Murvi Motorvan AGM Weekend Walk - March 2016

Kinder Edge via Ringing Roger - Mar 2016

We joined with the Owners' Club for our Murvi Motorvan at the AGM Meet in Hope, nr Castleton, Derbyshire. For us, this is a relatively close rally!

A menagerie of Murvi motorvan's!

Three of us took advantage of the location and a glorious day to walk up onto Kinder Edge.

In order to maximise walking on the fells, I chose to take the train from where we were camping at Hope west to Edale - just the one stop.

The train from Sheffield, calling in at Hope - just one stop to Edale

Setting off uphill from Grindsbrook Booth - and yes, it's gets steeper!

Looking south across the Edale Valley to Mam Tor and the distinctive Mam Nick

Missy joined us on the walk!

Three of us at Ringing Roger Rocks - 550m, 1804ft

A windswept xmas tree - blasted from the prevailing westerlies

Missy stands guard at the Hope Cross

Alternative 'Shefield' this way

Looking up at Win Hill - 462m,1516ft

Finally back at Hope Station - watching the Manchester train head onto Sheffield

On a lovely day, we covered a total of 9 miles and 1863ft of climb.

Lister JP2M - Renewal of Diesel Control Rod March 2016

JP2 Improvements - March 2016

Our Lister JP2 Marine Engine has a brass rod diesel control system.

This brass rod was worn when we go the engine in 2000 - so time for renewal.

This is a re-built Lister JP2M at the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum.

As you can see it dates from 2012 and shows the horizontal brass control rod running from the vertical arm, forward. The brass rod is supported/restrained by a bracket halfway along - it is this bracket that is causing the wear

This photo shows the original (worn) rod alongside a new piece of bar

A further view of the worn bar!

I use this Engineering Works to help me - the Engineer did the job in the day!

Old and new!

 The new brass control rod fitted - complete with the new spring.

The adjustment bolts are on the left-hand end and will need a touch when the engine next runs. both cold and hot.

A job well done!

Narrowboat Battery Maintenance Mar 2016

Narrowboat Battery Maintenance Mar 2016

One of my regular jobs in the engine room is to check and maintain the battery bank.

I use the more usual 'wet' lead acid 110 amps hour batteries for our leisure-side; we have 6!

I check the levels of acid and fill with distilled water where necessary. This appears to often be the case after a period where the charger has worked hard to bring the batteries up to the 13.7 volts level. Putting in 60 to 70 amps up to 14.8 volts appears to lessen the levels.

These batteries are now about 5 years plus old - so are doing quite well!

With 6 x 12v leisure batteries, there is wiring everywhere!!

More topping up of the electrolyte levels - using distilled water

Topping up the 2 x 12v engine start batteries - these are in series to give me 24v for the rather large (lorry) starter motor

Showing one of the 2 MegaPulse electronic gizmos wired across the battery bank

Showing the front of the 'MegaPulse'. This piece of electronic kit originates from Australia and is apparently used by their forces and emergency services.

Basically it checks the batteries and sends a micro-amp pulse across the terminals to de-sulphate the lead plates. Hence prolonging battery life!

Seems to work as we have had this set of batteries since Winter 2010 - admittedly we have been on hook-up for much of that time! - but, hey, extending battery life can't bad!

Incidently, I also used one of these on our motorhome leisure batteries

Last job whilst on this side of the engine - releasing any residual water from the in-line diesel filter for the Webasto. Happily, all is clear!

Lister JP2M Engine Maintence Mar 2016

Lister JP2M Engine Maintence Mar 2016

The last time our JP2 was looked at was in May 2011 for a check by Adam from PB Mechanicals in Chorley - Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

This was at 390 engine hours and since then we have had some longer cruises and are now at 1390 hours. The JP2M is a re-built marine version with new pistons and re-metalled bearings.

This summer 2016 we are heading down the Grand Union to London and onto the River Thames, so an engine maintenance check is in order.

Richard of A. R. Milligan Marine Engineering was recommended by a fellow moorer here at Overwater Marina. He has a JK3 and is very pleased with Richard's service.

I wanted a general check over, particularly the tappets and the slow running - and anything else spotted?!

Engine room cleared of ropes, coats, boots etc, ready for the work!

