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ME455
Stuffing Box/Piston Damage
Technical committee

Ship type Cape size Bulker

Date of build September 2000
Navigation route Japan ~ South America
Trouble machinery
Category Main engine
Name Stuffing box
Type DU Sulzer 6RTA72
Maker DU
Date of trouble October 5, 2000

1. Outline of breakdown

During this vessel’s maiden voyage, a main engine oil mist high alarm sounded and the engine room
was filled with white smoke.
Inspection revealed damage to the No. 3 cylinder stuffing box, cylinder liner, and piston. In addition,
the lowest springs in the No. 4 and No. 5 cylinder stuffing rings were broken.

2. Causes

To prevent against stuffing leakage and oil reduction, the lowest spring was reinforced and the outer
diameter was increased from φ10mm to φ11.5mm. As corresponding changes had not been made to
increase the diameter of the spring groove in the casing, there was hardly any spacing between the
spring and casing.
Due to the motion of the piston rod, the spring was pushed against the casing with force which caused
spring breakage and abnormal abrasion of the stuffing ring, eventually leading to deformation of the
piston rod.

3. Repair

1) No. 3 cylinder
The cylinder liner and piston were replaced. The stuffing box was completely replaced.
2) No. 4 cylinder
After removing the piston, inspection of the cylinder liner and piston revealed no abnormality.
The lowest spring in the stuffing box was replaced.
3) No. 5 cylinder
After removing the piston, inspection of the cylinder liner and piston revealed no abnormality.
The lowest spring was replaced (however, as there were no spare parts, the length of an upper
spring was adjusted and attached instead.)

4. Fundamental countermeasures

All cylinder lowest springs replaced with former spring types.

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5. Maker's opinion

The maker acknowledged that this breakdown occurred because countermeasures to stuffing box
leakage oil were implemented without sufficiently confirming modifications.

1. Appended diagram

Fig. 1 Condition of damage to the stuffing box

Fig. 2 Comparison of reinforced spring and former type spring attachment

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Fig. 3 Condition of damage