GOVERNOR FAULTS AND MAINTENANCE

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Governors, depending on type, suffer from the same faults that you would expect to find in any mechanical, hydraulic or electrical device or system.

Mechanical

·               wear

·               friction

·               mechanical damage

·               bearing failure

·               incorrect adjustment

Hydraulic

·               dirty oil

·               incorrect viscosity

·               air entrainment

·               incorrect adjustment

·               excessive operating temperature

·               low oil level

·               wear at fine clearances

Electrical

·               poor connections

·               open/short circuits

·               erratic supply voltages

·               faulty/dirty transducers

·               earth faults

·               incorrect adjustment

Governor jiggle is a fairly common fault where apparent small amplitude instability is caused by small torque variations at the drive due to gear mesh problems. This can be overcome by including a flexible element in the drive shaft.

Erratic speed/load control is usually due to friction in the governor or fuel linkage, poor quality oil, air in the hydraulic circuit, unstable speed setting or incorrect droop or compensation setting.

Governor maintenance.

Hydraulic governors are not normally serviced onboard as such but are returned for overhaul in the event of worn parts, mechanical damage, etc.

Regular oil change, say 1000 Hrs, with occasional flushing with kerosene/lub oil mix is usually sufficient for continued operation. Good oil condition and adjustment ensures minimum wear. Poor oil condition is the usual cause of governor malfunction.

Other possible onboard maintenance items are drive gears, drive shaft oil seals and synchronising motor clutch plates. Although other overhaul and service kits are available it is not normal to carry out internal work onboard the ship.