Joined
·
809 Posts
Joined
·
207 Posts
Portred
Your story from 28 March 2007 was of my great interest
I love those DOXFORD stories
You did an excellent job wit the inner nut on a very old lathe
Lathes were not improving when the ships grew older.
I know this my self
First you had to draw the sledge against you to take the false clearance out before you started.
That I am a perfectionist? I would not say that from my self, but I did almost my utmost.
But you corrected me, that the cylinder lubrication for the bottom piston was completely shut off.
From 20/6/1963 till 4/9/1964 was my last ship with a 6 cylinder DOXFORD
See also: http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/55441/cat/525
I remember a lot of those engines but not everything but also for me it is 43 years ago!!!
I was always interested in this special engine and still!!
But I must say that I was lucky to sail wit cargo ships, short sea voyages and a long stay in port.
Besides the 2 DOXFORD, I sailed with, were running on diesel oil.
I know that English companies and companies in other English speaking countries had many ships equipped wit DOXFORD engines.
So I hope that more Engineers with DOXFORD experience will join this forum .
In Holland I believe we had a dozen ships wit DOXFORD, in our company 4 ships, 2 tankers and 2 general cargo ships
In one of our tankers a terrible accident occurred, see above link.
In an other DOXFORD ship we had also a nasty accident but I will tell that later
Regards
Alfons Verheijden
Your story from 28 March 2007 was of my great interest
I love those DOXFORD stories
You did an excellent job wit the inner nut on a very old lathe
Lathes were not improving when the ships grew older.
I know this my self
First you had to draw the sledge against you to take the false clearance out before you started.
That I am a perfectionist? I would not say that from my self, but I did almost my utmost.
But you corrected me, that the cylinder lubrication for the bottom piston was completely shut off.
From 20/6/1963 till 4/9/1964 was my last ship with a 6 cylinder DOXFORD
See also: http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/55441/cat/525
I remember a lot of those engines but not everything but also for me it is 43 years ago!!!
I was always interested in this special engine and still!!
But I must say that I was lucky to sail wit cargo ships, short sea voyages and a long stay in port.
Besides the 2 DOXFORD, I sailed with, were running on diesel oil.
I know that English companies and companies in other English speaking countries had many ships equipped wit DOXFORD engines.
So I hope that more Engineers with DOXFORD experience will join this forum .
In Holland I believe we had a dozen ships wit DOXFORD, in our company 4 ships, 2 tankers and 2 general cargo ships
In one of our tankers a terrible accident occurred, see above link.
In an other DOXFORD ship we had also a nasty accident but I will tell that later
Regards
Alfons Verheijden
Joined
·
207 Posts
Maintenance on a DOXFORD (Piston Drawing)[/B]
The maintenance of this part of the engine took also many working hours.
Before taking out the bottom piston, it was very important to clean the combustion chamber properly by means of a rotary brush.
Besides the burr in the cylinder liner from the top piston ring must be slightly grinded away.
Also the combustion chamber was oiled before taken out the bottom piston.
All this precautions to be taken to prevent sticking of the piston half way.
Once it happened in one of our ships equipped with a DOXFORD engine that the piston was half way and would not move up or down.
What the reason was is never been cleared but most probably that the cleaning of the combustion chamber was not done or properly done.
The Engineers slackened the tackle and with a wooden bar and hammering they tried to put the piston down again.
Suddenly the piston felt down but unfortunately the third Engineer was still in the crankcase and had his hand on the crosshead.
He lost his hand almost complete.
A very nasty accident which made a shock affect on all the Engineers on our company.
Regards
Alfons Verheijden
The maintenance of this part of the engine took also many working hours.
Before taking out the bottom piston, it was very important to clean the combustion chamber properly by means of a rotary brush.
Besides the burr in the cylinder liner from the top piston ring must be slightly grinded away.
Also the combustion chamber was oiled before taken out the bottom piston.
All this precautions to be taken to prevent sticking of the piston half way.
Once it happened in one of our ships equipped with a DOXFORD engine that the piston was half way and would not move up or down.
What the reason was is never been cleared but most probably that the cleaning of the combustion chamber was not done or properly done.
The Engineers slackened the tackle and with a wooden bar and hammering they tried to put the piston down again.
Suddenly the piston felt down but unfortunately the third Engineer was still in the crankcase and had his hand on the crosshead.
He lost his hand almost complete.
A very nasty accident which made a shock affect on all the Engineers on our company.
Regards
Alfons Verheijden
Joined
·
809 Posts
Joined
·
1,128 Posts
The method we used for setting the clearances on Doxford bottom ends was as follows.
1. Put four suitable small pieces of sheet lead between the spherical bearing butts and tighten up. Measure the leads and fit shims to obtain desired bearing clearance (5 thou ?)
