NORMAN MITCHELL R.I.P. BOB MAY R.I.P. RALLY 2021 — …

The journal of the Russell Newbery Engine Owners & Enthusiasts Club

www.rnregister.org.uk

Issue 106Summer 2020

NORMAN MITCHELL R.I.P. BOB MAY R.I.P. RALLY 2021 — ALREADY!

AGM(S) — SPECIAL MEASURES FIXING YOUR PRM LOCKDOWN, BY Mr. WOOLLEY

2 RNR Newsletter : Summer 2020

WHO’S WHO

RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER LTDVice Presidents: Lady Carol Stamp, Mrs Susan Gibbs,Allister Denyer, Graham Pearson, Eleanor PhillipsWeb site: www.rnregister.org.ukThe Russell Newbery Register is a non profitdistributing company limited by guarantee.Founded: 1994 Registered in England No: 346943Officers:Chairman: Bob Scott m: 07812 [email protected]: Kevin McNiff m: 07866 [email protected] & Administrator (membership, finance): AndyTodd t: 01923 264962 m: 07973 [email protected]: Jim Comerford m: 07887 [email protected] Editor: Kevin McNiff [email protected] Production: Andrew Laycock m: 07870 294580Administration (merchandise): Neil Masont: 01306 889073 [email protected] Organisers: Bob Scott and Andrew [email protected]: Andrew [email protected]

RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER PROPERTY LTDA non profit distributing company limited by guaranteeFounded 2004 Registered in England No: 5316384Directors: Bob Ainsworth, Dave Martin, Bob Scott, AndyTodd.

RN DIESEL ENGINE COMPANYProprietors: Dave Bixter (m:07812 039110) Deborah Bixter (m: 07966 403132)Showroom: RN House, The Locks, Hillmorton, Rugby,Warwickshire, CV21 4PP t:01788 578661Engineering workshop: 4 Oak House, Royal Oak WayNorth, Royal Oak Industrial Estate, Daventry NN11 8PQ

Email: [email protected]

Field Engineers: Ian Crompton m: 07831 841108 Richard Milligan m: 07973 826260

CONTENTSFront cover: Norman Mitchell on board the VIC32. [Paul Bartlett]Back cover: Bob May, the pictures man. [Stephanie Shearman]

3 FROM THE EDITOR

4 CHAIRMAN’S CHATTER

5 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

6 OBITUARY: NORMAN MITCHELL

7 MEMORIALS

8 AGM NOTICES

9 RALLY 2021

10 LOCKDOWN BY NORMAN

13 BOATS FOR SALE

14 PRM TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

18 DIESEL FEEDBACK

19 GREEN SPACE IN BRUMUnless otherwise noted,© Russell Newbery Register, 2020

Next editionAll contributions for the Autumn edition will be

gratefully received. Do not worry aboutformat — in true RN fashion the editorial team can

cope with [almost] anything!

Please supply photographs as separate JPEG or GIF files.

Copy deadline 15th October 2020

From the archives: The Upminster staff poseby a completed D1.

3RNR Newsletter : Summer 2020

This summer edition feels very strange, as I would normally becommenting on our boating activities. Instead, the continued fallout fromthe COVID-19 pandemic and more so the untimely passing of NormanMitchell has cast quite a shadow over the proceedings.

Pauline has told me of the many messages of support and condolences fromthe ‘RN Family’. It is sad that we were unable to be present at Norman’sfuneral, but we are going to arrange a memorial service during the 2021Rally, details of which are within these pages.

News also reached me while preparing this edition that Bob May haspassed away. Our thoughts are with his daughter Stephanie at this time.

It is hard to keep up with the ever-changing regulations and advice fromUK and devolved governments, some of which have prevented many of usfrom visiting our boats in England and Wales up to now; thoughattempting to set out boating when the ‘flood gates’ have opened isprobably counter-productive!

The official Autumn Gathering has been cancelled, even though lockdownrestrictions are easing. However, there will be an informal meeting foranyone still wishing to get together on the towpath at Huddlesford wherewe will hold AGMs for the Register and Property Company. Feedback so farindicates quite a few are going to come along and we will, of course,maintain the required social distancing.

Finally, thanks to all the contributors in this edition and let’s hope we allget some boating in between now and the end of the ‘season’.

Full range of of RN Spares and service items available from stock together with engines on display at Hillmorton.Full range of Boatyard Services including Engine servicing and repairs, Boat blacking, Full boat repainting service,

Boat building and repairs, Plumbing & electrics, Weld repairs.

GBBS Hillmorton Ltd. & Russell Newbery Marine Diesel Engines

01788 578 661 mobile 07812 039110 email. [email protected]


Chairman’s ChatterHello everybody.

I hope you and yours are all well andstaying safe.

I can’t believe that three months has goneby since my last missive. In those threemonths there has been a blend ofabsolutely nothing happening and all hellbreaking loose.

