I am passionate about the work I undertake, whether it is a large project or a small piece of equipment to maintain. Here are a few of my projects from the last two years.
Basé dans le sud de la France je suis ingénieur et mécanicien agricole mobile. Je peut faire tous les réparations pour vos vehicules et équipements mécaniques et hydrauliques.
Before
After
Condition: In the Yachts engine room of Tania T, the stainless steel pipework that cools the exhaust system with pumped sea water was corroded and there were leaks evident.
Work Undertaken:Corroded pipework removed, new piece fabricated & TIG welded in place.
Result: Cooling system operating efficiently with zero leaks.
Before
After
Condition:The mesh/ grills inside the ducting pipework of the engine rooms ventilation system was badly corroded.
Work Undertaken:corroded mesh/ grills removed and replaced with new.
Result:Improved condition and operating efficiently.
Before
After
Condition:Breakdown at sea on Volvo Penta D4-260A port side engine. Volvo incorrectly diagnosed the non starting fault and customer was incorrectly informed to purchase fuel pressure sensors.
Work Undertaken:removed Bosch Fuel Injection Pump 0 445 020 026 and discovered the lift pump which is fitted to the rear of the unit had a broken shaft inside resulting in zero pressure to feed the injection pump.
Result:Fitted new Bosch fuel pump, tested and engine working efficiently. Also, while waiting for new fuel Pump both engines were fully serviced with many new parts fitted including new filters & engine oil.
Before
After
Condition:Service required to both YANMAR 6BY2 260 Engines - After 250 hours or 1 Year.
Work Undertaken:All filters. oil & zincs replaced on both Yanmar Engines.
Result:Efficiently running engines.
Before
After with stainless mounting plates fitted to deck
Condition: Anchor Windlass mounting to deck movement under load.
Work Undertaken: Stainless Steel mounting plates fabricated to fit under winches/ windlasses to strengthen fixation points to deck and to help remove any movement while operating under load/ stress while lifting anchors.
Result: Efficient and smooth operation of windlasses/ winches with zero movement while operating.
Before
After
Condition: MUIR Winch/ Windlass not sufficient for its intended purpose. Customer required an upgraded model.
Work Undertaken: Removed old unit and fitted with an upgraded model.
Result: Smooth & Efficiently operating winch/ windlass system.
After
Condition: Electro hydraulic power pack for tender boat crane overheating while operating.
Work Undertaken: Removed old unit and replaced with a new upgraded model which includes a fan to prevent overheating while operating.
Result: Efficiently running electro hydraulic power pack.
Length of Project: 1 month
Condition: N/A, new initiative project, to create a railing system that was aesthetically pleasing and functional, covering a 16 metre line of sight and 2 metres of stairways.
Work Undertaken: Design (working with the client to determine what he wanted), Manufacture (planning, measuring, moulding & welding raw materials into shape) Installation (bolted into concrete base))
Result: A secure garden that was pleasant to look at, providing functionality and improved usage. It also added value to the property.
Length of Project: 11 hours
Condition: Very poor - just about running. Difficult to start, loss of power during usage. Dirty, inside and out, including engine working parts.
Work Undertaken: A full service - Replace air filters, cabin filters, clean housings, engine oil & filter, fuel filters, hydraulic filters, check for leaks & levels, transmission filters, inspect oil, check for leaks and levels, inspect diff oils, leaks, check levels, inspect coolant system and check anti-freeze percentage, battery security terminals and electrolyte levels, check clutch operation and adjustment, inspect break system and adjustment, check differential lock, check all gauges and lights on dashboard, check all controls, lights, beacons, wipers, horn, inspect front and rear axle bearings, check steering for excess play and tightness, check hydraulic controls, tyre condition and pressures, inspect electrical and charging system, fan belts, exhaust systems suspensions, inspect ignition system, coils, spark plugs, high-tension leads, grease all points and lubricate all hinges and fittings, degrease and clean machine, test drive machine.
Result: A smooth running and efficient machine, improved fuel economy, improved power
Length of Project: 5 days
Condition: N/A, new initiative project, to create and install a grill system to prevent fish and plant debris from departing a lake.
Work Undertaken: Design (working with the client to establish what was needed), Manufacture (planning, measuring, moulding & welding raw materials into shape) Installation (bolted to dam wall)
Result:: A functional grill that prevented fish and debris from departing. In addition the design of the grill reduced the risk of build up of debris and reduced interference with natural flow of lake.
Length of Project: 2 hours
Condition: Electrical Box was open to the elements and at risk of damage.
Work Undertaken: Design (simple cover design, moulded from metal) Installation (Bolted to wall).
Result: A safer, weather-protected electrical box.
Length of Project: 4 hours
Condition: Broken cutting deck.
Work Undertaken: Clean area of broken machine part, fabricate new part, weld in position and refit attachments.
Result: A fully-functional machine that was able to cut grass effectively.
Length of Project: 8 hours
Condition: Work Undertaken: Removed all wheels, replaced bearings, brakes and cables, replaced tyres, fitted new lights and electrical systems and greased all points. Result: Fully compliant with the requirements of road worthiness and safety.
Length of Project: 3 days
Condition: Clutch slipping, car not functional and had to be towed to premises.
