guide you through its service so that you will be able to do the same job on your own in future. The cost is £150.

 

Has any forum member had experience of such an RCR individual serving session – did it work for them?

 

It may be that other forum members will recommend instead other engineers, in the Midlands, whom they believe, from their experience, could help even more – especially as it is a vintage engine.

 

For me, what is key, is that I have actually to do the service myself rather than just watching – and that I am helped to understand what I am doing and why. I think I have the greatest chance, then, of understanding and remembering and learning!

 

All advice happily received!

Hi Geoffrey

 

I had the one to one RCR service session earlier this year and found it very helpful.

The engineer spent a good 4 hours talking me through and advising me of any tips as I did the service, I found it a great help and now happy that i can do it myself.

I would recommend it

Nigel

[Tony Brooks]

Absolutely! That was my first thought but, I thought Tony had retired?

At the very least, read his website before proceeding!

 

 

Yes, but RCR have all the notes and equipment and intend to continue the courses.

 

Please remember I am still very happy to answer questions by email (ideally not PM for reasons of the use I put some such emails to).

 

I think it is true to say that I pioneered the 1 to 1 courses and stopped when RCR started to offer them because they have far more up to date practical than me. Do one of their 1 to 1s or take one of the courses when they get round to organising one. 0871 2008021 and ask for Barbara.

[BEngo]

I am delighted that my boat is now finished, afloat and a joy

.

It is my intent have fun, and to look after it as well as I can, as economically as I can.

 

One part of that intent is to care for its engine – to learn about and to be able to service it myself. The engine is a 1952 Lister JP3M.

 

I know little enough presently, so am minded to use the services of RCR to arrange an individual servicing session this Autumn. It would appear that an RCR engineer will spend four hours with you, talk you through your engine and guide you through its service so that you will be able to do the same job on your own in future. The cost is £150.

 

Has any forum member had experience of such an RCR individual serving session – did it work for them?

 

It may be that other forum members will recommend instead other engineers, in the Midlands, whom they believe, from their experience, could help even more – especially as it is a vintage engine.

 

For me, what is key, is that I have actually to do the service myself rather than just watching – and that I am helped to understand what I am doing and why. I think I have the greatest chance, then, of understanding and remembering and learning!

 

All advice happily received!

 

 

I have no experience of the 1-2-1 but if you decide to go for it make sure that RCR send you someone who knows the JP engines really well. These engines are excellent, but in canal terms are much less common than BMC, Mitsubishi, Kubota, and John Deere derivatives. Also they are usually looked after either by the owner or a vintage specialist so there is not the same call for canalside expertise.

 

The base engines were designed for hard use in out-of-the-way places with little skilled maintenance so what you need to be able to do and need to check is easily learned. Looking carefully at the engine with the manual in hand is a good starting point. If you don't have one I think the Internal Fire website does and will let you down load it if you register (donations are accepted).

 

I would also find someone else who has a similar one and looks after it and make a friend of them.

 

N