To start a diesel engine after a long lay-up or a change of lubricating oil filter you will need to follow a few simple steps.…

With the engine running at cruising revs, and taking care not to catch hair, scarf, fingers etc in any moving parts, examine the engine with…

Fan belt tension should be ±12mm (1?2in). Drive belt slippage can result in slow water pump and alternator speeds, but overtightening will reduce bearing life.…

Diesel engines normally use a little more oil than petrol engines and the colour of new oil quickly becomes black. The dipstick indicates the level…

At best these are messy, at worst they will stop your engine. If the tank is below the engine any fuel leak will result in…

A leaky propeller shaft seal or stern gland is fairly normal. A few drops per hour pose no real threat, but the flow always tends…

A leaking water pipe can often be temporarily repaired by wrapping the hole or split first in several layers of tape – ordinary electrical will…

Debris in the oil will reduce the life and efficiency of a hydraulic drive. The pump components are manufactured to extremely small tolerances, measured in…

These consist of a constant displacement pump driven by the engine which forces hydraulic oil down high pressure tubes to turn a constant displacement motor…

Saildrives resemble an outboard, dispensing with conventional sterngear and emerging from the boat’s hull direct. 1 Hull. 2 Seal. 3 Ahead/astern/neutral gears. 4 Drive shaft.…