First run of the Gardner 3LW

I don't really know why it's taken so long to get the engine running, to be honest. The beautiful Gardner 3LW has been installed in the shell for months, but it's never really been a top priority to get it running. There have also been some good reasons why I couldn't, such the starter motor not being wired up, then finding that the starter motor didn't work properly, not having the exhaust components to hand, no gearbox oil cooler, no cooling system, and so on.
But mainly, it's just all those other jobs, like insulating the boat, which were really more urgent.

Anyway, the other day, the replacement starter motor arrived, courtesy of Iain Parker at ICS Online.
(Quick plug for this company here... they are very knowledgeable and incredibly helpful. Top service!) It only took a few minutes to install and was turning the engine over very nicely.

This gave me the motivation to get the gearbox oil cooler installed. This was a tricky one, because the gearbox was at one end of the engine room and the coolant pipes were at the other. I figured that the only place where it could sensibly be fitted, was on the engine bearer. Then there was the small matter of sourcing 10mm bore hose which could withstand 20 Bar!

The location of the cooler meant I needed a few more bends for the engine cooling system, but with those on order, I could now fill the gearbox with oil. The exhaust components were just screwed together by hand for now...

With the addition of some plastic tube and a can of fuel, it was time to try and bleed the fuel system. I struggled to find any useful information on the internet, so it was down to a bit of trial and error, made more complicated by the fact that the engine had to be turned by hand to allow the manual lift pump to work. During the months that the engine had stood idle, many of the fuel-related components had got very stiff, so I was worried this was going to be an issue.

However, after a number of unsuccessful engine spins, there was the unmistakable sound of it firing on one cylinder. A bit more bleeding of the fuel, another go with the starter, then all of a sudden, the engine sprang to life!

As the engine has no coolant at this stage, I was limited to the amount of running time, but was able to test the prop in gear, both forward and backwards. All seemed well, with a good strain being exerted on the mooring lines!

Now I was keen to check that the big 155 Amp, 24 Volt alternator was working. I found a 24V bulb and wired it up to battery positive and the Lamp terminal on the alternator. Another brief run of the engine saw the Sterling A2B charger spring into life, with a row of green LEDs showing. Next job is to fit a Hall effect ammeter to the cable, to show the charge current. First indications are that the pulley ratios are about right. Phew. The system will need more testing, by discharging the batteries, so they 'demand' full charge current.

Next jobs are to complete and fill the coolant system and make the permanent fuel connections; secure the silencer to the roof collar, etc. But these are minor things. It might not be too long before I'll be reversing Calbourne out of her mooring, onto the river for a little test cruise!

Happy days... good progress!