My DV20 has been getting more difficult to start from cold over the last few years, despite much work to keep the fuel system pristine. It was obviously a bit short of compression. The last season, though, I bought a can of Easistart and had to use it in last, cooler days. I decided to take the cylinder head off and check the valves. Much depression - the valves were OK. I checked the bores and found them worn about 3 thou in diameter which is well within the tolerance allowed. It must be the piston rings. Sump off and out the pistons came and, yes, the rings were worn. Bukh UK supplied me with new piston rings, new big end shells and new gaskets and the whole is now back together. The cherry on the top is that I did all this with the engine still on its bearers in the boat! I used an old mirror lying under the engine to see upwards while releasing the big end caps and then refastening them.

Cheers! Neil

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