Cruising Sailors Forum Archive

I had the same thought.

And I don't have your background. But I'm sure this has been factored into this design with the builders and Volvo. The potential forces are easy to see.

However, I did lose a diesel engine due to an odd situation, so I'm paranoid. I thought the engine was all around losing compression, slow starting, rough idle. Smoking was excessive despite rebuilt injectors. I never would have known what was actually wrong with that engine, if I hadn't torn it down a bit before putting into a scrap metal dumpster. (I found a replacement so opted not to rebuild it)

The only thing wrong with that engine was this(photo). The Woodruf key on the timing gear to the fuel injection pump, had begun to wobble in the cut slot. Eventually, it enlarged the slot, and the key, so the timing was always a little off.

No one I spoke with had ever seen that situation with this particular engine(or any engine).

The only plausible info I got(from a schooled marine diesel engine guy also and engineer that builds stuff like this), was to suspect the added pulleys mounted on the crankshaft for another large case alternator. Big alt belt, big load, big wrench to tighten belt,...

It's possible the added loads at the end of the extended shaft, loosened the main nut or in some way loosened the timing gear on the shaft. Then the Woodruff key(not intended to hold the gear tight to the crankshaft), over a loooong time, oversized the keyway.

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