OPERATING

INSTRUCTION
Services, Wärtsilä Finland Oy

Engine section Engine type Ref. Date Issue Document No. Page
11 Crank mechanism See list WFI–S 30-May-2012 03 3211Q022 1(2)

Connecting rod, hydraulic pressure

Engine type This Operating Instruction concerns following WÄRTSILÄ® Vasa 32 based
engine types:
WÄRTSILÄ® Vasa 32, 32LN and 32SLN
WÄRTSILÄ® 32LNGD
WÄRTSILÄ® 32DF and 32DFc
WÄRTSILÄ® 4R32GD, 12V32GD, 16V32GD and 18V32GD
WÄRTSILÄ® 12V34SG and 18V34SG.

General The purpose of this bulletin is to highlight the importance of using correct
hydraulic pressure when tightening and loosening the nuts for the
connecting rod screws.
During the long life span of the Vasa 32 based engines three different
connecting rod types have been used:
A. “O-profile” connecting rod
B. “H-profile” connecting rod
C. “Three piece” / “Marine head” connecting rod.

The hydraulic pressure for tightening and loosening the connecting rod nuts
is different for the three connecting rod types; see the table on the next
page.

Wärtsilä Finland Oy P.O. Box 252 (Tarhaajantie 2) Telecop. +358 10 709 1847 Tel. +358 10 709 0000 Business ID 0773744-3
Services, Vaasa FIN-65101 Vaasa, Finland Telecop. +358 10 709 1380 Registered Office: Vaasa
Wärtsilä Finland Oy P.O. Box 50 (Stålarminkatu 45) Telecop. +358 10 709 3279 Tel. +358 10 709 0000
Services, Turku FIN-20811 Turku, Finland Telecop. +358 10 709 3410
Services, Wärtsilä Finland Oy Operating Instruction
Issue Document No. Page
03 3211Q022 2(2)

Recommendation
Use correct hydraulic pressure when tightening
Do not exceed the maximum pressure when loosening
Replace the screws if the maximum hydraulic pressure has been
exceeded
See the engine instruction manual for further information about using the
hydraulic tools
Please distribute this information to all of your Maintenance teams and
ensure that they are aware of the differences between the connecting rod
types and the hydraulic pressures.

Hydraulic pressures

Connecting Connecting rod Max. hydraulic pressure (bar)

rod type screws Tightening Loosening
O-profile M42 800 820
H-profile M45 725 745
M30 in two steps:
- First step: 300 620
Three piece
- Second step: 600
M24 750 770

Related bulletins See also:

3211Q034 Connecting rod screws and shim. Change interval.
3211S085 Connecting rod handling and inspection.

Letter distribution Wärtsilä Services Network and operators/owners of engines concerned.

Letter validity Until further notice.

2012 Wärtsilä Finland Oy – All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, graphic, photocopying,
recording, taping or other information retrieval systems) without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. Wärtsilä Finland Oy
makes no representation, warranty (express or implied) in this publication and assumes no responsibility for the correctness, errors or
omissions for information contained herein. Information in this publication is subject to change without notice.
Unless otherwise expressly set forth, no recommendation contained in this document is to be construed as provided due to a
defect in the engine, but merely as an improvement of the engine and/or the maintenance procedures relating thereto. Any actions
by the owner/operator as a result of the recommendations are not covered under any warranty provided by Wärtsilä and such
actions will thus be at the owners/operators own cost and expense.
NO LIABILITY WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, IS ASSUMED WITH RESPECT TO THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. THIS PUBLICATION IS CONFIDENTIAL AND INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES
ONLY.