Shire 30 Compact Keel-Cooled Narrowboat Diesel Engine

Description

Repower shallow canal craft with the Shire 30 Compact Keel-Cooled Engine for consistent inland propulsion. This 4-Stroke 3-Cylinder diesel yields 27 BHP continuous output across a 1.3L displacement block. Keel-cooled skin tanks eliminate raw water intake blockages in weeded canals, though operators must monitor expansion tank levels during prolonged lock hold-ups.

Monobloc cast iron forms the rigid crankcase with wear-resistant parent bores and an OHV cast iron cylinder head. A negative-ground 12V electrical setup mounts a 1.4 kW starter beside dual alternators, pairing a 50A engine battery unit with a 110A domestic service unit. Dry weight registers at 320 lbs without a transmission. The mounting stance measures 27.0in long by 19.3in wide and 23.2in high, while the lube oil sump holds 1.16 US gal.

Key Features of Shire 30 Compact

Canal craft owners buy Shire 30 Compact narrowboat engine units to secure steady propulsion inside narrow lock systems. This bare bobtail layout integrates with PRM 80, PRM 90, or Twin Disc manual transmissions for dependable shaft rotation.

• In-line direct mechanical fuel injection pump regulates diesel delivery without sensitive circuit boards
• Dual 12V alternators produce 50A and 110A charge currents for separate battery banks
• Closed keel-cooling circuit directs 1.45 US gal of coolant through external hull skin tanks
• Cast iron parent bores resist cylinder taper wear under continuous low-speed barge work
• Direct mechanical governor maintains engine speed when alternating loads enter the propulsion shaft
• Heavy-duty torsional drive plate isolates crank pulses from transmission splines
• Naturally aspirated intake path draws clean air through an acoustic silencer box

Dynamometer Output Thermal Regulation

Dynamometer testing confirms 27 BHP continuous power at 2,800 RPM with a peak rating of 30 BHP at 3,000 RPM. Skin-tank circulation stabilizes internal engine coolant temperatures at 180°F under 85% continuous towpath resistance. Lube oil pressure maintains 45 PSI at full operating temperatures across a static tilt limit of 15°. Direct injection nozzles pop at 195 bar, while crankshaft main journals maintain strict 0.0006in TIR runout tolerances to stop bottom-end bearing wear during cold morning starts on canal moorings.

Field Handling Maintenance Parameters

Heavy throttle cables route directly to the mechanical governor arm with under 4 lbs of control lever drag. Do not select this compact 1.3L propulsion unit for widebeam freight barges over 45 ft or heavy river displacement hulls that encounter strong four-knot tidal head currents.

• Drain 1.16 US gal of 15W-40 lube oil every 250 operating hours through the sump drain pump
• Swap the primary spin-on fuel filter canister every 500 operating hours to preserve injection pump elements
• Inspect overhead valve lash gaps every 1,000 run hours to keep mechanical timing within factory tolerance

Crate Manifest Warranty Provisions

E.P. Barrus covers this diesel with a 3-Year inland leisure warranty or a 2-Year commercial warranty. The factory pallet includes the bobtail engine core, 12V starter, dual alternators, acoustic air intake cleaner, oil sump pump, four flexible engine mounts, instrument loom, and operator manual.