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MAN B&W Diesel AlS

Service Letter No:

SL 87-219/UM
July 1987
L-GB, L35MC, and S26MC
Crosshead Bearing of Tin-Aluminium
Dear Sirs,
After several years of trouble-free service, we have received
reports of bearing damage on two engines with tin-aluminium
crosshead bearings.
Investigation showed that the effective bearing area on the
bearings in question had been small, compared to normal
conditions. This resulted in an increased local bearing pressure
and, at the same time, the running layer being worn off faster
than normal. Subsequently, the journal works on the nickel barrier
between the running layer and the tin-aluminium layer and, as this
nickel barrier has reduced bearing properties compared to the
original running layer, there is a risk of damage if too large an
area is exposed.
In view of the above, and until this matter has been
satisfactorily cleared up, we recommend that when checking the
crosshead bearings in accordance with the instruction book,
special attention is paid to any wear on the running layer (wear
can easily be observed as the nickel barrier has a brighter colour
and is harder than the running layer). A bearing with about 20% of
its nickel barrier exposed in the central part may operate without
trouble for an indefinite period. However, such a bearing is very
sensitive to hard particles in the oil and, as most of the soft
running metal is worn away, it can no longer adapt to the change
of micro-geometry which is expected to take place if the bearing
is dismantled and then re-installed. Therefore, if the nickel
barrier is exposed in more than approx. 5% of the active working

HEAD OFFICE (& postal address) DIESEL SERVICE PRODUCTION FORWARDING & RECEIVING MAN S&W Diesel A/S
Stamholmen 161 Stamholmen 161 Teglholmsgade 35 Teglholmsgade 35 Denmark
DK-2650 Hvidovre (Copenhagen) DK-2650 Hvidovre (Copenhagen) DK-2450 Copenhagen SV DK-2450 Copenhagen SV Reg. No.: 24231
Telephone: + 45 31 492501 Telephone: + 45 31 49 25 01 Telephone: + 45 31314433 Telephone: + 453131 4433
Telex: 16573, 16592 manbw dk Cables: manbandw Telex: 19023 bwforw dk Telex: 19023 bwforw dk
Telecopy: + 45 31 49 20 66 Telex: 31197 manbw dk Telex: 19042 bwforw dk Telex: 19042 bwforw dk
Telecopy: + 45 31 49 41 72 Telecopy: + 45 31 49 43 97 Telecopy: + 45 31317920 Telecopy: + 45 31 31 5522
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area of- the bearing (see the enclosed sketch), replacement is

recommended.

The permissible service time depends very much on the purity of

the lub. oil, but at the inspection after approx. 20,000 hrs it
must be carefully checked if the wear condition is beyond the
limits in the sketch.
The above is, of course, most important for plants without an oil
mist detector.
Yours faithfully,
MAN B&W Diesel A/s

Encl.
 ,
-
r- r-

A-A Running lay:Grey and soft

I ~ Nt-barrter:bright and hard

AlSn40
: I------
MAX.ACCEPTABEL EXPOSED
II ---- I------.- Steel NICKEL BARRIER AREA
OM ARI;A
mm2

~ I _~. L90GB
L80GB
13000
10340

~ ?~~~ I t ~ ~ L67GB 7060

L55GB 4700
V /; Ar e 0 0 r ~:/ L45GB 3000
~ ~Ni~ borrterr ~ L35MC 4100

~ ~ -------~ ~ S26MC 2900

~ ~ ~ ~
~~'
~~~ ~~
~~
Suppl. Drawing No. Slana,.. No. Mat ... lal.

~ Scal •• IKo.. Ik.l. 8l ..... k.

i----
Appeorance of exposed Nickel barrier -~--

Ploce:Typicol os shown.but mony other vorionts ore possible Oat. 0 ••. Chk. IAppd. Photo ~,..od. A.C. R.plac.d b, Ident.Na. ; f
j

Colour:Brtght
,
*
* -I -
I;
Hardness:Horder than running lay and Tin Aluminium.
*
Wi th 0 knife test.the knife will sl i de over the areas
where the Ni.ckel barrier t s exposed.and a faint or
*
* _I:
*
no cut mark is left to be seen. *
Use 0 sharp knife ond 0 Light pressure. ~'Z, TPP AY m *
Z4 EDP Input corrected
870614 VAV AY AY .
awE 1"(0 No .• T,p ••
A 1----
*
R.~loc ••• nt for ldent.no.

L-GB.L35MC.S26MC --
B&W CESB.
f

Als
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