Rose of Devon Systems incl 5LW Gardner Engine Rebuild

It’s such a large heavy block in the video below but now it fits back snuggly on the original bearers.. watershed moment.

Sim the Gweek yard manager managed the lift ably assisted by Rob and Shipwright Jim.

Quite a “block” hanging there… we actually tested and renewed the overhead crane …all rated at 2t plus safety factor of 4. The engine is under 2t but is out balanced by the gearbox. We used slings throughout (and a rear separate chain lift) as the engine OEM lift eyes are too narrow and unsubstantial.

Ready to go down to Gweek

Start Up

Hand starting!!

The engine will sit on two steel plates so it can be moved forward and aft to adjust its position.

Preparing the engine beds

The cylinder bores are lightly stained from the seizure but there is very little wear obvious and they all look very good, like the pistons —- which allow us to move on. The blocks are painted with primer, 250c enamel before hand painting with Epifanes enamel top coat..x 2. Hope this works..

The idea is to strip the engine down in Lee’s workshop and clean the engine down before I receive the components for painting.

Once all was free it looks like the pistons are fine..phew

Lee finally got the head off and cylinders 1 & 5 are seized.

There’s Lee, grimacing or smiling?
Lee is a vehicle and agricultural engineer and will do the overhaul rather than a specialist company as we need to really get to know this engine ourselves. Last year the engine seized due to an exhaust elbow rotting through and sea water entering the engine. Nick Eddy in Falmouth poured diesel into it to prevent further corrosion until we can get our hands on it.

Not a very good photo but worth including just to see the size and mass of this monster as we craned her out of Rosey last November to bring it back to Morwenstow for Lee Colwill to rebuild and myself to repaint.