To say that I was shocked at NormanMitchell’s untimely demise is something ofan understatement. My condolences toPauline and the rest of the family.

Norman’s obituary is elsewhere in thenewsletter, but I’d just like to share a taleabout the first time I met Pauline andNorman which was at the RN Rally heldat Saul Junction in 2008. Immediatelyafter the Rally there was a “Folk on theWater” music festival with boats mooredthree abreast along the Gloucester andSharpness canal. Norman and Paulinewere moored bankside. My boat was thethird one out. At the time I had a smallJack Russell who I had left on board forthe evening and, on my return, needed awalk. With the dog under my arm Istepped from the stern of my boat to theprow of the boat next to me and then onto the stern of Norman and Pauline’s boat(Anonymity) and then safely ashore. Sofar so good.

The dog had her walk, all was fine.However, on the return journey the dogdecided that she didn’t much fancy goingback to the boat and started to wrigglejust as I was negotiating the step from theprow of the boat next to me on to thestern of my boat. My journey through theair and into the water was as brief as itwas unwelcome.

I let go of the dog and, contrary to myexpectations, I floated to the surface, gotmy bearings and swam to the edge of the

canal. Those of you that have gone alongthe G&S will know that the sides of thecanal are vertical, and the water is about15” below the level of the towpath. Noway was I climbing out withoutassistance. Luckily, the splash of meentering the water and my patheticallyweak cries for help had attractedattention. The first person to arrive hadobviously got out of bed as he wascompletely naked. [Oh my, Deja Vue, askTrish! Ed] I was duly hauled out of thewater by three people and, after assuringeveryone that I was ok, allowed to goback to my boat. Someone brought thedog and handed her to me once I wassafely aboard. Hot shower for me, arubbing down with a towel for the dog.Got to bed about 1:30am.

The following day I had a conversationwith Pauline which ran along the lines of:Pauline: Dried out, have we?Me: Yes, just about.Pauline: Yes, I heard you fall in butNorman was asleep, I didn’t want towake him up (to be fair, he’d just hadheart surgery the day before) and I knewyou’d be ok.


This was the first time I fell in the waterbut not the last!

Over the last three months I’ve definitelybecome a curtain twitcher. There hasbeen almost no river traffic whatsoeverso, whenever I heard an engine, I’d beout on to the balcony to take a look atwhat was going on.

The trouble is that the last couple ofweeks there has been a huge increase in

traffic, lots of hire boats, and yet I’m stillstopping what I’m doing and going out onto the balcony to see what’s going on. Asa result I’m having a job doing the things Ineed to do.

Think I’d better get on board and makevery leisurely progress to Huddlesford.Hope to see lots of you there on thetowpath. Should make an interestingvenue for this year’s AGM.

Tara a bit.

Membership MattersHello all, I hope you are all keeping well. I’m stillstruggling to come to terms with the loss of another RNstalwart, so I’ll leave others to deliver suitable wordsabout Norman Mitchell elsewhere in the issue other thanto say he will be missed in so many ways. I’ll have to gofor my own newspaper from now on at our gatherings!

Of course, there’s further mixed news for the Register,with boating now back but our Autumn Gathering havingto be cancelled (officially anyway). Thankfully, becauseof the nature of our organisation, COVID hasn’t causedus any major setback financially and finances remainstrong. We do still have a legal requirement to holdAGMs for both the Register and the Property Companyand details are set out elsewhere.

I’m pleased to say that there was still plenty ofmembership activity during lockdown and we have fivenew members join since the last newsletter. A very warm RNwelcome to:

Colin Matcham, Northampton New boat and engine in build

Lee Wilshire, Rickmansworth nb Cantley

Steve Addlesee, Polesworth nb Hecla

Keith Murphy, St. Helens nb Hyala

John O’Hare, Sandhurst nb Pudding No.2

Photo: Andrew Laycock


Obituary: Norman Cadogan Mitchell10th February 1944 – 3rd June 2020

Norman was best known to Register memberswho attended Rallies, Gatherings and AwayDays. He was a member of the RNR boardand a past Chairman.

Born in Gloucester during WW2, he waseducated at Monmouth School as a boarderand on one occasion cycled home toGloucester “just to see he could do it”. Afterleaving school, he was apprenticed as anelectrician and studied for all the necessarytechnical qualifications, gaining experience inrefrigeration installation and servicing, andworked in contract supervision and electricalestimating at Northwick Park Hospital.

Norman joined the family firm, L.C. Mitchell&Co (Gloucester) Ltd, in 1968, founded by hisgrandfather in 1905, and one of the fewremaining family owned businesses in thecounty. Appointed director in 1969, heoversaw all aspects of the refrigeration, air-conditioning and retail divisions, along withelectrical contracting.

He wanted to explore a different career andattended the Royal Agricultural College inCirencester, gaining his National Diploma inAgricultural Science. However, his father fell illand had to retire so Norman then studied forhis Diploma in Management Studies which he

gained in 1974; re-joined Mitchells as adirector, then MD in 1976 and finallyChairman when his father died in 1977.

