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ME472
Generator Starting Failure
Technical committee

Ship type Container ship

Date of build July 26, 2001
Navigation route Far East ~ South America
Trouble machinery
Category Generator
Name
Type 8N21L-EN
Maker
Date of trouble February 25, 2003

1. Outline of breakdown

Air blowing was implemented from the engine-side for the purposes of No. 2 Diesel Engine operation.
At this time, rotation was normal. However, when the pressure indicator valve was closed and starting
was attempted, rotation would not occur at all. Although checking was accomplished while turning,
rotation would not occur in either direction, and starting failed. When the crank case was opened and
inspected, it was discovered that the motion of side clearance of the No. 2, 3, and 7 cylinder connect-
ing rods were stiffer compared to the others.

2. Causes

The crank case interior was checked and no abnormalities were found. When the cylinder cover was
opened and inspected, carbon was discovered chewing into the area between the protection ring and
piston crown, and the carbon had infiltrated into the ring groove and had caused ring sticking.
Rotation was not possible for these reasons.

3. Repair

The crank case was opened, the LO priming pump was operated, and inspection was carried out to
check for LO from the connecting rod and piston area, but no abnormalities were found.
Next, when the connecting rod side clearance was inspected, it was found that the No. 2, 3 and 7 cyl-
inders were stiffer than the others.
Rotation through air blowing was carried out, and as LO was being sufficiently fed to the connecting
rod, piston sticking was difficult to surmise. It was judged that the carbon residue from carbon re-
moval behavior had chewed in between the piston and protection ring and disturbed the rotation. The
cylinder cover was opened and the protection ring was removed and cleaned. Although turning be-
came possible after the No. 2 and 7 cylinders were cleaned, as lifting occurred to the No. 3 cylinder
liner, both the liner and piston were removed and cleaned at the workshop.
Carbon was chewing in up to the 3rd piston ring of this piston and the ring was sticking.
As the piston had been in operation 2,500 hrs after the previous overhaul, DO switching during low
load operation or DO switching time before stopping may not have been appropriate.
This was the first time this kind of trouble occurred. While S/B for port entry or departure, Diesel En-
gine start up failure would cause S/B delay. Caution is required for models with protection rings.

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