Fixing As We Cruise Along

Having made the decision to not do the Tinsley Flight on the Monday, we set off yesterday (Tuesday) with better weather and justification in our decision making the previous day. To get to the bottom of the flight of locks (Lock 12), we still had a short section of the river Don to navigate and this took us past a big weir. 

There was a large overhanging tree which I wanted to avoid but in doing so it took us close to the weir and we may have rubbed Daisy’s bottom along some debris/sandbank. Jo certainly said she felt a change in her at that time. However, she carried on and all was well.

We reached Lock 12 and met with Nigel (CRT) and 2 colleagues (Mark & Mark) who kindly assisted us through. Jo walked the stretch of locks with Zak and worked with the CRT chaps to open the locks.

Things were going smoothly until we did a stretch between 2 of the locks. This is where things went wrong.

I lost all drive and Daisy was making a high pitched squeal when increasing thrust. First instincts were to panic but I coaxed her to the tow path and Mark held the centre line whilst I had to go and find my lump hammer and bang the spikes in so that I could tie the bow and stern lines. Matters weren’t helped by the bellowing voice of a Yorkshire Fruitcake who shouted “hit it”! It wasn’t the spike I wanted to hit…

First thing to check was the weed hatch. I knew how to do this so on went the gloves and down the hatch I went to the prop shaft. I fished out some plastic bag and twine and thought that was it. Back on with all the covers, up with the spikes and start Daisy up, engage thrust and….. squeal. Not worked.

Back out with the spikes, up with the covers and examine. During a service the previous week, Pete greased the prop shaft towards the stern through a small screw. He had said that it would hold for 6 months so whilst doubtful it was that, I had a go at doing it myself. Down into the engine bay and squeezed a bit more in. Let’s give that a go…… nothing. 

Feeling somewhat downhearted and knowing that stopping on the actual flight was a no no, I looked for something else. Back down into the engine bay I went and this time I turned the prop whilst holding the coupling which comes out of the gear box. The prop was free spinning in the coupling which would mean there was no drive out to the propeller. Fortunately I had made up the necessary toolbox full of spanners and with 2, 17mm ones I tightened the 4 bolts up on the coupling. 

If it wasn’t this then I was close to packing it all in. Deep breath and start Daisy up. Engage drive and……. forward movement with no noise. Result! Pack everything up and back off we go up the remaining locks all the way to the top one (Lock 1). From there a straight mile into the Victoria Quay which took us past the famous scene in the Full Monty where the lads have pinched some steel and are trying to get it across the canal by using a sunken car as a stepping point.

So we made it and felt good about ourselves. Whilst it wasn’t an engine blow out, it was enough to make us think and problem solve our way out of it. Another learning curve for us both that these things happen and it’s pretty much down to us to sort it our ourselves. The other bit of positive from this is that I get to show you all a small video of the engine bay and the parts mentioned. Keep your interest levels high as I intend to discuss other bits and pieces down there as we chug along down the cut.