Norman was widely known and respected inhis field and had senior roles in trade bodies,including the Air Conditioning andRefrigeration European Association of whichhe was President for many years. In 1989, hewas part of a working party highlighting therisks of CFC refrigerants to the UK parliament.The trade body REFCOM described Normanas “fiercely protective of the constitutions andrules of operation of the various bodies heserved and Mr Fox said, while this might haveled to the occasional “robust debate” withother members, it was always accompaniedby good humour.”

It is often said “if you want something done,ask a busy person”. Norman was a lover of allthings ‘canal’; from the late 1950’s, and after aholiday on a friend’s narrowboat, his fatherbought a kit boat, a marine ply cruiser onwhich the family spent time together.Thereafter, Norman and Pauline boughtAnonymity in 1990, a 60foot boat with a DM2,following 20 years later with Arthur, a 70footNorthwich trader.


He was a member of the Historic NarrowboatBoat Club, a member of the CBOA andcommented on historic narrowboat rallies inBraunston and Alvecote with much humour,some quite “close to the edge”.

In Gloucester, Norman was a volunteercoordinator at the Waterways Museum. At ourRallies, he was always the first to seek out the

local newsagents and would cycle somedistance to collect the papers for thoseattending.

Our thoughts are with Pauline and the familyat this time.

Bob May, long standing member of the RN Register and theBCNS passed away on 13th July.

His daughter, Stephanie Shearman made the announcementto his “buddies” in Hawne Basin; the towpath telegraphbroadcast the message in its usual speedy way.

Aged 88, he died of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia fromwhich he had been suffering since 2012.

His funeral will be a private affair due to COVID-19. ButStephanie has provided her email in case anyone wishes tocontact her directly. [email protected]

A full obituary will follow in the Autumn Newsletter.

The plans to unveil a memorial bench for IanMcKim Thompson in April at Dudley Canaland Tunnel Trust [DCTT] were put on holdwhen the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Thisevent will be re-programmed once thebusiness has had time to settle back in, andsocial distancing measures further reviewed.

We are also looking to hold a memorialservice at All Saints’ Church in Braunstonduring the 2021 Rally for Norman Mitchell,

Betty Dobbs, and Bob May. Restrictions onmovement and numbers attending funeralsmeant that RN members were unable toattend their funerals, so this will be a fittingvenue to celebrate their lives in the Cathedralof the canals.

More news will follow later in the year.

Bob May R.I.P.

Memorial Services


Notice is hereby given that theAnnual General Meeting

ofRussell Newbery Register Property

Ltdwill be held at

Coventry Canal, Huddlesfordon

Saturday 12 September 2020 at 3.15 pm

AGENDA

1. Minutes of previous AGM

2. Chairman’s Report

3. Accounts for y/e 31/12/19

4. Election of Directors

Notice is hereby given that theAnnual General Meeting

ofRussell Newbery Register Ltd

will be held atCoventry Canal, Huddlesford

onSaturday 12 September 2020 at

2.45 pm

AGENDA

1. Minutes of previous AGM

2. Chairman’s Report

3. Director’s Report

4. Accounts for y/e 30/11/19

5. Election of Directors

Given the current situation with ongoing restrictions on groups of people meeting,

REGISTER members are encouraged to vote on items 1, 4 and 5 PROPERTY members are encouraged to vote on items 1, 3 and 4

by proxy given either by email or post. Any questions on the content of the reports canalso be sent by the same method.

Property Postal proxies must be sent to RNR Property, Highcroft, Deadman’s Ash Lane,Sarratt, Herts. WD3 6AL, using the form of words provided, no later than 21st August2020. Communications received after that date may not be counted as they will not bereceived until after the AGM date.

Register Postal Proxies must be sent to RN Register, Highcroft, Deadman’s Ash Lane,Sarratt, Herts. WD3 6AL, using the form of words provided, no later than 21st August2020. Communications received after that date may not be counted as they will not bereceived until after the AGM date.

Email proxies [REGISTER]must be sent to [email protected] to bereceived no later than 5th September 2020.Email proxies [PROPERTY]must be sent to [email protected] to bereceived no later than 5th September 2020The format should reflect the form of words provided, which you can download fromhttp://www.rnregister.org.uk/ if required.


Rally NewsUsually the Summer edition of theNewsletter contains reports and picturesof our annual Rally. Then the Autumnedition has the announcement of the dateand location of the following year’s Rally.But as we are all aware, this is not anormal year.

Rather prejudging any discussions wemight have had at the Autumn Gathering,we have made advance plans for nextyear. Tim Coghlan, Managing Director ofBraunston Marina Ltd., has made a verygenerous offer to host our 2021 Rally atBraunston Marina. The dates areThursday 1st July to Sunday 4th July. Thisis the weekend after the BraunstonHistoric Narrowboat Rally. We will beusing some of the facilities which themarina provides for the Historic Rally.Moorings will be in the ‘working arm’ ofthe marina (the former course of theOxford Canal) and along the towing pathbetween the marina entrances.

