MaK Products

[mozha72]

Dear all

Time ago we had received a service letter telling us that on some vessels equipped with M43 engine faced a severe engine breakdown due to connecting rod failure. On the service letter it is suggested to replace the complete connecting rod at the first occasion. On the same letter is introduced the possibility to change only the small end eye, but further official communication will clarify better how to proceed. Our local dealer confirmed this option but no official document from HQ CAT/MAK has been released yet.

Could anyone clarify better the situation?

Thanks in advance

Mozha72

[Jaime-Tetrault]

Thank you for your posting and your inquiry.  Caterpillar and MaK are continuously improving our products and hold safety in the highest regard.  The service letter in question is critical as it addresses a piece of rotating equipment within the engine, and thus represents the utmost priority.  As a result, we issued this Service Letter to emphasize to our global customers the importance of addressing the product issue as soon as possible.

As related to your question, Caterpillar and MaK utilize a distribution network on a global level to meet the needs and concerns of our customers.  All of our MaK distributors are aware of this Service Letter and all of our MaK Service Letter details, and in fact are in the process of assisting clients in fulfilling the letter's recommendations currently.  I would like to suggest that you contact your local distributor and ask the very questions you posted.  Our MaK dealer Service Department is ready to respond to your needs and inquiries, and will likely immediately reply with all the data needed for you to determine your next course of action related to the service letter.

Thank you again for the posting, and if you need assistance in finding your local MaK distributor, please refer to the www.cat-marine.com site and search under "find my dealer" for MaK products.

[mozha72]

Dear Jaime

many thanks for your kind reply.

Unfortunately up to now we have not received any answer from our local dealer to our various questions on the matter!

What do you suggest to do?

Best Regards

[mozha72]

Good Day Jaime

have you read my last message?

Could you kindly help our company. We have in our fleet 5 M43 engines. Your local dealear do not reply to our queries.

Looking forward to hear from you

BR

Mozha

[Jaime-Tetrault]

Sorry for the late reply. 

I would suggest you provide the details of your concern and your complaint to one of my regional Product Support Managers. 

For contact details, please email me through this community.

Each of these managers are responsible for the dealer capabilties and response quality.  If your local dealer isn't able to reply, my team is responsible for working with you to understand your challenge and work with the dealer to get you the reply you need to be successful.

I hope this helped!

Jaime

[mozha72]

Jaime Many thanks for your reply much appreciated Regards

[Patrick335d]

It`s quite common for cat dealers to have a mushroom policy.

Especially because 95% of the cat dealers know how to work on a excavator or forklift. But have 0 experience on Marine engines, and mostly arren`t interested at all.

[JWBills]

mozha72

I am sure by now you have your answers, but if not you can purchase only the upper part of the connecting rod. I have already replaced 5 engine sets.

JW

[mozha72]

Hi JWBills

thanks for your info. Have you got any explanation and/or a condition assessment of the replaced small end eye?

Thanks in advance

Mozha 72

[JWBills]

Mozha72

I was told it was do to mirco movement of the small end bushing causing mirco cracking in the upper end of the eye, leading to failure.