You can see the JP sitting in it's own engine room - the dial ahead is the oil pressure, partly obscured by the day tank rotary pump handle which draws diesel through from the main aft tank to the day tank.

On the left is the Webasto Central Heating Boiler, also running on diesel, with it's own filter

Here the two rocker covers are removed to adjust the tappets - no.2 was definitely out

This shows the diesel control linkage removed

A view of the injector pump with the side access plate removed. Plenty of WD40 was sprayed in and the control rod cleaned, then oiled

A new gasket is cut and replaced

Showing the Diesel Control Spindle - complete with the two new tensioning springs.

In the foreground is the water pump gearing

Last job was to renew the diesel filter. The old one turned out to be quite clean as it happens - which is good! Helped by the day tank pump drawing fuel from the main tank when settled in the morning.

We then ran the engine - it sounded sweet and Richard set the idler, albeit the engine was still rather cold as it takes quite a while to get hot.

We had a discussion about the correct running temperature so more thought there and a smart brass temperature gauge maybe - work for the future.

Moorland Mini Marathon - Feb 2016

The Rab Mini Mountain Marathon - 7th Feb 2016

Together with my son, Daniel, we have been competing in mountain marathon navigation events for many years - e.g. see this link of our second day on the Scottish Borders.

We have decided to get some extra training and navigation experience under competition pressures and have chose this Rab sponsored event in the Dark Peak, starting at Totley just outside Sheffield.

Just after the start, walking up to the moor past the line of parked cars.

We started at 8.35am and had 4 hours to find and check as many controls as we could to get a total score of points

Now on the moor, following a track - always time for a photo!

Similar photo - it was quite cold so in full gear with hat and gloves

As we approach this control, Dan jumps the stream

These events are run on orienteering lines - so this control is no. 5 - stream junction and worth 30 points. You can see we carried light running rucksacks with a water bottle and food plus extra winter clothes/survival sack

Crossing the moor on a track, we came across this pillar marked 'Sheffield' - and a couple of other (younger) runners. Notice Dan has not waited and gone on ahead!

The open Dark Peak moor

Another view looking northwards - and something in the trees

Red deer on the move

Dan approaches the next control  - on the moor crag edge

The millstone grit rocks have those lovely weathered shapes

Dan searches for the control - described as 'tall rock in rocky ravine'!

It took us some time to find this - worth the maximum of points though

On our way back now, on top of Totley Moor. This control is at the foot of a tunnel shaft.

As we approached, there was the smell of diesel exhaust and the smoke blowing from the top - presumably a loco below

Back at the Finish

We were a couple of minutes over the allotted 4 hours so had 2 points deducted to give us 208 points overall. The events caters for solo fell runners as well as pairs.

Overall we came 146th out of 223 entrants and a commendable 26th out of the 60 in the team event.

Why a mini marathon? - because we covered the half-marathon distance of 13.5 miles in 4 hours and climbed 1817 feet!!

Brass and Wind! Out and About in January 2016

January 2016 Activities - Brass Band and Walking

During January, our Rode Hall Silver Band was hard at rehearsing for the annual NW Contests. Firstly, we prepared for the Preston Brass at the Guild 4th Section Contest.

This year the contest piece is interesting and musical - a pleasure to play! Which is just as well given the the amount of time we spend rehearsing it in all the detail.

 

Here we are on  stage for the 11 minute contest piece.

We came 5th out of the 9 bands competing in our 4th Section.

And yes! The standard is very high!

My other leisure activity this month has been a continuation of my walking.

Having volunteered to lead some walks for the couple of Rambling Groups I'm in, I needed to do the Recce's.

Here we are, having a lunch break, at Errwood Reservoir in the Goyt Valley, Derbyshire.

Towards the end of the Recce, we met a walker who kindly took this photo of the three of us

Two of us went over to the North Wales coast for a Recce of the fells above Llanfairfechan,

The train arrives to take us to the start at Penmaenmawr

Having gained height, we looked back over Conway

Looking out to the north and the sea.

The route took us west havig climbed Foel Lus, over Tal y Fan and Foel Lwyd

All wrapped up in the wind!

Sunny - though sheltering from the very strong winds - at 50mph, quite a challenge!

We covered 11 miles and 2760ft