The Historic Narrowboat Rally is one ofthe top canal events of the year, so it iswell worth planning to attend that as wellas our Rally. Braunston moorings arebusy over that weekend, only historicboats permitted in the marina andreserved towing path moorings. We willbe able to occupy our Rally mooringsfrom Wednesday 30th June. Tim hasrequested that we promptly vacate themarina on Monday 5th July.

We are currently working on aprogramme of events. Initial ideas are toinclude visits to the RN Diesel Enginecompany workshop which is just up theroad in Daventry. There will not be aRally awayday excursion on theThursday, however there is plenty to seeand do in Braunston, including manywaterway businesses at the marina tosupport. The Historic Rally, and it’s

predecessor Braunston Boat Show, havefeatured daily boat parades. Perhaps thisis something we could include, the sightand sound of around 30 RNs andNationals on the move together would bewonderful.

Many thanks to those who respondedfollowing my article in the SpringNewsletter. The unanimous feeling is thatwe continue with an annual Rally as thekey social activity of the Register.

As Braunston is such an iconic canallocation, and as this is a new Rallylocation for us, I hope this gives yousomething to look forward to. Please letme know of any requests for workshopactivities or anything else you would liketo include as a Rally activity. The Winteredition of the Newsletter will contain abooking form.

[email protected]

Traditional narrowboats and All Saints’ Church,the ‘Cathedral of the Canals’, a defining image ofBraunston. [Andrew Laycock]


Lockdown: Norman Woolley Style!In March, before the more drastic lockdownregulations were imposed, I only justmanaged to fulfil the one engagement inmy diary for this year not to be cancelled, acruise on the Hebridean Princess, due tobe from their winter base at Greenock onthe Firth of Clyde to their summer cruisingbase in Oban, on the West coast ofScotland. Even so, many places we weredue to visit had already been closed, theitinerary changed daily, making it verymuch a ‘Mystery Cruise’.

Also on the day after we set off, we heardthat the next four cruises had beencancelled, not good news, particularly forsome passengers on board who hadalready booked on the next cruise. Thebonus we did enjoy was the fantastic sunnyweather and blue skies throughout thecruise. The scenery in Scotland and sunnyweather is an unbeatable combination. Weenjoyed many shore visits, mostly toremote beaches and islands for manyscenic walks ashore, but Castles andStately Homes were off the itinerary, andunbelievably some gardens! We managedto get to Crinan, a day’s cruise from ourdestination, Oban, to enjoy a delightful walkalong the Crinan Canal towpath. Regretfullyan unexpected sudden change of planforced us to return from what was to be ourovernight anchorage off Crinan, prior tonext day’s voyage to moor near to Oban to

enjoy our second Gala Dinner, beforedisembarking the following morning.Instead it was up anchor, as soon as were-boarded the ship after our delightfulafternoon walk, and rapidly cruise overnightto get round the Mull of Kintyre before thesevere storm coming in from the Atlanticarrived, anchoring at 03.00 hours thefollowing morning off Greenock, to moor atthe Cruise Terminal for the day and enjoyour second Gala Dinner that evening, priorto disembarking the next morning to makeour several ways homeward. Howeverupon mooring up, a very last minutechange of plan, required us to disembarkthat day, a day earlier than planned, so thatdue to many transport cancellations thesmaller number of passengers on board,due to several cancellations arising fromthe coronavirus problem, could return homeusing what was left of trains and planesthat were rapidly being made unavailable.

Fortunately, I’m in particularly good healthgetting plenty of walking exercise. As I onlylive just under two miles away from themarina, where my boat Bruin is moored, Ican walk down, do a few jobs on board,and then back home. Also, if I time my visitto coincide with afternoon 4 o’clock drinkieswith those boaters self-isolating on boardtheir boats, that adds a bit of pleasant

Plan A

Loch Striven


socialising, at the required two metredistance of course, to the occasion.

We managed to celebrate the VEAnniversary together, with two bottles ofchampagne between the seven of us, andWW2 music from Glen Miller, Vera Lynn,and other appropriate music of that time. Itwas a bit unnerving to be the only personthere who had lived through WW2. I wasonly 9½ years old on VE Day. I’ve alsotaken a couple, who are self-isolating ontheir boat, for several walks locally, in thelovely countryside around the marina,which they don’t really know, so I’m veryfortunate to be able to do this. Quiteenergetic stuff, as two of the walks havebeen in the 8-9 miles length; as I walk tothe marina and back as well, that for meworks out nearer to 12 or so miles. Perhapswe were pushing the time margin of what Ibelieve at that moment was a one-hour limitto such walks. On the easing of thatrestriction our walks have been for three tothree and a half hours duration, stillcovering more of the local pathways takingus through the beautiful countryside withwhich we are blessed in my local Surreyarea.

