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ME221
Damage to Diesel Generator Fuel Pump Cam and Roller
Technical committee

Ship type Container ship

Date of build December 1988, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Sakaide Dockyard
Navigation route Liner (Japan - Europe)
Trouble machinery
Category Generator engine
Name Fuel pump cam and roller
Type Z280L-ST
Date of trouble October 31, 1992 (during voyage)

1. Outline of breakdown

The No. 2 Diesel Generator No. 4 cylinder exhaust temperature dropped during operation. Investigation
revealed that the fuel injection pump tappet (90) was stuck at cam top position and the entire surface of
roller (3) and cam had scuff marks.
Damaged area
1) An approx. 0.5 mm deep scratch in the form of a groove near the top position of fuel injection pump
cam.
2) The roller stuck at the tappet and the surface incurred scuffing.
3) Severe scratch marks on parts of pump mount (1) and tappet cutout section.

2. Cause

Cause is unknown, but when lubrication oil becomes contaminated, foreign matter may enter between
the roller and roller pin (4) hampering proper rotation of the roller, which results in striking and
damaging of the cam. It is presumed that cam roller became stuck for some reason and that developed
into damage.

3. Repair

The tappet was replaced with a new part. The damages of the pump mount and tappet cutout were
repaired by filing and grinding. The cam was adjusted as much as practicable by smoothing with vinyl
stone and oil stone. However, as damage was severe and it developed over use, continued use was not
possible. Thus, when a complete cam shaft part was made available, the old part was replaced with the
new part.

1
Fig. 1 Fuel pump drive unit