TECHNICAL

BULLETIN

Wärtsilä low-speed engines RT-114

Services 2-stroke Issue 1, 08.08.2011

Piston assembly, Piston skirt & At your convenience

Piston ring tensioning device Concerned components

• Piston head assembly with elastic bolts
of Wärtsilä RTA96C, RTA96C-B,
Information to all Owners and Operators of RT-flex96C-B, RTA84T-B, RTA84T-D
Wärtsilä RTA96C, RTA96C-B, RT-flex96C-B, and RT-flex84T-D engines.
RTA84C, RTA84C-U, RTA84M,
RTA84T-B, RTA84T-D and RT-flex84T-D engines • Piston skirt with bronze rubbing rings
of Wärtsilä RTA96C, RTA96C-B,
RT-flex96C-B, RTA84C, RTA84C-U,
RTA84M, RTA84T-B, RTA84T-D and
RT-flex84T-D engines.

Current situation
If exchanging a piston which is fixed with
elastic screws to the piston rod and
respective piston skirt, there is a risk of
breaking elastic screws by loosening with
the impact spanner.

Solutions
Exchange of the existing elastic screws in
piston head assembly with the new elastic
bolts.
At the same time replace the piston ring
tensioning device of the first generation
with the new tool.

Note
Service Bulletin RTA-72 had to be revised
since other RTA and RT-flex engines were
added as listed above.

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

PO Box 414 Fax: +41 52 262 07 31
CH-8401 Winterthur [email protected]
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Contents
Page
 
Introduction 2 
Piston head assembly 3 
Tightening of elastic bolts 5 
Piston skirt with bronze rubbing rings 6 
Piston ring tensioning device 6 
Ordering of spare parts and tools 7 

Introduction

Note:
This Technical Bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin RTA-72, dated 28.07.2005,
entitled “Piston Assembly, Piston Skirt and Piston Ring Tensioning Device”.

This Technical Bulletin contains information about the latest development on the
piston head assembly and its pre-tensioning tool for the elastic bolts. It contains
also information about the piston ring and the piston ring tool.

The information given is valid for the Wärtsilä 2-stroke engine types as listed:
• RTA96C, RTA96C-B and RT-flex96C-B
• RTA84C, RTA84C-U and RTA84M
• RTA84T-B, RTA84T-D and RT-flex84T-D
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Piston head assembly

For RTA96C, RTA96C-B and RT-flex96C engines

On the latest designed Wärtsilä 2-stroke engines with bore size 960 mm, the
piston rod, piston skirt and piston head are mounted together with elastic bolts
and respective round nuts. The elastic bolts with their round nuts are tightened
with hydraulic pre-tensioning jacks.

Piston design of 960 mm bore engines

Latest piston design Previous piston design

4
5 6

1. Piston, 2. Piston skirt, 3. Piston rod, 4. Elastic bolt, 5. Round nut, 6. Elastic
screw
Fig. 1

Exchange of elastic screws by elastic bolts

When changing the first time from existing elastic screws to the elastic bolt
design, the below listed parts must be ordered. See also the last chapter about
ordering of spare parts.

Mat. or Tool No. Description Quantity Unit

D 34025 Elastic bolt for RTA96C and RTA96C-B 12 Per piston
DF 34025 Elastic bolt for RT-flex96C-B 12 Per piston
D 34026 Round nut for RTA96C and RTA96C-B 12 Per piston
DF 34026 Round nut for RT-flex96C-B 12 Per piston
94346 Pre-tensioning jack 4 Per engine
Rod, ø6x200 mm
94005–6 3 —
from standard tool set

Tab. 1
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For RTA84T-B, RTA84T-D and RT-flex84T-D engines

As for the 960 mm bore size engines, on the latest designed engines with bore
size 840 mm, the piston rod, piston skirt and piston head are mounted together
with elastic bolts and respective round nuts. The elastic bolts with their round
nuts are tightened with hydraulic pre-tensioning jacks.

Piston design of 840 mm bore engines

Latest piston design Previous piston design

5 6

1. Piston, 2. Piston skirt, 3. Piston rod, 4. Elastic bolt, 5. Round nut, 6. Elastic
screw
Fig. 2

Exchange of elastic screws by elastic bolts

When changing the first time from existing elastic screws to the elastic bolt
design, the below listed parts must be ordered. See also the last chapter about
ordering of spare parts.