The day on which our local waterway, theRiver Wey Navigation, restored limitednavigation, I took the opportunity take Bruinout for a short chug, as our waterway, likethe nearby River Thames, to which itconnects at Weybridge, and all the inlandwaterways managed by the Canal andRiver Trust, have been totally shut downsince late April. With the further relaxationof cruising permitting travelling further, andallowing passage through locks, one boatat a time, but currently no overnightmooring yet permitted. However restrictionsstill in force as I write this, still precludesme from getting my planned repaint ofBruin, for which I have waited two years,but now with the gradual easing oflockdown regulations coming into being, Imay at last be able to take Bruin up to

Ashby Canal, for the booked repaint to takeplace.

There is another boat in my Pyrford Marina,which was booked in for a repaint this year,which has also been postponed. It belongsto the lovely couple with whom I have beenundertaking all these local walks, whoseboating experience has been limited tocruising the full length of our localNavigations, and the Thames to Lechladeand back, and at my suggestion last yearcruised the canal section on the LowerSouth Oxford Canal from Dukes Cut intoOxford, that being their only experience ofcanal boating. It’s been agreed that whenthe river Wey Navigation, the RiverThames, and the CRT waterways are fullyopen, without any restrictions, we willcruise together to our respective repaintdestinations, theirs being at OxfordCruisers on the South Oxford Canal, andmine with Robert Bryan on the AshbyCanal. The more direct route for them is upthe Thames to Oxford, to join the canalsystem there, but on my suggestion we willtake the longer route down the Thames toTeddington, the tideway to Brentford,heading up the GU Main Line for Braunstonwhere our paths will divide. This will givethem some valuable boating experienceswhich they have not yet acquired. For themthat will involve two tunnels on the mainline, Blisworth and Braunston, and Newboldon the South Oxford, the first time they willhave negotiated any tunnels, or flights oflocks, and a staircase lock on the main line,as well as aqueducts, and swing bridges.

The main line does provide a tremendousvariety of challenges, as well as somewonderful historical artefacts, although thebottom end is now somewhat marred bythe floating housing estates of live-a boardsThe lady had great reservations abouttackling the tidal Thames, so is more happyto do it accompanied by Bruin, in theexpectation that I may have someexperience from which they could benefit. I


have already taught them a few tricks, likegetting off the bank against an onshorewind, and when using this knowledgeapparently say, “I’m going to do theWoolley manoeuvre’. Currently theregulations say that you cannot stay onboard overnight, which doesn’t make senseto me, as it’s unlikely that you are in aposition to infect anyone whilst you arelocked away inside your boat. I certainlythought that canal cruising is an ideal wayof observing self-isolation, particularly asI’m now the only person generally cruisingon Bruin, since my Beloved Julie passedaway, but I suppose that I had not takeninto account going through broad locks onthe Thames and canal system alongsideother canal boats or cruisers. Here’shoping that come June or July the inlandwaterways will be fully reopened, and I canset off on board Bruin, first for her repaint,and thereafter some cruising during whatmay be left of the summer. I am veryfortunate to be fit enough at my advancedyears to still undertake canal boating,generally on my own, which does meanmanually working most of the locks on thecanal system, always ensuring that Bruindoesn’t get caught up on anything whilstthe locks are filling or emptying.

Not yet certain how many miles I maymanage to travel this year, but since Juliepassed away I have been all the way fromSurrey up to Yorkshire twice, tackling theoverlocked Rochdale Canal, fortunatelyaccompanied by my boating pal VinceLocatelli and with him from Ellesmere Portto Liverpool, involving a memorable tripacross the Mersey Estuary, so it wasn’t‘Ferry across the Mersey', it was ‘NarrowBoat across the Mersey’. Last year Itravelled only 700 miles on the waterways,rather less than I had planned, due torecurring troubles with an ageing watersystem, fortunately Bruin’s water system,not mine! The year before I managedaround 950 miles, so there is no way I’ll beable to match those mileages this year.

In closing this article you may be amusedby an incident during locking through anarrow lock on the Trent and MerseyCanal. There were already boats queuingabove to lock, one boat in the lock and twobefore me awaiting transit, so not long afterI had moored up in the waiting area,another canal boat turned up. After severalabortive attempts at attaching himself to thebank, he eventually managed to do so, andwe got chatting. He was a lot younger thanme, well many boaters are nowadays, andhe was full of awe at the extent of myboating achievements at my advancedyears, but as it came to my turn to gothrough the lock I finished ourconversation, by telling him, that my abilityto undertake such extraneous activitiesmight be something to do with the whisky Ihave after my evening meal. I thought nomore about what I had said, until his wifecame up to me whilst working Bruinthrough the lock and said, “My husband ismost impressed with you.” To which Iresponded, “Oh really.” Then shecontinued, “And he’s going to start drinkingwhisky.”

So there you are, the elixir of life, itappears!

