Service Letter RTA–04/02

Technical Information to all Owners / Operators 24.04.2002

of Sulzer RTA48T and RTA58T Engines

Crosshead Guide Shoes

Contents: Page
1. Introduction 1

2. Modification to the Guide Rail 1

and Guide Shoe

3. Type of Damage 3

4. Acceptance Criteria for 5

White Metal Damage and
Conclusion
Printed in Switzerland

Wärtsilä Switzerland Ltd PO Box 414 Tel. +41 52 262 49 22

Wärtsilä Schweiz AG CH-8401 Winterthur Fax +41 52 212 49 17
Wärtsilä Suisse SA Switzerland E–mail: mail–ch@wartsila.com
1. INTRODUCTION

Originally all the RTA48T and RTA58T engines were built with a short guide rail. The guide
shoe was protruding by about 1/4 of the guide shoe running surface length at the Bottom Dead
Centre (BDC) position. In the BDC position on clockwise rotating engines the crosshead with
the guide shoes changes its position from the fuel pump to the exhaust side. In this case the guide
shoes at the exhaust side is subjected to an impact load and on the way up to the Top Dead
Centre (TDC) position it is scratched due to the high moment at the diagonal edge of the guide
rail. A proper guidance of the crosshead guide shoes was not ensured. The consequence was
that areas of broken out white metal were detected.
This Service Letter should be kept in a separate file in the control room. The respective pages or tables
of the Service Letter with modifications to the Operating Manual, Maintenance Manual or Code
Book should be copied and filed in the respective Manual or Book.

2. MODIFICATION TO THE GUIDE RAIL AND GUIDE SHOE

2.1. Guide Rail

All guide rails on the exhaust side were extended by welding in individual thin metal plates at
the lower part. After welding, these plates were levelled flush with the original guide rail.

Modified Guide Rail

Design

Thin plates welded

below machined
guide rail

Original Guide Rail

Design

Fig. 1 Guide Rail Design

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2.2. Guide Shoe Types
Beside the original design GS-0 two new guide shoe types have been introduced.

GS-0 GS-1 G005

Fig. 2 Guide Shoe Design for RTA48T and RTA58T

The today's standard design for guide shoes are of type GS-1 and G005 with an inclined
machined white metal surface.

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3. TYPE OF DAMAGE

So far three different kinds of damage on the guide shoes at the exhaust side have been
observed.

3.1. Heavy Scratches and Breaking out of White Metal on the Guide Shoes
Damage Type 1 on originally built Engines, see Fig. 3
Heavy scratches and breaking out of white metal on the bottom of the starboardside guide
shoes in the area of the guide rail lower edge. The reason for this kind of damage is the short
guide rail.

Defect Area
Type 1

Damaged Area of
White Metal:
∅ 100mm x 1 Piece
∅ 10mm x 80 Pieces

Fig. 3 Type and Location of Damage on an Original Guide Shoe

3.2. Diagonal Wear Pattern at BDC Position on the Guide Shoes

Damage Type 2 on originally built Engines, see Fig. 4
Diagonal wearing pattern, formed like a parallelogram, in the area below the diagonal edge of
the guide rail (visible in BDC position of crosshead). This type of damage occurs due to the
mixed friction created during the upward stroke with low guide shoe speed and high load.

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 Defect Area
Type 2

340-380
260-300
120-140
80-90

30 65

Fig. 4 Type and Location of Damage on an Original Guide Shoe

3.3. Wear Pattern due to Protruding Guide Rail Extension Plates

Damage Type 3 on originally built Engines, see Fig. 5
The protruding extension plates scrape off the white metal of the guide shoe running surface.
Due to high friction and nonexistent lubricating oil film, pieces of white metal were broken out
at the edges. This kind of damage develops in the first few hours of engine operation and will
stagnate after a while.
5-20

100-150

Defect Area
Type 3

20 - 30

Fig. 5 Type and Location of Damage on an Original Guide Shoe

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4. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR WHITE METAL DAMAGE AND CONCLUSION

White metal damage has been experienced on some RTA48T and RTA58T engines. In the
meantime measurements have been carried out and we can say that the guide shoes have
moderate stress levels and therefore a rather big safety margin. Small holes and or some missing
white metal pieces are no danger for a safe operation of the engine. Service experience has
shown that the damage of the white metal is propagating slowly.
Guide shoe exchange is required if:

The single holes of broken out white metal have a larger diameter than 100mm

The number of small holes (diameter < 10mm) in the white metal is more than 80

In the area of the socalled parallelogram" (type 2 damage) significant pieces of white
metal are missing larger than a circle of 100mm diameter
The elongation of the guide rails by plates greatly improved the running behaviour of the guide
shoes. However, the plates have to be properly aligned and levelled with the guide rail.
The guide shoe design has been improved, tested and introduced. Today's standard solutions
are the GS-1 and G005 type with an inclined machined white metal surface.

Wärtsilä Switzerland Ltd has issued this Service Letter with their best knowledge and ability. However,
Wärtsilä Switzerland Ltd can not take any liability for any or all information contained in this or any
other Service Letter.
Changes of any nature to the form and or to the content of this or any other Service Letter as published
by Wärtsilä Switzerland Ltd, are not permitted.

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