Quote:
Originally Posted by Makko
The RD had a flocking great chain drive. The valve blades were spring loaded compressed carbon/graphite, more fragile than a butterfly's wing! The actual valve body was a huge, coffin shaped monstrosity. Plenty of problems with reed valves etc. on an engine running on HFO which was designed for MDO!
Rgds.
Dave
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Thanks Dave - bits coming back to me now. I seem to recall huge problems with the shaft seals. And those %$&!^£* reed valves! Ultrasonic cleaning baths hadn't reached us when I was sailing with them so cleaning them was a significant part of the crew's workload. I think we tried some snake oil fuel additive and some people convinced themselves it reduced the fouling rate
On the little SD engines we could hardly do a two week passage without them and the ports becoming badly blocked. The crude short term cure was to stop the engine and empty a starting air bottle into it which would clear enough crap for a few more days running.