Mat. or Tool No. Description Quantity Unit

B 34006 Elastic bolt for RTA84T-B and RTA84T-D 10 Per piston
BF 34006 Elastic bolt for RT-flex84T-D 10 Per piston
B 34010 Round nut for RTA84T-B and RTA84T-D 10 Per piston
BF 34026 Round nut for RT-flex84T-D 10 Per piston
94346 Pre-tensioning jack 4 Per engine
Rod, ø6x200 mm
94005–6 3 —
from standard tool set

Tab. 2
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Tightening of elastic bolts

Tightening information for RTA96C, RTA96C-B, RT-flex96C-B,

RTA84T-B, RTA84T-D and RT-flex84T-D engines
The tightening of elastic bolts is easier with the aid of pre-tensioning jacks. In
addition an equal tightening of the components is achieved. Hydraulically
tightened elastic bolts are also not subject to impact vibrations during tightening
and loosening compared to tightening/loosening of elastic screws with the impact
spanner. As a result, broken screws are no subject for claims anymore, due to
stuck threads when loosening with the impact spanner.

Pre-tensioning jack and tightening sequence

ø126 mm

0 mm
L= 20

ø6 mm
1 2

3403 O M48x3 3403 O M48x3

1000 BAR, [ 105° ] 1000 BAR, [ 95° ]
TIGHTENING SEQUENCE: TIGHTENING SEQUENCE:

3 4

1. Pre-tensioning jack – tool 94346 , 2. Rod from standard tool ø6x200 mm,
3. Tightening sequence for RTA96C, RTA96C-B and RT-flex96C-B engines,
4. Tightening sequence for RTA84T-B, RTA84T-D and RT-flex84T-D engines
Fig. 3

Note:
The tightening sequence of the elastic bolts has to be strictly followed. Use oil as
lubricant on threads and contact surfaces.

Please consult also the Maintenance Manual Group 9, Chapter 9403 about the
arrangement, application and general instructions for hydraulic pre-tensioning
jacks.
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Piston skirt with bronze rubbing rings

Piston skirt for RTA96C, RTA96C-B, RT-flex96C-B, RTA84C, RTA84C-U,

RTA84M, RTA84T-B, RTA84T-D and RT-flex84T-D engines
The new standard piston skirt has two bronze rubbing rings (1) and a reduced
height. This improves the sliding characteristic and reduces the friction during
movement of the piston assembly. The ground surface of the rubbing rings is
conducive to the development of an optimised lubricating oil film.

New standard piston skirt

Engine type Code number Example of piston skirt

RTA96C D 34096
RTA96C-B D 34096
RT-flex96C-B D 34096
RTA84C C 34122
RTA84C-U C 34122
RTA84M Z 34125
RTA84T-B B 34090 1
RTA84T-D B 34090
RT-flex84T-D BF 34090

1. Bronze rubbing rings

Tab. 3

Note:
The new standard piston skirt is fully interchangeable with the previous design.

Piston ring tensioning device

A new piston ring tensioning device was introduced in the year 2008 for all
Wärtsilä RTA and RT-flex 2-stroke engines, see Figure 4.

With the piston ring tensioning device of the first generation, there might be a risk
of damaging the piston ring by overexpansion. Therefore we recommend using
the new piston ring tensioning device (1). The tool provides a better guidance of
the piston ring, increased stability of the rings against lateral tilting in the
tensioned condition and facilitates their assembly.

The new piston ring tensioning device will prevent damaging the ring running
surface during assembly with the piston head. Such consequential damage at the
ring ends (5) could also lead to scratches on the cylinder liner.

Each piston ring size should be fitted with the corresponding claw (2) specified
for its size in order to prevent damaging the piston ring coating. On engines with
piston rings of different thicknesses each ring size should have its own tool
(piston ring tensioning device) or the claws (4) must be exchanged on the tool
every time a different piston ring size is to be fitted.
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The tool can be ordered by quoting the tool number 94338. Please note also the
piston ring thickness with the order. See also next chapter about ordering of
spare parts and tools.

Piston ring tensioning device, tool 94338

3 4

1. Piston ring tensioning device, 2. Claws fixed to tensioning device, 3. Piston

ring, 4. Set of interchangeable claws, 5. Damaged piston ring
Fig. 4

Ordering of spare parts and tools

The material as listed in Tables 1 to 3 can be ordered from your nearest Wärtsilä
representative by quoting the code and/or tool numbers. It is advisable to state
also the engine type and cylinder number with your order. The same order
process applies also for the piston ring tensioning device.

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 or send your enquiry to:
[email protected]
or phone 24hrs Support: +41 52 262 80 10.

© 2011 Wärtsilä Switzerland Ltd. – All rights reserved

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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 is to be construed as
provided due to a defect in the engine, but merely as an improvement of the engine 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.