Damaged Intermediate Propeller Shaft Repair

RA Power Solutions was approached by a leading shipping company based in Vietnam. The vessel was approaching Kochi Port India and reported serious damage to the Intermediate Shaft and Bearing.

RA Power Solutions three technicians boarded the vessel and their main observations are as following:-

Intermediate Shaft

• On removal of Intermediate Shaft bearing the excessive damage to the bearing seating area was observed.
• The Intermediate Shaft bearing, babbitt white metal was badly stuck on the bearing journal diameter.
• After removal of white metal from the Intermediate Shaft bearing seating area the ovality of 0.38 MM was observed, and the standard diameter of Intermediate Shaft Journal is 505.00 MM.
• Hardness and MPI Tests were undertaken and observed within limits.
• Localized damage, Bearing line marks, and Rough surface were observed on Intermediate Shaft Journal diameter.
• Intermediate Shaft Journal diameter was repaired by in situ grinding and polishing machine and diameter was maintained as 504.00 MM. The intermediate shaft bearing seating diameter was reduced by 1.0 mm.

Repair of Intermediate Shaft Bearing

• After removal of damaged babbitt white metal Intermediate Shaft bearing from the vessel, it was transported to our works based in IMT Manesar near New Delhi by Air, A distance of more than 2600 KM from Kochi Port India.
• The inspection of damaged bearing was undertaken, the bearing was rebabbitted and machining was done maintaining the inner diameter of 504.50 MM, as per the oil gap mentioned in the manual.
• Bearing was again returned to the Kochi Port India and was hand-carried by our representative to save time.

Assembly of Intermediate Bearing and Shaft

• The bearing was Assembled by RA Power Solutions Technicians.
• All the parameters including Oil-gap and Blue Matching of the bearing was done with Intermediate Shaft.
• After assembly trials were taken, the performance of the Intermediate Shaft and bearing was observed satisfactory. The job was executed in a short duration of Eight (8) days.