Starting the 15 HP Hot bulb hit and miss Bolinder in the Narrowboat Spey. Not all steps are covered, and various details omitted to simplify the operation.
This engine resembles the old "hit or miss" engines used on farms years ago. You can still see & hear them run at club gatherings and other meets where collectors show and run these fantastic mechanical marvels! Went to a small show in Jackson, MN years ago, and to watch and hear them run was amazing. They were often used on farms to pump water and provide other power for machinery.
Good to see young bods in charge instead of the usual old geezers (like me lol)... I was onboard NB Alton in Marple when we fuelled Spey in torrential rain a few weeks ago. I took a look at the Bolinder then... so glad Alton has a comparatively easy-to-start 2 cyl Petter! I described the rhythm of the Bolly as 'progressive' (as in King Crimson / Yes music etc etc) 😁
Ok, here we see a real bargeman.. the man and the engine are and have to be very tightly bonded. This is arcane and specialist knowledge... presumeably passed on person to person.. unless you are fortunate enough to have a manual in a language you can read ! My hat is off to anybody who dedicates themselves to such a demanding power plant.. and keeps it living . Don't let this young mans age fool you.. he deserves respect !
It reminds me of the relationship between the Mahout and his elephant, who are bonded at a young age and remained so for life in such cultures as Northern Thailand.
Rudyard Kipling had a hot bulb engine. It was a 1902 3 1/2hp Hornsby Ackroyd and I had the pleasure of working on it. Kipling was the first man in Sussex to have electric lights in a domestic home.
In my twenty's I had a five year relationship with a guy called Alan who had (&may still?) a part share in Spay,along with 6or8 others who looked after Spay with lots of hard work & big affection.I had lots of good,happy holidays & roughed it a lot,but was always too tired at end of each day to care about the total lack of any kind of pamperd life.The big main memory that sticks in my mind is of a 2 wk holiday when 1 group took Spay & her Butty Gifford (loaned)to the IWA rally at Reading on the River Themes,& our group took both boats back to the boat museum at Elsmere after the rally,by almost the end of the 2wks everyone else had to leave well before getting to Elsmere which by the Sunday or even Sat maybe,left Alan & I to do the last few miles & I remember feeling so proud,with Alan steering Spay & myself steering Gifford on toe as butty,as we went through the deep ish cut through the City of Chester all along wear folks recording/filming on there video cameras.The next day we both had to take the extra day off work (Monday)& call our employer's but it was well worth it. Tx.
Simply fantastic, a lot of effort while starting and running, but still going strong. Thanks a lot for making recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck health and wisdom.
What a difference a decade or so made when Semi-diesels became governor throttled and had variable pitch reverse rather than the horrible hit and miss system with direct reversing. Your heart must be in your mouth the entire time! I would replace that engine for a Hundestad in a heart beat!!
In safe hands here! Don't be fooled that hot bulbs are easy; I've had many fruitless hours trying to revive a clapped out Tangye, so the docile Bolinder here is joyous!
Thank you for the work you go through to keep the old girl up and running. I was thinking if you had a flywheel cut so you can use a bending drive starter motor you would need two starter motors, one for forward and one for reverse. Food for thought. Thank you for posting this beauty. Cheers!
Wow - and that's with some of the steps omitted! Certainly is lot of care and feeding needed for that kit. A great insight to those engines, thanks for sharing.
Reminds me of when my folks used to own a 54ft Norwegian fishing boat which had a Union Single cylinder semi-Diesel 11 horse power. That was a fuddle duck to start that beast!😄
Запуск старинного одноцилиндрового керосинового движка... масло для смазки доливать каждый час, туда, где есть движущиеся части. Запуск - как в космическом корабле, а потом ещё следи, чтобы не заглох... И кораблик поплыл. Чудо.
Watched her today near Saddleworth on the highest UK canal. Work of art as she was very nearly stuck in an unusually tight lock. Great people running her and a privilege to lend a hand on a line pulling the Spey through. So to reverse the engine runs backwards? I guess that takes timing not to kill it?
Lyrics transcribed by Chris Bragg and Geoff Grainger from a recording by Gary & Vera Aspey
1. Now I've been a boatman for most of me life, I've travelled the country on through. Seen the grouse on the moor of Saddleworth Way, watched trains thunder past out of Crewe. Chorus With me Bolinder beating a steady old thump and there's smoke drifting out of the stack. We head through the Potteries then on up North, take a load on and then go on back. 2. I've loaded with pig-iron outside Bilston Town and coal out of Bridgewater's mine, I have legged it through Blisworth with ten tonne of salt, at Northwich dropped boatloads of pine. Chorus 3. I've basked in the sun on the Middlewich run and laid up when weather were wet, Run from Braunston to Lymm in wild winter gales in order to win a small bet. Chorus 4. I remember the day of the wagon and horse, unloading from ships under sail, Been from Somerset to London and then on to Goole, from there I crossed over to Wales Chorus 5. Now I am a boatman, of that I am proud, I've worked long and hard for me pay. With the cargoes she's carried the timbers now creak but the Bolinder's still pumping away.