So, this is how Norman gets in 950 miles peryear!! Only joking - this is on the Thames



Boats with RN Engines For SaleARTHUR

70ft R.W. Davies Northwich Trader launched in 2011 and fitted to an exceptionally highstandard with:

● Russell Newbery DM3 (‘centenary’ engine finished in ‘Manchester’ Red)● Back Cabin with drop down bed and all traditional fittings● Bedroom● Bathroom/shower with macerator toilet● Corian work tops, sink and washbasin● Wallace Diesel Oven and Hob● Webasto Diesel central heating● Morso Squirrel stove● Washing Machine● Tumble Drier● Dishwasher● Onan Diesel generator● Bespoke battery/management system utilising 6v cells● Inverter● Recessed LED lighting in forward saloon● Full set of running gear

Any member who may know of someone interested in acquiring this boat, please [email protected]

LYNXA 60ft Traditional style narrowboat built by Braunston Boats Ltd., powered by a Russell NewberyDM2 and owned by Jim Storey. Full fit out details can be found at http://www.jim-storey.com/layout.htm

Jim was unable to use the boat for over 5 years due to a prolonged illness and it is currentlylying at Lapworth. It was his pride and joy.

The boat needs some “TLC” and is overdue repainting, two doors require replacement butotherwise sound with a BSC until May 2021.

With an asking price of £40,000, Lynx is an ideal project boat. Telephone 01926 842956 toarrange a viewing, or email [email protected]


PRM Hydraulically Operated Transmissions — Trouble ShootingThis is written with RN owners in mind andis designed to assist in the identification ofproblems that may occur in service. Thesefailures are typical of the type seen overmore than thirty years’ service with PRMas a Fitter, Chargehand, AssemblyForeman / Manager, Service Manager andSales Manager at Newage TransmissionsLtd. Finally, as a PRM distributor with myown company.

Fortunately, these problems were few andfar between. Suffice it to say, in the earlydays most problems came via the hirefleets which were, and still are, constantlyabused on a daily basis. However, due totheir superb design these failed PRM’swere always repairable.

When I was requested to look at a failedunit, I would give an approximate price Ithought it may cost based on theinformation given, this would generally bewhat I considered to be the worst-casescenario. I would always completelydismantle the unit, and only then would Igive a price of the job; if it was not a majorrepair this could mean a little extra on thecost, but that way I could alwaysguarantee the repair.

As RN owners, the tendency is think of thePRM160. However, there are those whomay be using the next model up as follows,175, 250, 265, 301, 310, 302 or the currentmodel 500D. The remedies suggestedbelow apply equally to these models. Theoperating valves on both are identical, butthe pumps or inner assemblies are notinterchangeable between models.

Where it is advised that the gearbox beremoved please be aware that it weighs48Kg, plus the weight of the mountingplate adapter making the total weight some60Kg. The total weight of the 500D with itsadapter is 75Kg. Older models may be alittle heavier and removing a gearbox from

the engine is far easier than refitting it.Whenever a gearbox is removed it isadvisable to inspect the condition of thedrive plate.

Should you feel there are transmissionproblems, the first port of call shouldalways be to check the oil level and itscondition. Is it clean, are there particles init, rub it between your finger and thumb?

It is often difficult to see the oil level on thedipstick, try rubbing a piece of colouredchalk on it prior to dipping.

If you feel you are capable of carrying outrepairs yourself, the pump repair kits andgasket / ‘O’ ring kits are available as arereplacement gearboxes, these items canbe purchased through Dave and DeborahBixter.

1. Symptom: No drive ahead or astern.Cause: Loss of oil pressure or brokenshaft.

Possible reasons:a Damaged oil pump. Remedy: Removepump, fill one port with oil and turn byhand, it should deliver oil from one port tothe other. If not replace complete.

Please Note* Pumps fitted to PRM100/101/140 /160V may not besalvageable, as the current pumpassembled to the 160D and 260D havedifferent mounting dimensions and largerdrive spindles. In this event a replacementgearbox will be required, the same wouldalso apply to the older larger varietymentioned above up to the 302. The 310would be repairable with the samecomponents as the 500D.

b Broken input shaft. Remedy: New inputshaft required. Gearbox would need to beremoved from the engine. It would beadvisable to get the other clutch checkedat this time.


c Broken output shaft. Remedy: This wouldbe a visible fault as the prop-shaft wouldbe loose and would turn freely by handwithout much resistance. The gearboxwould require dismantling as output shaftis the first component to be assembled intothe gearcase.

d Broken Drive Plate. Remedy: Removethe gearbox from the engine and replacethe drive plate. [Should the drive plate bemanufactured with plastic material (R&Dtype) it is designed to keep driving eventhough it is broken. A failure of this typewould become noisy (rattling or knocking)this noise may only be present when in ingear. However, if it is made with rubber(Centaflex type) it will probably failcompletely with total loss of drive, due tothe deterioration of the rubber over time.]

