How to adjust RPM meters on old MAN engine

[BartW]

the surveyor discovered there is a difference in reading between the RPM meters in the engine room and at both upper and lower helm station.
Engines are old 1991 MAN D2842LZE 1100HP

the meters in the e/r are probably correct as these are mechanically connected to the engine.

anybody on here who knows if it is possible to adjust these RPM meters at the helm stations,
and how they are connected to the engines?

going to the boat this weekend, would like to do some small jobs, and get to know her systems
might need to take some special (miniature) tools ?

 

[omega2]

If they are VDO dash board instruments, they are generally driven either by the alternator, or a sender that is driven by the camshaft. In either case they adjust by a small screw at the rear of the instrument. Anything other than these units I cannot assist.

 

[AndieMac]

Apparently it is as Omega says, a tacho drive from the camshaft to a small generator/dynamo, and will be adjustable at the units. The engine room version is going to be the most accurate, as I understand after, say 10-15 years of exposure to the elements the selenium rectifier tends to fail at the helm units.

We have the D 2842 LE 401 engines, coupled to Reintjes WVS 234 (2 to 1) gearboxes in the Princess.

 

[AndieMac]

going to the boat this weekend, would like to do some small jobs, and get to know her systems
might need to take some special (miniature) tools ?

Get yourself a couple of pairs of really good quality ear muffs, and hang them at the engine room companion way, because doing any checks underway is very noisey.
How much room do you have around the outside of the engines Bart, do you have fuel tanks between the hull and engines, or open space?
What type of gearboxes are they?

Check all the start relays in the black engine electrics boxes, in our case mounted on the bulkhead fwd. of the engines. One failed recently on a cruise, which gave me nothing on the ignition switch and took hours of searching to find the fault through an extensive process of elimination. As it turned out, corrosion had just started to occur at the top of the copper coil windings of the relay.
The replacement relays are very cheap and as it turns out others are nearly to the same stage, so all will be replaced and spares kept on board.

 

[BartW]

If they are VDO dash board instruments, they are generally driven either by the alternator, or a sender that is driven by the camshaft. In either case they adjust by a small screw at the rear of the instrument. Anything other than these units I cannot assist.

thanks for the clear advice !

 

[BartW]

Get yourself a couple of pairs of really good quality ear muffs, and hang them at the engine room companion way, because doing any checks underway is very noisey.

they were included in the price Callum, you know I had a good deal

How much room do you have around the outside of the engines Bart, do you have fuel tanks between the hull and engines, or open space?
What type of gearboxes are they?

there are water and fuel tanks on the outside but there is still 0.5m between the engines and the tanks

coincidently I noticed Zf on the gear boxes, I remember they are German and have a good reputation, do you know more about them ?

thanks for the advice about the relay's will certainly put an eye on them, or replace them preventive

 

[AndieMac]

coincidently I noticed Zf on the gear boxes, I remember they are German and have a good reputation, do you know more about them ?

I've always heard good things about the ZF product, apparently a huge player in the global transmission market, especially earthmoving equipment.

Just carefully check any solid copper oil lines for signs of fatigue from vibration.
Maybe include a 'variable' length as a spare, with the middle section coiled, something a ship's engineer told me recently after we had one fail at sea, spewing 25 litres of oil through-out the engine room. Thankfully the engine and gearbox oil is the same, so we could refill after repair, and resume the voyage.

 

[BartW]

Just carefully check any solid copper oil lines for signs of fatigue from vibration.
Maybe include a 'variable' length as a spare, with the middle section coiled, something a ship's engineer told me recently after we had one fail at sea, spewing 25 litres of oil through-out the engine room. Thankfully the engine and gearbox oil is the same, so we could refill after repair, and resume the voyage.

Thanks Callum,
Alfonso showed me a few spare brass fittings for repairing the gear controll pipes, as he had ones to cancel a charter due to a broken connection.
Correct advice from your ship engineer !

 

[BartW]

If they are VDO dash board instruments, they are generally driven either by the alternator, or a sender that is driven by the camshaft. In either case they adjust by a small screw at the rear of the instrument. Anything other than these units I cannot assist.

adjustments are done,
thanks for the advice.