Thanks for the movie . . I worked with the 'J' and the 'P' and found them to be good engines with minimal breakdowns. Used to run about 110 rpm if I recall
Whilst I appreciate the engineering and huge success of these these beasts, I sailed on two ships with LB Doxfords in the 70s and by then the opposition in the form of B & W and Sulzer built much more reliable engines. I believe that Doxford sat back enjoying the success of the LB and by the time they woke up and developed the P and J types ( we won't mention the mechanical nightmare -Seahorse) it was already too late - it was a great same. The biggest source of pain for us, as operators, was trying to keep the lower piston cooling system tight and prevent water contamination of the sump. We had to stop very few days and re-pack/ tighten the lower piston swinging arm glands. We found that the use of PTFE packing in place of the original type improved the situation. Great video by the way.
In my seagoing days as a marine engineer, 90% of the motor ships I sailed on were powered by Doxford engines. They were very reliable, apart from cracking a cylinder liner while sailing across the Australian Bight. We changed the liner for the spare, and proceded to our next port of call which was Newcastle in New South Wales. The cracked liner was repaired by one of the local shipyards and returned to us before we departed.
@@jean-claudedemartin3810 The beautiful thing was that we were at the Newcastle shipyard for nearly 3 weeks if my memory serves me well, so it gave us a break from doing 4 hours on, 4 hours off for a while. We went on to day work in the engine room as you usually do while the vessel is in port.
We need a film of a group of worse for drink 'ginger beers', hands on head, preforming 'the doxford song' -- bobbing up & down in the correct firing sequence, ( Bank Line for preferance) great lads!-I've seen them pull a piston, while rolling around in the big swells at nearly 60 South (dropping off a met bouy, en-route to magellan & WCSA, from bay of bengal) X
@TheChiefEngineer That engine is being moved to Anson to be put on permanent display. It took a lot of support to keep that engine from being scrapped; it was the only single-cylinder Doxford ever built.
Regarding the Doxford at South Shields, I also worked on it in the 60s. It is still around. There appears to 2!!?? One is in store at Beamish Country museum and is not open to the public. Another website Anson Engine museum also claims it is being dismantled prior to removal to Poyton for re-assembly. Not sure what is going on!
that thing would wear itself out in no time ! theres a reason large marine engines uasually work at about 100 rpm . they need to be reliable and not need stripping down every five minutes...........