1:50 So you have to oil the moving parts inside the oiler manually. As complicated as it can be! 4:14 I guess that's the typical sound of a hit and miss engine. 6:09 , 6:50 There you have less than a foot of floor width for your feet.
That's right. It's a single Cyclinder 2-stoke engine which will run either direction. There is a special fuel pump on the other side of the arm which operates the pecker which kicks the engine in to going the opposite way. It is only used once and the removed from operation and the main pecker shown then takes over again.
Michael Askin Wow, that's very cool! Never knew such "small" engines came as direct reversible too! One really has to know what he's doing when working with an engine like that. Thanks for your reply!
Most important is a gal who can do all those steps reliably on the inevitable day you fall ill, the boat has to be moved, the weather sucks, and she is happy ! Call me if she has a sister !
If it predates 1932 it's a J. & C. G. Bolinders Mekaniska Verkstad aka Bolinder, because J. & C.G. Bolinders Mekaniska Verkstads AB and Munktells Mekaniska Verkstads AB was joined in 1932 and became AB Bolinder-Munktell .
Bolinder was a Swedish industry on the Kungsholmen in the center of Stockholm, opposite the Central station. It then was named Bolinder Munktell in Eskilstuna which today is the Volvo BM construcion machinery industry. It all started in Sweden.
its a grand old engine but I think I would set up some sort of pressure lubrication system for all those moving parts just in case of a missed oiling replacement parts would be very hard to come by for that engine no doubt .
Hats off to these young people who appreciate the old stuff.
This engine resembles the old "hit or miss" engines used on farms years ago. You can still see & hear them run at club gatherings and other meets where collectors show and run these fantastic mechanical marvels! Went to a small show in Jackson, MN years ago, and to watch and hear them run was amazing. They were often used on farms to pump water and provide other power for machinery.
Definitely a hands on type of engine, but so great that you’re still keeping this beauty running.
Good to see young bods in charge instead of the usual old geezers (like me lol)...
I was onboard NB Alton in Marple when we fuelled Spey in torrential rain a few weeks ago. I took a look at the Bolinder then... so glad Alton has a comparatively easy-to-start 2 cyl Petter! I described the rhythm of the Bolly as 'progressive' (as in King Crimson / Yes music etc etc) 😁
Nice to see young people enjoying themselves with a traditional boat.
Marvellous! No doubt an inspiration for much of Heath Robinson! 😃😃😃
That swedish hot-bulb engine is 100y old. Love the sound.
Ok, here we see a real bargeman.. the man and the engine are and have to be very tightly bonded. This is arcane and specialist knowledge... presumeably passed on person to person.. unless you are fortunate enough to have a manual in a language you can read ! My hat is off to anybody who dedicates themselves to such a demanding power plant.. and keeps it living . Don't let this young mans age fool you.. he deserves respect !
Capt Larry - 0100
It reminds me of the relationship between the Mahout and his elephant, who are bonded at a young age and remained so for life in such cultures as Northern Thailand.
it isn't a barge its a narrowboat
Swedish musical instrument. What a delight. Thank you for keeping her music going!
I loved the sound of the Spitfire at the very start of the video !
That certainly is a young man's engine
And this was the coolest thing I've seen in a long time
Rudyard Kipling had a hot bulb engine. It was a 1902 3 1/2hp Hornsby Ackroyd and I had the pleasure of working on it. Kipling was the first man in Sussex to have electric lights in a domestic home.
What a narrowboat SHOULD sound like.
OMG Love old engines like that, but that truly looks like a pain in the ass...
There’s just something magical about the sound of a bolinder
The spitfire flying over sounded better 😂
In my twenty's I had a five year relationship with a guy called Alan who had (&may still?) a part share in Spay,along with 6or8 others who looked after Spay with lots of hard work & big affection.I had lots of good,happy holidays & roughed it a lot,but was always too tired at end of each day to care about the total lack of any kind of pamperd life.The big main memory that sticks in my mind is of a 2 wk holiday when 1 group took Spay & her Butty Gifford (loaned)to the IWA rally at Reading on the River Themes,& our group took both boats back to the boat museum at Elsmere after the rally,by almost the end of the 2wks everyone else had to leave well before getting to Elsmere which by the Sunday or even Sat maybe,left Alan & I to do the last few miles & I remember feeling so proud,with Alan steering Spay & myself steering Gifford on toe as butty,as we went through the deep ish cut through the City of Chester all along wear folks recording/filming on there video cameras.The next day we both had to take the extra day off work (Monday)& call our employer's but it was well worth it. Tx.
