Plastigauge

Hi Merlyn, We have a small workshop. Unfortunately the Museum is entirely run by Volunteers and there was a Political Bust up before I became involved and the group of volunteers that did all the engineering walked out. I got the oil fired boiler running and through Survey and then, with a couple of...

Yes JK, I sometimes regret that I didn't take more pictures in my early days at sea but the cost of film and processing was high, and the photographs that I did take have faded to nothing!!! (Should have used Kodak Ektachrome, instead of Fuji Film) Also, like most of us, a lot of the things that I w...

Yes Merlyn, The Technology is well before our time, Thomas Newcomen invented his "Atmospheric Engine" in 1712, James Watt developed it, but locked down all innovation by patenting everything until 1800, the Cornish Engineers then took over, they had all those Tin and copper mines but no Coal so they...

I would say that although the Pipe Tunnel Duct keel has access at both ends it would still be regarded as an enclosed space, because leaking fuel etc can fill the space with flammable / Toxic Gases and corrosion taking place could deplete the Oxygen levels. However, if it is fitted with a supply fan...

Dear All, As some of you will know, since retiring from Sea Life, I have been Volunteering at Nottingham Industrial Museum (NIM) in England. We have co operated with the Bill Gates Foundation in preparing some films for Students about the Industrial Revolution. The NIM volunteers who feature in them...

Hi Revolver, only thing that I can think of is have you checked the free length of the springs? And is the bowl spinning at the right speed? They usually slow down while sludging, maybe it is slow to pick up speed again?
Big Pete

I spent 30 years as Chief Engineer at Sea. Japan, North America and UK were pretty good, Japan you often got a little more than you thought you should. Most owners/ operators get their fuel through a broker who searches the World for the cheapest price per ton. How can you sell your fuel cheaper tha...

Hi STS07, I have just noticed that nobody has responded to your post. I am not an Electrician myself, but I will explain how I would approach this problem: - If the breakers are tripping there are three possibilities: - A) The incorrect capacity breaker has been fitted. B) The breakers are operating...

Dual fuel sounds better than Duel fuel!! Those Gremlins have gotten in the keyboard again. Auto ignition temp for Gas is higher than for Diesel so if you have the right compression ratio to run on liquid Diesel fuel the gas won't ignite, unless you have Pilot Injection of Diesel Fuel or spark plugs....

UK hours of rest require that everybody on Board ship should have a minimum of 6 hours continuous rest, not even 1 minute less, in every 24 hour period, all that time has to be away from the workplace, i.e. Bridge or Engine Room. They also require that nobody should remain in their place of work for...

Good News, Most engine makers nowadays don't care what the individual exhaust temps are, the individual fuel rack settings and timings should be exactly as per makers manual and never changed, on a turbocharged engine small variations in exhaust temperatures, say 50 degrees between cylinders, have n...

With manual starting in cold weather you have plugs in the air manifold to pour oil in to improve sealing of the piston rings, and the oil also reduces the clearance volume, both increase compression ratio hence compression pressure and temperature. A lot of engines also have a lever to put on extra...

I don't think the tappet clearances would have much effect. I have sailed with engines where the maker sent out a service bulletin to increase the valve clearances by 50 % because it made the engine run quieter. If you had too little valve clearance the valves wdould not close and you would have low...

I would say if they are asking about the cycle of operation they mean the normal Suck squeeze Bang Blow 4 stroke operating cycle.
I don't think it is any more complex than that, sometimes we can look into much deeper meaning in exam questions than was ever intended,
Peter