Vetus BOW12524D Manuel D'entretien page 8

ENGLISH
Never exceed the tightening torque of the bolts as
shown in the tables.
The specified tightening torques apply only to the
electrical connections of the bow thruster.
• Loosen corroded connections, clean them and grease them. Care-
ful and sparing use of dielectric greases or thread locking com-
pounds will be helpful in maintaining good threaded connections.
Brushes
The motors of the BOW series bow thrusters and the STE series
bow thrusters contain carbon brushes.
The motors of the BOWPRO series bow thrusters are brushless
motors. These contain NO carbon brushes.
• Check the carbon brushes for wear - in normal use once per year
- with very intensive use of the bow thruster, e.g. with rental
vessels, once every two months.
The electric motor has four carbon brushes or four pairs of carbon
brushes to convey current to the rotating part of the motor, called
the armature.
These brushes are spring loaded and wear away as they bear upon the
commutator. (A commutator consists of a cylinder composed of multiple
hard copper contact segments on the rotating armature of the motor.)
The rate of brush wear is variable from one motor to another, and of
course, is affected by how much the thruster is being used.
Improper use may cause the commutator to overheat and warp,
which will damage the motor.
• Remove the protective
cover from the solenoid
and then the protective
cover to the brushes.
• Clean the brushes (1), the
holders (2) and the com-
mutator (3). (Blow away
the dust coming off the
brushes.)
8
020901.02
n
ote
n
ote
1
2
3
BOW / STE Series thrusters
M8 13
M10 17
BOWPRO Series thrusters
M8 13
M10 17
• Check whether the carbon
brushes slide easily in the
brush holders and make
proper contact with the com-
mutator.
• Use a pair of needle nose pli-
ers to partially pull back the
retaining spring.
Grasp the connector wire of each brush and gently pull the brush
back 5 to 6 mm (1/4 inch) then allow the spring to push down on
the head of the brush and let it go. The brush should slide into
the brush holder smoothly and stop only when it comes back into
contact with the commutator.
In order to be able to remove the brushes from the brush holders,
first disconnect the brush wires then using needle nose pliers or a
wire hook, pull the spring out of the way, and extract the brush by
gently pulling on the brush wire.
• Check the brush holder and the carbon brush for irregularities
that might or may prevent free movement.
• Check the length of the carbon brushes.
Even if only one of the carbon brushes
is shortened so much that the spring
no longer pushes it down making good
contact with the commutator, all carbon
brushes must be replaced!
Replace before the carbon brushes no
longer make good contact.
The minimum length of the brushes is:
- 14 mm for thrusters 25 kgf to 75 kgf and
- 16 mm for thrusters 95 kgf larger.
For a part number of replacement carbon brush sets, see page 48
'Replacement Parts' , or consult the 'Service Parts' page in your bow
thruster manual.
• Check the commutator for damages.
Maintenance and Warranty Manual for Thrusters
6 8 - 10 Nm (6-7 ft.lbf )
8 9 - 11 Nm (6.5-8 ft.lbf )
6 8 - 10 Nm (6-7 ft.lbf )
8 14 - 16 Nm (10.5-12 ft.lbf )
L min.