Engine cuts out during docking – KT19

[jason1]

Hello,

I have a 2 x cummins marine KT19 engines. They are derated to 350 horse and were installed into the boat new in 1980. The run twin disc gearboxes and push our 100 tonne 95′ trawler.

Yesterday when we went away for an overnight trip, about 2 hours into passage : Running 1200 RPM, Full engaged gearbox, the engine cut out. The RPM dropped to zero and the isolation alarm (the same one you hear when starting the engine) is heard in the cockpit. If I immediately reset the fuel, isolater and attempt to restart the engine it will turn over but not restart. Oil pressure before cutout was fine, water temp fine, oil temp fine and gearbox pressure was fine. Just an engine warning light on.

After around 5 minutes, the engine allowed us to restart – but it cut out around 10 – 15 minutes later.

We anchor overnight and today the engines start fine and warm to operating temperature. Almost about the same amount of time into the return trip (but this time while docking) the same engine cuts out again – again, just the engine warning light.

We wait nearly 5 minutes and are able to restart the engine again and re-attempt our docking. The docking process begins .. and just as we are at a critical point of our docking (high winds) the engine cuts again.

It’s worth nothing that we have a constant RPM of around 1000 at docking and use the gears to slip in and out of forward and back.

At this point we reset the OverSpeed Trip switch on the control panel in the engine room. We restart the engine and the engine stays running, allowing us to dock. Once tied to the dock, I run the engine at 1000RPM and in GEAR full engaged. It runs for 25 minutes and does not cut out.

My first thought is that a sensor of some sort is killing the engine. Could it be an overspeed sensor is faulty?

1. The fuel filters and oil filters were changed 10 hours ago.
2. The fuel is fresh (in the last 4 weeks) and we have good tanks.
3. The starboard engine is running fine.

Open to questions and assistance from anyone that can help.

Topic

[jason1]

That is what I originally thought, but my inexperience led me down the wrong path with this one.

I thought that somehow the 2 sensors, talked directly to the solenoid and could cut it off.

What I do not understand is whether those two sensors do in deed have the ability to shut the engine off. If in normal circumstances, a cummins kta19 is not wired that way, then I am mistaken.

So my thoughts now are:

1. When i managed the replicate the fault the voltage at the solenoid was 0 volts. Even with the ignition on, which normally provides 24 volts if switched on.
2. Would I then be correct in assuming a sensor does indeed have the ability to cut the engine?
3. Or am i more likely to find a wiring fault or bad earth is the cause of my issue?

The fault seems to happen with a sudden change in engine conditions, ie .. into or out of gear, sudden change in RPM etc, which leaves me thinking a faulting earth.

All I am trying to do here is understand HOW these systems work – so I can better diagnose that might be happening.

Any help appreciated :

[Tony Athens]

Engine shut-down ????

Are you saying that you have some type of alarm system that de-energizes the fuel solenoid on the Celect injection pump and shuts the engine down?

That’s what your explanation sounds like.

May I ask why you need a “shut off” system for a propulsion engine? Is this a Sub-chapter T inspected vessel or ?

IMO, the Captain of the vessel needs that right, not some over-speed alarm, FireBoy thing, or ????

Got a detailed wiring diagram?

Just so you know, that engine could easily be set up as “energize to shut-down”, instead of “energize to run”….Then it becomes a true diesel, as Rudolf envisioned over a 100 yrs ago.

Tony

[jason1]

Ok, so I know the following having read the engine manual.

The fuel shut off solenoid receives signals to shut off from the

1. 2nd low oil alarm threshold sends shutdown. (is the signal sent to the ignition of the solenoid?)
2. Overspeed sensor on the flywheel
3. Ignition.

I’m thinking its a fault solenoid or faulty sensor. Thoughts?

[Author]

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