2. Do the same with the outer butts and fit shims to obtain clearance (2 thou ?)
3. Set the engine on all four quarters in turn and check with a pinch bar that the inner spherical can move.
Works every time (almost)
Derek
1. Put four suitable small pieces of sheet lead between the spherical bearing butts and tighten up. Measure the leads and fit shims to obtain desired bearing clearance (5 thou ?)
2. Do the same with the outer butts and fit shims to obtain clearance (2 thou ?)
3. Set the engine on all four quarters in turn and check with a pinch bar that the inner spherical can move.
Works every time (almost)
Derek
Joined
·
313 Posts
Joined
·
1,128 Posts
Joined
·
207 Posts
Eldersuk
Good to see that this DOXFORD forum getting more attention.
Your way to handle the bottom end with the spherical bearing clearances is somewhat different as I remember after 43 years.
But I am curious did you anything to fill up the space between the crank web and the bottom end to avoid unreliable measuring of the lead wires after hammering?
Checking afterwards with the pinch bar was also our procedure
Have someone a more original drawing with more details of this bottom end bearing?
Regards
Alfons
Good to see that this DOXFORD forum getting more attention.
Your way to handle the bottom end with the spherical bearing clearances is somewhat different as I remember after 43 years.
But I am curious did you anything to fill up the space between the crank web and the bottom end to avoid unreliable measuring of the lead wires after hammering?
Checking afterwards with the pinch bar was also our procedure
Have someone a more original drawing with more details of this bottom end bearing?
Regards
Alfons
Joined
·
809 Posts
Seen as were all in the mood I think we should sing the Doxford Song.
You must have heard of Charlie Parsons and Dr Sulzer too?
You all know of the M.A.N and the B. & W.
But the best marine propulsion, Im sure you will agree,
Comes from a place called Sunderland,
Where its made by William D.
My name is William Doxford, I come from Sunderland,
They say I make the finest engines built in all the land,
The top ends clang, the bottom ends prang, the engine chugs away,
Youve only got to stop this engine every other day,
Now the Chiefs and Seconds and Thirds and Fourths who take my ships to sea,
They all are very happy, they all are proud of me,
They all declare that William Doxfords engine stands alone,
They all work 24 hours a day to keep the pistons going,
The Captain stands upon his bridge, his mind is quite at rest,
He knows that with his Doxford engine he has the very best,
He turns to Sparks and says to him, Lets send an E.T.A.
The only things they cant put on it are the date and day,
Were drifting across the Pacific (stopped!) as happy as happy can be,
With everyone singing the praises of Sunderlands William D.
But, I think well get to Liverpool, in fact I know we shall,
Weve crossed the broad Pacific and the Panama Canal,
The Engineers have sweated tears from Bluff to Curacao
But we have got two Doxfords, which didnt want to go!
We were nine days in Curacao, while the Engineers pushed the white metal back up into the bearings,
Now, were rolling across the Atlantic, at a comfortable 10 and a half(instead of 16 and a half)
The old man is going quite frantic, while the passengers try not to laugh,
(As far as they are concerned, the longer the trip, the cheaper the fare)
A quarter century has passed, its time for her to die,
Shes going to Masan at last and home from there we will fly,
Theyll make her into razor blades and stereophonic gear,
While evermore this phantom song will haunt them in Korea!
You must have heard of Charlie Parsons and Dr Sulzer too?
You all know of the M.A.N and the B. & W.
But the best marine propulsion, Im sure you will agree,
Comes from a place called Sunderland,
Where its made by William D.
My name is William Doxford, I come from Sunderland,
They say I make the finest engines built in all the land,
The top ends clang, the bottom ends prang, the engine chugs away,
Youve only got to stop this engine every other day,
Now the Chiefs and Seconds and Thirds and Fourths who take my ships to sea,
They all are very happy, they all are proud of me,
They all declare that William Doxfords engine stands alone,
They all work 24 hours a day to keep the pistons going,
The Captain stands upon his bridge, his mind is quite at rest,
He knows that with his Doxford engine he has the very best,
He turns to Sparks and says to him, Lets send an E.T.A.
The only things they cant put on it are the date and day,
Were drifting across the Pacific (stopped!) as happy as happy can be,
With everyone singing the praises of Sunderlands William D.
But, I think well get to Liverpool, in fact I know we shall,
Weve crossed the broad Pacific and the Panama Canal,
The Engineers have sweated tears from Bluff to Curacao
But we have got two Doxfords, which didnt want to go!
We were nine days in Curacao, while the Engineers pushed the white metal back up into the bearings,
Now, were rolling across the Atlantic, at a comfortable 10 and a half(instead of 16 and a half)
The old man is going quite frantic, while the passengers try not to laugh,
(As far as they are concerned, the longer the trip, the cheaper the fare)
A quarter century has passed, its time for her to die,
Shes going to Masan at last and home from there we will fly,
Theyll make her into razor blades and stereophonic gear,
While evermore this phantom song will haunt them in Korea!
Report