TIL 1214-3R3

GE ENERGY SERVICES TECHNOLOGY

CUSTOMER TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
19 MAY 2005

TECHNICAL INFORMATION LETTER

Compliance Category - C
Timing Code - 5

6B, 6C, 6FA, 6FA+E, 7F, 7FA, 7FA+, 7FA+E, 7FB, 7H, 9F, 9FA, 9FA+, 9FA+E, 9FB, AND 9H
BUCKET LOCKWIRE DOWEL PIN ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE AND LOCKWIRE INSPECTION
APPLICATION
6B, 6C, 6FA, 6FA+e, 7F, 7FA, 7FA+, 7FA+e, 7FB, 7H, 9F, 9FA, 9FA+, 9FA+e, 9FB, and 9H units

PURPOSE

To provide assembly procedure for bucket lockwire dowel pins and recommend inspection of bucket lockwires

REASON FOR REVISION

To include the 6C, 6FA+e, 7FA+e, 7FB, 7H, 9FA+e, 9FB, and 9H and update the affected units list (AUL)

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Compliance Category
O - Optional

Identifies changes that may be beneficial to some, but not necessarily all,
operators. Accomplishment is at customer's discretion.

M - Maintenance

Identifies maintenance guidelines or best practices for reliable equipment

operation.

C - Compliance Required

Identifies the need for action to correct a condition that, if left uncorrected,
may result in reduced equipment reliability, efficiency, or safety.
Compliance may be required within a specific operating time.

A - Alert / Safety

Failure to comply with the TIL could result in equipment damage, facility
damage, or personal injury. Compliance is mandated within a specific
operating time.

Timing Code
1

Prior to Unit Startup / Prior to Continued Operation (forced outage condition)

At First Opportunity (next shutdown)

Prior to Operation of Affected System

At First Exposure of Component

At Scheduled Component Part Repair or Replacement

Next Scheduled Outage

Optional

COPYRIGHT 2005 GE
The information published in this Technical Information Letter is offered to you by GE in consideration of its ongoing sales and service relationship
with your organization. However, since the operation of your plant involves many factors not within our knowledge, and since operation of the plant
is in your control and ultimate responsibility for its continuing successful operation rests with you, GE specifically disclaims any responsibility for
liability based on claims for damage of any type, i.e. direct, consequential or special that may be alleged to have been incurred as result of applying
this information regardless of whether it is claimed that GE is strictly liable, in breach of contract, in breach of warranty, negligent, or is in other
respects responsible for any alleged injury or damage sustained by your organization as a result of applying this information.

TIL 1214-3R3

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

Similar damage can occur to the turbine section if the

lockwire is not the proper shape prior to installation.
Lockwires must be inspected for any defects prior to
bucket installation.

The function of the hot gas path section of a gas

turbine is to provide the power required to drive the
compressor and the generator or mechanical drive.
The power is generated through two (2), three (3), or
four (4) stages of turbine buckets depending on the
particular machine.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Following the recommendations in this TIL can prevent

bucket damage and/or a force outage due to improper
dowel pin assembly. Perform the following during
outages where turbine buckets are being installed.

Turbine buckets in stages one (1) and two (2) of 6B

units, all three (3) stages of 6C units, all three (3) stages
of F class units, and all four (4) stages of H class units
are positioned and retained axially by snap-ring type
lockwires. These lockwires are held in the proper radial
position by dowel pins assembled in the turbine wheel
dovetail hooks (see Figure 1). The turbine wheel
dovetail hook is staked to retain the dowel pin.

Lockwire Inspection
1. Inspect lockwires by laying them flat on the floor.
Make sure there are no obstacles that distort the
manufactured curves.
2. Check to confirm the lockwire is smoothly curved
from end to end. Make sure that there are no sharp
bends or kinks.
3. Carefully turn the lockwire over and look again for
any bending damage. Lockwires with bends or kinks
should be replaced.
For the distance from the end of the lockwire specified
below, each end of the lockwire should show a sharper
radius of curvature.