Have a look at Spey on Dock. You'll see all the old favourites: m.th-cam.com/video/SIr3mO4XbqE/w-d-xo.html
you have got to love these old engines,
One of the most pleasing sounds on the cut a nice bol .
Simply fantastic, a lot of effort while starting and running, but still going strong. Thanks a lot for making recording editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards luck health and wisdom.
What a difference a decade or so made when Semi-diesels became governor throttled and had variable pitch reverse rather than the horrible hit and miss system with direct reversing. Your heart must be in your mouth the entire time! I would replace that engine for a Hundestad in a heart beat!!
In safe hands here! Don't be fooled that hot bulbs are easy; I've had many fruitless hours trying to revive a clapped out Tangye, so the docile Bolinder here is joyous!
I'll never complain about my Yanmar again.
That is a labour of love.....(not all steps covered !!) excellent video, makes my simple CS2 look like the Beta 1505 on my previous boat.......
What a beautiful narrowboat love the sound.
Thank you for the work you go through to keep the old girl up and running. I was thinking if you had a flywheel cut so you can use a bending drive starter motor you would need two starter motors, one for forward and one for reverse.
Food for thought.
Thank you for posting this beauty.
Cheers!
Wow - and that's with some of the steps omitted! Certainly is lot of care and feeding needed for that kit. A great insight to those engines, thanks for sharing.
Reminds me of when my folks used to own a 54ft Norwegian fishing boat which had a Union Single cylinder semi-Diesel 11 horse power. That was a fuddle duck to start that beast!😄
Very nicely done, A fine young man, and his machine.
That handsome lad knows exactly what he is doing and is at one with his machine
Fascinating! Hats off to this man!
Got to appreciate Spey on the Grand Union canal today
As much as I love old engines I think this one would be pushing my patience a bit.
Beautiful people on a beautiful classic boat - wonderful
That narrowboat has a Merlin Spitfire engine fitted in it!
Rolls Royce Merlin*
Yep, heard that one.
we liked the sound of the engine . cheers
And that my friends was why we blessed the nice Mr Petter and his PD2 or better still my last pet a PJ2.
About the 4th time I've watched this ... still makes me laugh when you rib him a bit for stalling it! Hoping Vicky is well mate.
Great video audio and info, Cheers.
Zero complacency engine. LOL Nice vid. That sound is 100% worth the fuss.
It has a ratchet on the Throttle, if that isn't convenient I don't know what is.
💓💓💓👍👍👍
Запуск старинного одноцилиндрового керосинового движка... масло для смазки доливать каждый час, туда, где есть движущиеся части. Запуск - как в космическом корабле, а потом ещё следи, чтобы не заглох... И кораблик поплыл. Чудо.
Wow that’s a labor of love , and it’s worth it .
Thanks for this it's so hands on and all the engineering is so beautiful too ..... what year is she made ?
Wonderful stuff . Real mans play
Watched her today near Saddleworth on the highest UK canal. Work of art as she was very nearly stuck in an unusually tight lock. Great people running her and a privilege to lend a hand on a line pulling the Spey through.
So to reverse the engine runs backwards? I guess that takes timing not to kill it?
Bolinder Boatman
Lyrics transcribed by Chris Bragg and Geoff Grainger from a recording by Gary & Vera Aspey
1. Now I've been a boatman for most of me life,
I've travelled the country on through.
Seen the grouse on the moor of Saddleworth Way,
watched trains thunder past out of Crewe.
Chorus
With me Bolinder beating a steady old thump and
there's smoke drifting out of the stack.
We head through the Potteries then on up North,
take a load on and then go on back.
2. I've loaded with pig-iron outside Bilston Town
and coal out of Bridgewater's mine,
I have legged it through Blisworth with ten tonne of salt,
at Northwich dropped boatloads of pine.
Chorus
3. I've basked in the sun on the Middlewich run
and laid up when weather were wet,
Run from Braunston to Lymm in wild winter
gales in order to win a small bet.
Chorus
4. I remember the day of the wagon and horse,
unloading from ships under sail,
Been from Somerset to London and then on to Goole,
from there I crossed over to Wales
Chorus
5. Now I am a boatman, of that I am proud,
I've worked long and hard for me pay.
With the cargoes she's carried the timbers now
creak but the Bolinder's still pumping away.
Still part of my song list.
Sehr interessantes Video
I though 'what the hell'... 'why would anyone'... and then she spoke.