Work Undertaken: Raised and supported vehicle, transmission removed, new total clutch system installed. refitted transmission and test drive.
Result: Car functioning to a good standard, fully compliant with the requirements of road worthiness and safety.
Length of Project: 6 hours
Condition: Fuel Leaking from fuel injector connections/ Noisy Exhaust Leaking from connections and holed. The Manitou mt 425 was poor starting, idling with loss of power reduction in fuel economy and potential damage to the environment.
Work Undertaken: Replaced sealing washers and fuel pipes removed exhaust and welded in workshop.
Result: Car functioning to a good standard, fully compliant with the requirements of road worthiness and safety. A very satisfied customer.
Condition: No Steering - Hydraulic oil passing seals in cylinders resulting in little pressure.
Work Undertaken: Removed/ Reconditioned & then Re fitted Hydraulic Steering Cylinders.
Result: Steering working correctly.
Condition: No change in engine speed when pressing the accelerator pedal.
Work Undertaken: Removed and replaced Throttle Potentiometer.
Result: Machine working correctly with engine speed responding to accelerator.
Condition: No response from magnet.
Work Undertaken: Repaired damaged cable to magnet.
Result: Magnet working correctly.
Condition: Wheel locking up during forward rotation
Work Undertaken: Removed wheel and drum and found broken wheel stud/ bolt inside the drum preventing wheel turning.
Result: Wheel turning freely.
Condition: Cutting Deck badly corroded with worn bearings and belts.
Work Undertaken: Removed all belts, pulleys and bearings. Fabricated and welded new galvanised deck plate to top and sides of deck. Bearings and belts replaced & blades sharpened. Painted for further protection against corrosion.
Result: Deck operating and cutting efficiently.
Condition: Hammers worn, motor to coupling bushes worn, belts worn and alignment issues.
Work Undertaken: Replaced bushes, bearings, drive belts and hammers. Tensioned and realigned shaft. Bearing temperatures monitored for initial start up and testing.
Result: Efficiently fragging material to correct specification with improved production output.
Condition: To register your vehicle in Europe and before appointment with testing station (control technique in France) the headlights on a right hand drive vehicle must be changed to European standing for driving on the right hand side of the road.
Work Undertaken: Source European headlights and replaced/ adjusted.
Result: Vehicle conforming to European standards
Condition: Poor running and cutting.
Work Undertaken: Replaced fuel filter, air filter, cutting chain, spark plug, fuel, oils. Cleaned carburettor interior and machine exterior and adjusted all settings
Result: Machine working correctly
Condition: Lake sluice gate stuck partially open.
Work Undertaken: Opened gate using hydraulic equipment
Result: Lake now full and well stocked for fishing.
Condition: Oil leaking from rear wheel hub seal.
Work Undertaken: Hub removed and seal replaced with new bearings fitted.
Result: No oil leaking.
Condition: Vehicle required timing belt replacement.
Work Undertaken: Removed used belt, pulleys and tensioner and replaced with complete new timing belt kit.
Result: Manufactures service schedule complied with.
Condition: Starter motor contaminated due to wear and breakdown of the dual mass flywheel.
Work Undertaken: Clutch removed, starter motor removed and gearbox and surround areas thouroughly cleaned. New solid flywheel replacement clutch kit and a new starter motor fitted.
Result: Vehicle starting and running efficiently.
Top Tip: This is a common problem on the Ford Transit VI: One of these opportunities is found with the 2.0/2.4 litre diesel version of the ever-popular Ford Transit. The mark VI variant, which was built between 2000 and 2006, is somewhat notorious for the failure of its starter motor, which is due in no small part to an inherent design fault in the vehicle’s manufacture.
Along with many others, this vehicle utilises a dual-mass flywheel (DMF) clutch system to reduce the vibration from the engine, but the engine’s starter motor is mounted immediately below the DMF unit, which ultimately is the route-cause of the problem.
As a result, the debris that comes from the DMF unit as it wears during the day-to-day use of the vehicle – generally iron filings and similar metal particles – falls directly into the pinion gearing of the starter motor and gradually dries out the lubrication on the running surface of the pinion shaft, which leads to the drive gear being unable to slide along the shaft.
Without an understanding of the underlying issue the first thought is to naturally assume there is a problem with the starter motor and some workshops have lodged warranty claims that have subsequently been rejected because the cause is the debris from the DMF, not a defective starter motor in itself.
To enable the workshop to carry out a successful repair clutch system manufacturer, Borg & Beck, offers a replacement option in the form of its solid flywheel replacement kit.
With the solid flywheel clutch kit, a traditional solid flywheel and a specifically designed clutch assembly replace the worn DMF unit and its associated components. This substitution has been made possible by advances in damper spring technology and the development of the long travel damper that allows for a torsion movement of up to 40º.
Condition: Hydraulic controls not functioning.
Work Undertaken: Pressure tested pump and insufficient hydraulic pressure. Removed and dismantled hydraulic CASAPPA pump to find shaft drive splines worn causing no rotation inside pump. Ordered new pump from Yanmar UK and fitted to machine.
Result: Machine hydraulic controls working.
In addition to my projects I enjoy maintaining and preserving my own equipment, machinery and vehicles to an high standard.