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2-stroke Engines

INTERNAL

Technical Information
For Service Personnel of Wärtsilä 2-stroke Engines
Design group 1132 Ref: T Wijnja / 40167 Issued 11.12.2006
Tel. +41 52 262 46 74
Fax +41 52 262 07 31 Updated from previous version
E-mail: tjeerd.wijnja@wartsila.com issued 17.06.2002

Assessment of Running Marks on Main Bearings

by

J.-N. Constantin and A. Probst

Contents
Page
1 Main bearing shell in good condition ..................................................................................... 2
2 Running marks at the bottom of the main bearing shell ......................................................... 3
3 Running marks near the joint face of the main bearing shell.................................................. 5
4 Deep imprints and scratches ................................................................................................... 7
5 Machining marks on main bearing shells ............................................................................... 8
6 Conical #2 Main Bearing ........................................................................................................ 9
7 Double conical shell.............................................................................................................. 10

Introduction
Contact marks or running marks on main bearing shells and covers are normal for an engine in
service. They are normally found at the bottom of the lower shell. In some cases they can be seen
near the joint face of the shell below the bore relief.

Page 1 of 10
1. Main bearing shell in good condition
The pictures below show examples of a main bearing shell in good condition after shop test and
can be used as reference for assessing main bearing shell condition.

Main bearing shell in good condition

Even contact pattern over the entire width of the bearing shell

No contact areas on bearing shell near the joint faces

Neither embedded foreign particles nor scratch marks should be visible around oil inlet
bores/grooves

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2. Running marks at the bottom of the main bearing shell
Abnormal running marks have four different causes:
- Turning the engine on the turning gear without lubrication
- Mixed friction i.e. insufficient oil film at starting and stopping of the engine
- Incidental boundary lubrication during normal operation of the engine
- Incorrect surface finish caused by vibrations of the cutter tool spindle during final machining
of the white metal surface.
After some further hours of operation it is no longer possible to determine the true cause of the
running marks, as they will have been obliterated.

Main bearing shell with scratch marks

Page 3 of 10
Pattern on white metal surface caused by turning the engine on the turning gear without
lubrication

RECOMMENDATION:
Embedded foreign particles should be removed and minor damage and scratches caused by
turning of the engine should be dressed-up using “Scotch Brite” scouring pad.

Page 4 of 10
3. Running marks near the joint face of the main bearing shell
The polished spots are caused by the main bearing journal itself. Each journal has its own orbit.
Some journals tend to move more in the direction of the joint faces than others. This is
considered completely normal. These running marks are not normally severe and may be due to
different causes:
- Incidental boundary lubrication during normal operation of the engine
- Testing of main engine overspeed during shop test
- Extended low-load operation of the engine during shop test or in service with zero propeller
pitch
- Incorrect assembly of main bearing shell and/or cover
- Bearing cover position relevant to the bedplate (distance a1 and a2, see maintenance manual
page 0330-1/A1)
The configuration of the test bed with its short shaft and water brake also has an influence on the
orbit of the main bearing journal. The main journal orbit on the test bed can be slightly different
from the journal orbit during normal running conditions. On the test bed it is also possible to run
at special rating points which may also influence the orbit of different main bearing journals.

Main bearing shell with journal side contact

Page 5 of 10
RECOMMENDATION
In case of running marks near the joint face, the horizontal and vertical clearance of the main
bearing should be measured and checked against the values given in the maintenance manual. In
addition, an “upside-down test” can be carried out to confirm correct alignment of the shell
relative to the bearing cover. Light running marks may be polished out with a Scotch Brite
scouring pad.

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4. Deep imprints and scratches
These are more severe running marks and are caused by large foreign particles embedded in the
white metal running surface. These foreign particles may have been introduced during assembly
or originate from oil contamination.
The bearing shell is suitable for continued service after all hard particles have been taken out and
any displaced white metal has been removed by hand scraping and polishing.

RECOMMENDATION:
After removing foreign particles and displaced white metal and further polishing with Scotch
Brite, the entire white metal running surface should be DPT (dye-penetrant)-tested in order to
ensure that no further cracks remain in the white metal surface.
N.B. If such damage occurs during shop- or sea trials, the engine would be fitted with new
bearings before delivery, depending on the condition of the bearing.

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5. Machining marks on main bearing shells
This surface condition is caused by vibration of the cutter tool spindle during final machining of
the white metal surface. The effect is a very fine wave pattern, the tops of which are smoothened
by the journal during initial running.

White metal surface with polished wave pattern

RECOMMENDATION
Dressing-up the machining marks with Scotch Brite scouring pad will suffice.

Page 8 of 10
6. Conical #2 Main Bearing

Normal Contact
The picture below shows an example of a conically machined main bearing shell (MB no.2) after
shop test. This running pattern can be used as reference for assessing conical bearing shell
condition.

RECOMMENDATION
Possible scratches in the white metal surface
should be dressed-up with a Scotch Brite pad.
No scraping should be applied in this case.

Abnormal Contact
These running marks are possibly due to the following causes:
- Incorrect conical shape of the white metal running surface
- Incorrect geometry of the steel back, bearing girder or main journal.

RECOMMENDATION
In case of full width contact pattern, the shell
should be measured in detail using the 3D
measurement device and the geometry of
journal and girder should be checked if
necessary.

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7. Double conical shell
In some cases a double conical shell has been applied. Due to this geometrical shape the running
marks on these shells should be concentrated in the centre of the shell. No running marks should
be observed on the sides.

RECOMMENDATION
Possible scratches in the white metal running surface should be dressed-up with a Scotch Brite
pad.

Page 10 of 10