Luckily my bmc only needs a bit of easy start spray to run. Smoothly.
this is why I love my honda
A Bolinder which sounds like a v12 Merlin, even before it starts!
Incredible, how often must the oilers be refilled?
How many gallons per hour does a unit like this consume?
2 classic engine sounds in one vid. A Merlin and this wee beastie, is she a 2 stroke?
All Bolinder Munktel engines, aside from the earliest ones, were 2-stroke cycle hot-bulb semi-diesel engines. Swedish engineering at its best.
@yesca jasta I think of it as a 1+1 stroke
Plus the possibility of stalling and not being able to restart without running down to the engine room!?
Looooove that noise!
What kind of oil is he using, reminds me of Motul since its green.
I think the Merlin in the background sounds a lot better.
I was just about to make that comment and saw you beat me to it. Magic sounding engine.
Hotbulb engine sounds alot better!
Wow!
My kind of engine :-)
Madness of course. But beautiful nonetheless.
Merlin engine in background!!
I know a Merlin when I hear it !!!
Yup! Probably a Spitfire...!
Was that a Spit or a Hurricane flying over?
Lost for words!
1:50 So you have to oil the moving parts inside the oiler manually. As complicated as it can be! 4:14 I guess that's the typical sound of a hit and miss engine. 6:09 , 6:50 There you have less than a foot of floor width for your feet.
Was there I spitfire or something with a v12 flying over you at the beginning of the video
How the boat depends on a match or light. No match or light the boat isn’t going anywhere.
The first thing I heard was a Merlin engine. Was this taken near an airshow?
No, a boat show and village fate!
Was that a spitfire I heard overhead....
That,s a Merlin engined plane you can hear
Where is this
I feel like my miata has a similar starting procedure..
So...am i correct in thinking that it's a Direct Reversible engine, kinf of like my Deutz 545?
That's right. It's a single Cyclinder 2-stoke engine which will run either direction. There is a special fuel pump on the other side of the arm which operates the pecker which kicks the engine in to going the opposite way. It is only used once and the removed from operation and the main pecker shown then takes over again.
Michael Askin Wow, that's very cool! Never knew such "small" engines came as direct reversible too! One really has to know what he's doing when working with an engine like that. Thanks for your reply!
Early Lanz Bulldog Tractors were reversed the same way as they had no gearbox.
Very Cool! We're spoiled now days!
Sounds like a P51 Mustang in the background:)
It's Britain, so most likely a Spit or Hurricane.
Ripley starting the Nostromo self destruct sequence
What a fun pain in the rear
made in Sweden???
He looks like the guy who went to Estonia with Tom Scott
He does a bit from cirtain angles, your right!
Great Engine in someone elses Boat
Most important is a gal who can do all those steps reliably on the inevitable day you fall ill, the boat has to be moved, the weather sucks, and she is happy ! Call me if she has a sister !
😁👍👏👏👏
If it predates 1932 it's a J. & C. G. Bolinders Mekaniska Verkstad aka Bolinder, because J. & C.G. Bolinders Mekaniska Verkstads AB and Munktells Mekaniska Verkstads AB was joined in 1932 and became AB Bolinder-Munktell .
does that engine push that boat along no trouble
Have a look: th-cam.com/video/knLIDqiJI6I/w-d-xo.html
yes she does lol , plus the reason I asked was iam thinking of putting a lister 12.2 in one , and wondered if it would do the job.
squirms shed should do nicely in a modern boat. The Bolly has lots of torque as it's 12 litre swept volume IIRC.
Video ended just as it was getting good
Bólinder you British say. I'm a Swede and I say Bolínder, as it's made in Sweden during the iron age.
Bolinder was a Swedish industry on the Kungsholmen in the center of Stockholm, opposite the Central station. It then was named Bolinder Munktell in Eskilstuna which today is the Volvo BM construcion machinery industry. It all started in Sweden.
sounded like a merlin engine flying around at the beginning of vid
Tic tok brought me here.
Would you be willing to let me have a copy to run in Foxton canal museum next to our Bolinder? Your film is beter than ours.
Hi, can you private message me with your email address, and we'll sort it out.
:55 sounded like it was running lol
Sounds L o v e l y but
I am K-nackerd just watching.
Anyone notice the sound of a Rolls Merlin overhead at the start of the video?!
Fair play to him to deal with all the unnecessary work of 'managing' an engine that was not intended for the use that it is being put to
What a bloody rigmarole
Fucking awesome 💓💓💓👍👍👍
Bit of a bugger when you have to oil the oil pump !
They do not hear that the engine is going the wrong way
its a grand old engine but I think I would set up some sort of pressure lubrication system for all those moving parts just in case of a missed oiling replacement parts would be very hard to come by for that engine no doubt .
No one is gonna steal that and get away with it