ON BOARD REPAIR OF A MAIN PROPULSION DIESEL BLOCK

During icebreaking operations in the New York area, the CGC WIRE (WYTL 65612) suffered a severe casualty to her main diesel engine. Parts for the 6 LRD Waukesha engines are extremely difficult to obtain. A new block was out of the question. The block had to be repaired, otherwise the vessel would most probably have to be reengined. The most important question was whether or not the engine could be repaired on board. Weld repair on cast iron blocks are very difficult because cast iron has very low elastic characteristics. Preheat and postheat processes must be controlled to avoid any distortion or further cracking. Consequently, a "cool weld" process was used in this particular repair to eliminate most of the temperature problems. This proprietary repair requires that a high torque be applied to dry seal plugs to reduce the thread clearance to zero (normal clearance is 0.007 inch). This essentially makes the plug part of the block. To prevent corrosion, the plugs must be the same or very similar in metallurgical qualities. The strength of this repair comes from interconnecting the plugs with a low temperature weld which serves to reduce the danger of distortion and cracking and seals the cracked area.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • If there is any interest in this type of repair, contact should be made with CCGD3 (ene) or Cool Weld, 5-44 50th Ave., Long Island City, New York 11101.
• Corporate Authors:

  United States Coast Guard

  2100 Second Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20593
• Authors:
  • Ames, F L
  • Harnis, P S
• Publication Date: 1977-1

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 26-33
• Serial:
  • Coast Guard Engineer's Digest
  • Issue Number: 194

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Diesel engines; Engines; Equipment maintenance; Icebreakers; Joints; Repairing; Welding; Welds
• Uncontrolled Terms: Welded joints
• Old TRIS Terms: Diesel repair; Engine repair; Welding techniques
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00153189
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: United States Coast Guard
• Report/Paper Numbers: CG-133
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 2003 12:00AM