7:40 am and we are the first to the bottom lock and off we go, the first few locks are going fine, then a CRT person on a bike warns us that lock 36 had been closed and the pound had been drained for an emergency repair to the lock gate, so could we hold where we are, it will take about an hour to refill the pound and check the repair.
As the repair was at the next lock up, I walked up to get some pictures, as you can see there is not much depth at the sides.
About an hours later, the pound is full and we were back on our way.
Sonia was at the helm and I was working the locks, the next time she catches up with me, she reports the engine is playing up, so I take over for a while and all seems fine except it is not settling down after changing gear.
This slowly gets worse over the next few locks until it stalls when trying to leave lock 49 and so we pull over to take a look.
While doing this the next boat coming down the TB seem to drain the pound leaving us at an essessive angle with most of our worksurfaces cleared and cupboards emptyed. Luckly a CRT crew member jump to our aid and refilled the pound and kept us safe while we diagnosed the problem.
We can hear a ticking from the fuel pump that lasts for a 45 seconds, after that the engine will start, but soon boggs down and stops.
Sounds like fuel starvation, I know we have fuel, and I have a spare filter so we whip to the old one off and replace it, now nothing, luckly a very helpful man traveling on his own stops to take a look and thinks we may have an air blockage in the diesel lines, much tinkering later we are running, but very erratically.
Note: We later discover this engine will automatically clear any airlocks in the pipes/injectors.
Bravely we decide to continue and see what happened as we only have about 10 lock to complete to the top of the Tardebigge.
At the top things are going OK’ish and we decide to push on the Birmingham or as close as we can make it. We can manage about 2-2.5mph but the engine is not run stready. All the advice we got was the pump was on it way out, lots of phone calls and we cannot find one… We call supplier after supplier all of whom send us onto someone else, who either has not got or heard of our engine (Isuzu 42), but may know someone who could help. We give up for today.
After 3 tunnels, including the Wast Hill Tunnel at 2,492 m, which is worrying with a engine we don’t trust. But we carry on as at least in Brum I should be able to get parts delivered or hire an Uber to go and get some.
It is slow progress but finally make it to Birmingham and find a mooring just outside the Lego centre. We have been chugging for about 13 ½ hours now and are all greatly relieved to stop.
Doing some final checks before stopping for the night, both our batteries banks seem low, the leisure batteries are below 90% and the engine battery is showing only 11.3 Volts.
We are all too tired to think so it’s time for food and some to sleep before I start looking at the engine tomorrow.
Today we have completed 17 Miles and 29 locks in about 13 ½ hours
August 2023 – Part 1 – A little adventure, Droitwich to Birmingham
August 2023 – Part 2 – A really Tardebigge adventure
August 2023 – Part 3 – Birmingham Engine Lows and Highs
August 2023 – Part 4 – Lost dog and diner out at Ju Ju’s Cafe
August 2023 – Part 5 – Screwfix almost saves the day
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