2. Symptom: Intermittent Drive.Cause: Low oil pressure.

Possible reasons:a External Leak from gasket or ‘O’ ring.Remedy: Best checked whilst the oil iswarm without running the engine, carefullyby hand check for leakage. Start at thebottom of the casing (the lowest point) andwork upwards and wiping dry as you go,pay particular notice to the output shaftseal, the underside of the valve operatinglever and the hose connections. If a leak isdetected at the output seal it would requirethe output coupling to be removed. It ispossible to replace the output seal byremoving the seal housing in situ, (Beaware, the output coupling is tightened to250lbf ft and may require specialistequipment to release the nut) be carefulwith the shims located on the rear face ofthe seal housing, when replacing thehousing apply a little clean grease to theshims to hold them in position. If fitting anew oil seal into its housing, it is advised topress it in a little further than it wasoriginally this ensures it seals in a newlocation of the output coupling diameter.

b For a leak at the operating valve, a new‘O’ ring can be changed in situ.

c Damaged or worn pump. Remedy: See1a.

3. Symptom: Propeller does not increasewith engine rpm ahead or astern.Cause: Low oil pressure to both clutches.

Possible reasons:a Worn or damaged pump. Remedy: Sameas 1a.

b Worn or damaged control cable.Remedy: Check Morse control cable forfraying or damage. Alternatively, checkthere are no loose components in thecontrol mechanism preventing it frommoving freely.

c Operating valve sticking. Remedy: Fitnew valve spring and replace the ‘O’ ringand the end face gasket, this can be donein situ.

d Piston rings or feeder ‘O’ rings worn.Remedy: Further investigation required.

4. Symptom: Propeller speed does notincrease with engine rpm in one directiononly.Cause: low oil pressure to one clutch.

Possible reasons:a Oil leak internally to the hydraulic circuitwithin one clutch. Remedy. Removegearbox from engine for furtherinvestigation of the appropriate clutch,check for wear to piston rings and ‘O’rings, check the feeder bore where thepiston rings locate. Replace as necessary.

b Damaged clutch plates. Remedy: As 4a.and 7a.

c Faulty hydraulic feed to operating valve.Remedy: Remove and examine valve fordamage or partial blockage.


5. Symptom: Excessive noise fromgearbox at low engine rpm.Cause. Engine rpm too low.

Possible reasons:a Faulty or poorly adjusted enginegovernor. Remedy: Check governoradjustment or increase tickover rpm.

b. Torsional vibration. Remedy: Checktorsional compatibility or change to adifferent drive plate, i.e. either harder orsofter type.

6. Symptom: Excessive noise or vibrationthroughout the rpm range.Cause. Defective drive plate.

Possible reasons:a Drive plate worn, damaged or failing.This may be a noise that has recentlydeveloped, or one that has graduallyworsened. Remedy: Remove the gearboxand examine the drive plate and replace ifnecessary. Check the wear to the inputspline where the drive plate locates, if it isbadly worn it would be advisable to havethe input shaft replaced, rather than fit anew drive plate to the worn spline.

b Engine misalignment. Remedy: Checkengine mounting bolts are tight: This checkshould be part of your regularmaintenance.

c Prop-shaft not running true. Remedy:Check the wear to the stern tube and theuniversal joints on the prop-shaft.

d Output coupling loose. Check the prop-shaft is secured to the gearbox, if looseone would be able to move the prop-shaftvertically up and down. Has the propellerhit an underwater object has subsequentdamage knocked it out of balance?

7. Symptom: propeller rotates when inneutral.Cause. Clutch piston not returning.

Possible reasons:a Worn or damaged clutch. Remedy: Inneutral with the engine running, carefullyby hand or by use of the foot apply slightpressure to the prop-shaft. If you stop itunder these conditions, then it is OK butkeep a watchful eye on it for furtherdeterioration.

b If the rotation is difficult to stop or will notstop, the clutch piston is constantlyengaged and is not being returned by thesprings. Probably worn clutch springs orpossible damaged or burned clutch plates.If left in this condition it will result in seriousdamage to one or both clutches, as theywill be attempting to engagedsimultaneously. This condition requiresfurther investigation and necessitates agearbox removal.

c Engine stopped by fouling. Remedy:Remove dipstick to see if there is a smellof burning on the oil, alternatively, carefullyremove inspection cover to view the boxinternally enabling a view of both clutches.Check the clutch that was engaged whenthe engine stopped, if burned it should beobvious. Further investigation wouldrequire the removal of gearbox.

d Constant rotation. Remedy: Check theoperating control mechanism is movingfreely and engaging neutral correctly. Ifoperated via a Morse type cable check itfree of snags or kinks which may preventproper engagement of neutral.

8. Symptom: Excessively hightemperature.Cause. Defective oil cooler.

Possible reasons:a. Defective oil cooler: Remedy: Checkboth hoses are free of damage. At theoperating valve, disconnect the returnhose (the lower positioned of the two).Hold the hose into a clean bucket and blipover the engine but shut off immediately


(this may require assistance), this actionshould rapidly deliver oil into the bucket.Check for signs of water in the oil, in thisevent replace the cooler immediately.

