The RCR saga continues

IT MAY be remembered that Gary Doswell had a problem with his Beta Marine 43, with River & Canal Rescue (RCR) being unable to rectify (Not impressed with RCR)—here he tells of the conclusion of the problem:

Saturday morning I arose after a somewhat disturbed night's sleep and my thoughts were of our engine. I lasted until about 1000 hrs and rang RCR for some information.

Wrong number

Its response was that they had tried to ring me but had got no answer. I asked what number and it was not mine, it was close to my wife's number but not close enough. With all the calls I had made, surely its equipment should have shown my number as it is not hidden and different to the one they called. The number has now been corrected.

I was put through to the operative dealing with my engine problem who informed me that RCR could not do the job and it would have to be out sourced to RCR contractors.

Not sure when parts available

All the ins-and-outs of its contractor doing the job was explained but also that Beta Marine were doing a stock audit and not completely sure when spares could be despatched. The nub of all this was that some mechanic could do the job, but not sure when because not sure when they could get parts but it would be at my expense.

At no time was any concern shown as to our situation and wellbeing for food, water, sanitary or even our onboard electrical capabilities. Not that we want to be mollycoddled as we are a fairly resourceful pair of old farts but an inquiry as to our welfare would have shown a caring side to RCR considering it would be at least four days before anything might be done.

Bad design

Over the weekend I spent lots of time in the engine bay trying to figure out how the problem had occurred and thinking what a bad design the pulley system is. If the domestic batteries are low and you have the washing machine on whilst cruising, the force on the end of the crankshaft and especially the woodruff key and retaining nut must be immense. This configuration of pulleys must be a breakdown waiting to happen—and it's happened.

Look on the Beta Marine forum and you will see there is in an abundancy of the problem.

Problem removed from forum

It appears that the problem is quite common from the Beta Marine forum but it does not want it to be common knowledge. Unfortunately the forum I was reading has been removed. [This was done after the article appeared in narrowboatworld, that was creating more complaints.]

When these engines were marinised for canal boats and the extra alternators were needed, big chunky bits of steel brackets and mounts were added to bolt the alternators to, but it seems to me and others that little if any real thoughts could have been given to the pulley system for the drive belts.

There have been many instances of breakdowns due to pulleys coming off [We received two such complaints within days] and it has not often been a simple replacement job, engines have even been removed to facilitate the repair, so I think Beta Marine have a case to answer.

Common Beta fault

Monday morning at 11.26 Wayne from RCR contracting rang to say they would get a mechanic to us with parts when they could get the parts from Beta but the stock audit prevented the release of parts. Wayne knew of the problem with the pulleys as he had dealt with these breakdowns four or five times this year.

Tuesday morning went for a walk up the village for the exercise and enquired in a local workshop garage about a 46mm box spanner or socket (it was part of a thought I had for making the end of the crankshaft and pulleys marry up more robustly). The mechanic Jason asked the problem and said he would come and have a look.

Repaired

In about an hour he had had a look, split the pulleys, removed the broken rolled pin, remounted the water pump pulley and using a thread locking stuff from a small squirty type bottle tightened the retaining nut and re-attached the other pulleys. All for the price of a very good drink.

Today, Wednesday, I will put on the drive belts and fire up the engine and see if all is well, if not Jason who has high hopes all will be well says he will try plan B.

I rang Wayne (who still doesn't know when Beta Marine will release parts) to let him know that all might be well—fingers crossed.

Blood pressure now reduced hoping squirty stuff is a strong bond also having a good drink to Jason.