I recently attended a dredging vessel.
My brief?
To change out the governor on the Caterpillar 3508 starboard generator engine.
This engine had recently been installed after having been overhauled by a 3rd party, but there was a problem.
When the new engine was commissioned, it wouldn’t share load with the port engine or shut down correctly.
The engine that had been recently removed from the vessel was in storage at Bartech, so we investigated both the new and previous governors.
At first glance, they looked entirely identical, with the same make and model number, only with different part numbers.
The difference became more obvious when operating – a lack of droop, causing the issues mentioned above.
Now we knew the problem, we could provide the solution by removing the governor from the old engine and fitting it to the new engine, using new gaskets and seals.
Once the governor was fitted, it was time to check all the vital signs:
- Manual shutdown – OK
- Normal Stop – OK
- Emergency Stop Engine Room – OK
- Fresh Water Shutdown – OK
- Load Sharing – OK
- Forwards & Rearwards Propulsion – OK
- Bow Thruster Operation – OK
This quick turnaround saved the operator their penalty clause fee and we received the following from the Vessel Superintendent:
“Following Bartech’s Installation of a reconditioned Cat 3508 engine received from a 3rd party it was noticed some performance issues reducing vessels ability to perform, I contacted Bartech regarding suspected governor set up problem, they quickly identified that wrong spec governor was fitted to engine, they attended next day with owners spare, fitted and vessel back fully operational, impressed with support from Bartech and quick resolution identified.”
For more information on Governor Droop and how it can affect your engine, click here.