If there is no oil flow, check the hose isclear of obstruction by removingcompletely, and blowing through it, replaceif OK. Disconnect the outlet hose (thehigher positioned hose) at the oil coolerend and follow the same procedure. If bothhoses are clear and there is no flow, thecooler is defunct. Replace the cooler andre-fill to the correct level.

b in an emergency to get you closer toassistance disconnect the input hose (thelower connection) and connect the otherhose (the upper one) direct to the inputport so it is looped over. At tick-over speedproceed very carefully checking frequentlyon the gearbox temperature; if it is gettingtoo hot to touch stop and allow it to coolbefore proceeding further. It will heat fairlyquickly so take care.

c Incorrect oil type. Remedy: Flush out andre-fill with the correct oil.

d Old oil. Remedy: Check when the oil waschanged last, if this is a long period the oilmay be losing its viscosity, change the oilASAP.

e Oil sludge. Remedy: If the oil is grey andlike sludge, the oil cooler has failed, andthe cooling water is being transmitted intothe gearbox. Replace the oil coolerimmediately and re-fill to the correct level.In this event it would be advisable to flushthrough the gearbox to ensure all of thesludge is removed before the final re-fill.

9. Symptom: Difficulty in moving controllever.Cause. Lever on valve stiff.

Possible reasons:a Defective or worn detent spring or ballbearing in the valve. Remedy: In situdismantle valve, check for wear or rust.Clean or replace ball bearing and thedetent spring if required, if not repairablereplace valve complete.

b Worn valve. Remedy: Check theoperating valve internals for wear ordamaged to its outside diameter, look forscoring in the bore. Fit a new valve ifrequired.

c Control mechanism or Morse cable tightto operate. Remedy: as 7c.

10. Symptom: Clutch slipping.Cause. Low pressure or over-heating.

Possible Reasons: Internal leaks -Defective piston rings or internal ‘O’ rings.Remedy: Under these conditions the oillevel may be increasing as more is added.Requires internal investigation and willneed to be removed from the engine.

I am always happy to help, should yourequire any further assistance you cancontact me on [email protected] 07734 080990.

Please note* it is possible to download aworkshop manual for your particular PRMmodel at www.prm-newage.com click onMarine Transmission, click on Hydraulic, inthe search box put in older models whichwill produce a list, click onto your modeland you’re there!

That concludes Ian’s detailed articles on the workings of the PRM marine gearbox. Memberswho have attended Rallies will know that he can dismantle and reassemble a 160 “blindfolded”!Thank you Ian. Now we all know too! [Ed]


Red DieselFeedback to Chairman Bob’s musings in the last newsletter

Prior to the end of 2019, I was totallyagainst any changes to red dieseltaxation for purely "political" reasons. Iobjected to the EU meddling with ourtaxation regimes. Those days are nowover, so I started looking at the issuefrom a practical perspective.

First of all, declaration ofinterest/disinterest: an extra 50p a litreincurred by using road diesel wouldincrease our boating cost by maybe £250a year, so it won't alter our boat usage.

Until the EU started meddling (sorry,harmonising) there was no drive forchange in the UK on the use of red dieselon inland waterways, as far as I canremember.

The current self-declaration system wasonly introduced as a compromise with theEU. It is unpoliced and bust, so should bediscarded.

So if the system original system was notbust (albeit a bit unfair in some respects),why try to fix it?

All taxation systems have parts that somepeople regard as unfair, but life is unfair.Get on with it!

My back-of-fag packet calculation saysthat by not collecting full fuel duty oninland boats, HMRC is probably missing£5m in revenue. A drop in the oceancompared to the total tax revenue ofaround £600bn.

So why bother subjecting the inlandwaterways industry and boaters to awhole lot of inconvenience and one-offcosts for such a piddling amount ofadditional revenue?

So yes, keeping the "concession" is worthfighting for, simply on the basis that if itain't broke, don't fix it.

Dave Martin

[Please join in with the discussion if youhave any views. Ed.]

The boat parades at the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally and the Alvecote August Historic Gatheringwill not be the same without Norman Mitchell’s commentary. I was standing next to him at Alvecote in

2013, enjoying the spectacle of the winding competition. His knowledge of the boats and crews wasexemplary. Navigation misdemeanours earned some choice remarks, but all the crews took it in good spirit.

[Andrew Laycock]


Fill In — or Let Out

Our desk top publishing software allows for moving files and pictures off the edition pages and“parking” them out of view. It’s useful if we need to adjust the contents around a bit.

I came upon this next bit which I had to remove from a previous edition, so to fill up a smallspace, here it is!

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Documents

NORMAN MITCHELL R.I.P. BOB MAY R.I.P. RALLY 2021 — …