TECHNICAL

BULLETIN

2 Stroke Engine Services RT-188

Issue 1, 24 May 2016

New concept for bearing

inspection
Information to all Owners and Operators of
Wärtsilä RTA, RT-flex and W-X engines
For your information
Affected components
Main, connecting rod and thrust bearings
of Wärtsilä RTA, RT-flex and W-X engines
in service.
Summary and main topics
This Technical Bulletin informs about the
new concept for the inspection of main,
connecting rod and thrust bearings on
Wärtsilä RTA, RT-flex and W-X engines.
Since, there is an increased risk of bearing
damages after regular open-up
inspections, due to installation faults or
through the intrusion of foreign particles,
the existing recommendations have been
revised.

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

PO Box 414
CH-8401 Winterthur technicalsupport.chts@wartsila.com
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Contents
Page
1 Background 2
2 Regular inspection intervals without opening of bearings 2
3 Bearing open-up inspection 4
4 Contacts 5

1 Background

Based on service experience collected with Wärtsilä RTA, RT-flex and W-X engines in
service, regular inspections of bearings at defined intervals showed that majority of
inspected bearings were found in good condition.

However, regular open-up inspections increase the risk for bearing damages, due to
installation faults or through the intrusion of foreign particles.

Therefore, the existing recommendations have been revised by introducing two principal
approaches:

• Regular inspection intervals without opening of bearings

• Open-up inspections

2 Regular inspection intervals without opening of bearings

Regular inspection intervals without opening of bearings are defined for following
bearings:

• Main bearings
• Connecting rod top end bearings (crosshead bearings)
• Connecting rod bottom end bearings (crankpin bearings)
• Thrust bearings

2.1 Main bearing inspection

• Periodical crankcase inspections as per Maintenance Manual at 1500 – 3000 running

hours
• Check lubrication oil filter, take oil samples and carry out oil analysis (particle checks
to be included) every 3000 running hours
• Annual bearing clearance measurements or every 6000 running hours
• Annual deflection measurements or every 6000 running hours
• Wire check on all main bearing edges every 6000 running hours or in case that any
white metal or aluminium is found in the crankcase
• A record/log of measurements should be kept and any trends in measurements to be
observed
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2.2 Connecting rod top end bearing inspection

• Periodical crankcase inspections as per Maintenance Manual at 1500 – 3000 running

hours
• Check lubrication oil filter, take oil samples and carry out oil analysis (particle checks
to be included) every 3000 running hours
• Annual bearing clearance measurements or every 6000 running hours
• Wire check on all connecting rod top end bearing edges every 6000 running hours or
in case any white metal is found in the crankcase
• A record/log of measurements should be kept and any trends in measurements to be
observed

2.3 Connecting rod bottom end bearing inspection

• Periodical crankcase inspections as per Maintenance Manual at 1500 – 3000 running

hours
• Check lubrication oil filter, take oil samples and carry out oil analysis (particle checks
to be included) every 3000 running hours
• Annual bearing clearance measurements or every 6000 running hours
• Wire check on all connecting rod bottom end bearing edges every 6000 running hours
or in case any white metal is found in the crankcase
• A record/log of measurements should be kept and any trends in measurements to be
observed

2.4 Thrust bearing inspection

• Periodical crankcase inspections as per Maintenance Manual at 1500 – 3000 running

hours
• Check lubrication oil filter, take oil samples and carry out oil analysis (particle checks
to be included) every 3000 running hours
• Annual bearing clearance measurements or every 6000 running hours as per
Maintenance Manual and check if any white metal is found in the thrust bearing space
• Check bottom drain for free passage every 6000 running hours
• A record/log of measurements should be kept and any trends in measurements to be
observed
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3 Bearing open-up inspection

Bearing open-up inspection is necessary if bearing clearance, crankshaft deflection, wire

check, oil analysis or crankcase inspection indicates any abnormality as excessive wear
or damage from above inspections.

It is recommended to open for inspection one connecting rod top end bearing and one
bottom end bearing at 70000 running hours.

In case either the connecting rod top or bottom end bearing is found damaged, it is
recommended to inspect other bearings of same type at the next opportunity.

Main bearing open-up inspections are not recommended during the complete main
bearing life time, unless any abnormality from regular inspection is found.

Open-up inspection of bearings is described in the relevant section of the Maintenance

Manual. Please ensure to have sufficient number of spares before opening further
bearings.

NOTE:
The recommendation given in this OEM Technical Bulletin regarding bearing open-up
inspection can deviate from requirements mentioned in some Classification Societies
regulations.

This recommendation is based on service experience collected with Wärtsilä 2-stroke

engines (e.g. RTA, RT-flex and W-X) in service over the past decades. Regular
inspections of bearings at defined intervals showed that a most of the inspected bearings
were found in good condition. But regular open-up inspections could also increase the
risk for bearing damages, due to installation faults or through the intrusion of foreign
particles.
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4 Contacts
4.1 How to contact Wärtsilä
For questions about the content of this Technical Bulletin, or if you need Wärtsilä
assistance, services, spare parts and/or tools, please contact your nearest Wärtsilä
representative.

4.2 Contact details for emergency issues

4.2.1 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.

4.2.2 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.

4.2.3 Spare parts

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

© 2016 Wärtsilä Services Switzerland Ltd – All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, graphic, photocopying, recording,
taping or other information retrieval systems) without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. Wärtsilä Services Switzerland Ltd
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 THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. THIS PUBLICATION IS CONFIDENTIAL AND INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES
ONLY.