INSTRUCTIONS

Wärtsilä 2-stroke I-32

Technical Services Issue 1, 21 February 2014

Assessment of connecting rod

At your convenience
top end bearing shell
Information to all Owners and Operators of Concerned components
Wärtsilä RTA96C, RTA96C-B and RT-flex96C-B Connecting rod top end bearing shells
engines (also referred to as crosshead bearing)
of Wärtsilä RTA96C, RTA96C-B and
RT-flex96C-B engines.

Current situation
During regular inspections connecting rod
top end bearing shells were generally
found in good condition.
In some rare cases signs of cavitation
were found.

Solutions
No immediate action is needed.
This Instructions bulletin provides
information on how to judge bearing shells
during inspection in order to decide on
further use and thus extending their
lifetime.

Wärtsilä Switzerland Ltd. Tel (24h): +41 52 262 80 10

PO Box 414
CH-8401 Winterthur technicalsupport.chts@wartsila.com
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I-32, Issue 1, Page 2 / 7

Contents
Page
1 Introduction 2
2 References 3
3 Work scope, skills and manpower 3
4 Required tools and material 3
5 Connecting rod top end bearing shell in good condition 4
6 Connecting rod top end bearing shell with rolled-in white metal 4
7 Assessment of connecting rod top end bearing shell with cavitation 5
8 Contacts 7

1 Introduction
This Instructions bulletin is intended for customers operating Wärtsilä RTA96C,
RTA96C-B and RT-flex96C-B engines.
Wärtsilä service experience has shown a good condition of the connecting rod top end
bearing shells during regular inspections. (The connecting rod top end bearings are
also referred to as crosshead bearings).
In very few cases, signs of cavitation have been found around the oil pockets of the
bearing shells. The cavitation found has no consequences for the engine operation.
When the connecting rod top end bearings are opened for scheduled inspection or by
the requirement of the classification society, please follow the guidelines and
recommendations of this Instructions bulletin to judge the condition of the top end
bearing shell. Depending on the visual inspection result, some countermeasures shall
help to extend the lifetime of the connecting rod top end bearing shells.

NOTE:
• The cavitation damage itself is not a problem for the bearing shells as it occurs in an
unloaded area. There is no reduction of the loaded bearing area of the bearing shell.
Furthermore, white metal is very soft and will not cause further damages to the
bearing shells or other engine components.
• The worst case would be a continuous oil loss caused by the total propagation of the
cavitation from the oil pockets to the edge of the bearing shells. Service experiences
have not shown this case, even after the bearing shells reached their estimated
lifetime as listed in the Data & Specifications bulletin RT-123, Appendix 1 and
Appendix 3.
• No extra inspections or countermeasures need to be done, just the regular
inspections suggested in the Maintenance Manual Group 0, Chapter 0380–1,
entitled “Inspection and Overhaul Intervals (Guidelines)” or according to the
requirements of the classification society.
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2
1. Connecting rod
1 2. Top end bearing shell
3. Crosshead
4. Crosshead pin
Figure 1, Location of concerned connecting rod top end bearing shell

2 References
Table 1

Document type Doc. Number Description

Group 3 Connecting Rod:
Maintenance Manual
Chapter 3303–3 Inspection, Removal and Fitting of Top End Bearing

3 Work scope, skills and manpower

Table 2

Work scope Min time [h] Max time [h]

Inspection of one bearing shell 3 7
Skills Required Duration
Supervisor 1 For the whole work period
Mechanic 2 For the whole work period

4 Required tools and material

The tools for the removal and fitting of the connecting rod top end bearing shell are
listed in the Maintenance Manual Group 3, Chapter 3303–3.
Additionally see also Technical Bulletin RT-154 about new available tools for the
inspection, removal and fitting of connecting rod bearing shells.

Table 3

Tools & Material Description Quantity Unit

Hand scraper 1 —
Cleaning and
Scotch-Brite™ 1 —
polishing pad
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5 Connecting rod top end bearing shell in good condition

Figure 2, Connecting rod top end bearing shells in good condition

The connecting rod top end bearing shells as shown in Figure 2 are in perfect
condition, no rolled-in white metal, material loss/pitting and no cavitation damage.

6 Connecting rod top end bearing shell with rolled-in white metal

1 3 2 3

1. Rolled-in white metal 2. Loaded bearing area

3. Oil pockets
Figure 3, Connecting rod top end bearing shell with rolled-in white metal

ATTENTION:
If white metal is rolled-in (1), remove protruded material by the use of a Scotch-Brite™
pad, see Figure 3.
Do not remove the protruded material with a hand scraper from the loaded area of the
bearing shell, i.e. the area (2) between the oil pockets (3).
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7 Assessment of connecting rod top end bearing shell with cavitation

Figure 4, Connecting rod top end bearing shell with cavitation

The cavitation as shown in Figure 4 is harmless for the performance of the connecting
rod top end bearing and the crosshead pin.

Figure 5, Connecting rod top end bearing shell with cavitation at the edge

NOTE:
The cavitation damage as shown in Figure 5 needs a proper assessment.
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The criteria whether to accept or reject a bearing shell are shown in Figure 6.

3 4

Not acceptable

Still acceptable

X = 75% of D

1 2
5

1. “D” = Distance between pocket and 3. Cavitation in this area is not harmful
edge of bearing shell 4. Bearing shell
2. “X” = Cavitation distance between 5. Oil pocket
pocket and edge of bearing shell
Figure 6, Judgement of bearing shell with cavitation

7.1 Acceptable cavitation damage

The bearing shell is still acceptable if the cavitation damage as shown in Figure 5 does
not exceed 75% of the distance “D” between the pocket and the edge of the bearing
shell.

ATTENTION:
• Carefully remove all loose white metal particles.
• The edges of the damaged area must be rounded and smoothened.
First step: round all edges with a hand scraper.
Second step: final smoothening of the edges with a Scotch-Brite™ pad.

7.2 Cavitation damage not acceptable

The bearing shell is not acceptable if the cavitation distance “X” exceeds 75% or more
between the pocket and the edge of the bearing shell.
Excessive oil loss and missing oil pressure in the pockets will be the consequence and
this can lead to a bearing failure.

ATTENTION:
Wärtsilä recommends if cavitation is detected on one bearing shell as shown in Figure 5,
an inspection of another bearing shell should be made at the next opportunity.
In case that the cavitation exceeds the 75% limit, Wärtsilä strongly recommends to
replace the concerned connecting rod top end bearing shell at the next possible
opportunity.
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8 Contacts
8.1 How to contact Wärtsilä
For questions about the content of this Instructions bulletin, or if you need Wärtsilä
assistance, services, spare parts and/or tools, please contact your nearest Wärtsilä
representative.
If you don’t have the contact details at hand, please follow the link “Contact us” – “24h
Services” on the Wärtsilä webpage:
www.wartsila.com

8.2 Contact details for emergency issues

8.2.1 Operational support
For questions concerning operational issues, please send your enquiry to:
technicalsupport.chts@wartsila.com
or phone 24hrs support: +41 52 262 80 10.

8.2.2 Field service

If you need Wärtsilä Field Service, please send your enquiry to:
Ch.Fieldservice@wartsila.com
or phone 24hrs support: +41 79 255 68 80.

8.2.3 Spare parts

If you need Wärtsilä spare parts and/or tools, please contact your nearest Wärtsilä
representative or your key account manager.

© 2014 Wärtsilä Switzerland Ltd. – All rights reserved

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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 or any of its appendices is to be construed as
provided due to a defect of the product, but merely as an improvement of the product 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
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