Figure 1:

6B Not Applicable

6C

Dowel pin assembly illustration

Recently, a forced outage was caused by improper

staking of a dowel pin. The pin fell out during normal
operation, which allowed the lockwire to fall from the
lockwire groove. A portion of the buckets was no
longer constrained axially and the buckets moved
forward on the turbine wheel during low speed
operation. This forward motion resulted in the damage
as seen in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Damage
Staked Dowel Pin

Resulting

from

15 inches 1st and 2nd stage

13 inches 3rd stage

6FA and 6FA+e 14 inches

7F, 7FA, 7FA+, 7FA+e, and 7FB 20 inches

7H 24 inches

9F, 9FA, 9FA+, 9FA+e, 9FB 24 inches

9H 24 inches

Dowel Pin Assembly

Table 1 identifies the part number and quantity of
dowel pins to be used for the various frame sizes. After
the buckets are assembled onto the turbine wheel and
the lockwire is pressed into the groove, install the
dowel pins. Install the dowel pins around the turbine
wheel relative to the lockwire overlap positions (see
Figures 3 through 9). Ensure that the dowel pins are
seated below the lockwire and the turbine wheel
dovetail hook is staked properly to retain the dowel pin
(see Figure 1).
The lockwire inspection and dowel pin assembly are
part of normal bucket installation process and will not
add additional time to the outage. Contact your
Energy Services Representative for further assistance,
if necessary.

Improperly
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TIL 1214-3R3

Table 1:

Lockwire and Dowel Pin Part Numbers

4

10

10

5
Wire Overlap

Wire Overlap
5

Bucket dovetail
spacing between
dowel pins

12

14

Bucket dovetail
spacing between
dowel pins
Dowel Pins
(12 Total)

Dowel Pins
(8 Total)

14

14
5

5
5

14

Figure 3:

6B Dowel Pin Diagram

Figure 4:
Diagram
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6C Stage One (1) and Two (2) Dowel Pin

TIL 1214-3R3

4
6

8
Wire Overlap

Wire Overlap

6
Bucket dovetail
spacing between
dowel pins

6
Bucket dovetail
spacing between
dowel pins

Dowel Pins
(11 Total)

Dowel Pins
(13 Total)
8

8
10

Figure 5:

6C Stage Three (3) Dowel Pin Diagram

Figure 7: 7F, 7FA, 7FA+, 7FA+e, 7FB, 9F, 9FA, 9FA+,

9FA+e, and 9FB Dowel Pin Diagram

4
X

8
Wire Overlap

Bucket dovetail
spacing between
dowel pins

12

Figure 6:

Dowel Pins

Dowel Pins
(9 Total)

12

12
N

12

Wire Overlap

Bucket dovetail
spacing between
dowel pins

12

12

Stage
#

# of
Pins

10

13

10

11

6FA and 6FA+e Dowel Pin Diagram

Figure 8:

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7H Dowel Pin Diagram

TIL 1214-3R3

4
X

X
Wire Overlap

N
Bucket dovetail
spacing between
dowel pins

Dowel Pins

Stage
#

# of
Pins

11

11

13

15

Contact your local GE Energy Services representative

for assistance or for additional information.
N

NOTE: If you would like to receive future TILs by email,

N

Figure 9:

contact your local GE Energy Services representative for

assistance.

9H Dowel Pin Diagram

PLANNING INFORMATION
Compliance
Compliance Category: C
Timing Code: 5
Manpower Skills
Bucket technician
Parts
Refer to Table 1.
Special Tooling
Proper staking tools
Proper lockwire installation tools
Reference Documents
None
Previous Modifications
None
Scope of Work
The recommendations in this TIL are within the scope
of the normal bucket installation procedures. No
additional time is needed.

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TIL 1214-3R3

TIL COMPLIANCE RECORD

Compliance with this TIL must be entered in local records. GE requests that the customer notify GE upon compliance of
this TIL.
Complete the following TIL Compliance Record and FAX it to:
TIL Compliance
FAX: (678) 844-3451
Toll free FAX: 1-888-896-TILS (1-888-896-8457)
For Internal Records Only #

TIL COMPLIANCE RECORD

Site Name:

Customer Name:

Customer Contact Information

GE Contact Information

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Address:

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FAX:

FAX:

Turbine Serial Number(s):

TIL Completed Date:

INSTALLED EQUIPMENT

100% TIL Completed:

Description:

Unit Numbers:

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Part Number

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Comments:

If there are any redlined drawings that pertain to this TIL implementation, please FAX the drawings along with
this TIL Compliance Record.

NOTE:

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Toll free FAX: 1-888-896-TILS (1-888-896-8457)
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TIL 1214-3R3

USER SATISFACTION SURVEY

GE values your opinions and comments.
GE requests that you complete the User Satisfaction Survey below to help us better serve you with accurate and timely
information on your equipment.
Complete the following TIL Compliance Record and FAX it to:
TIL Survey
GE Customer Technology Services
FAX: (678) 844-6737
Toll free FAX: 1-866-604-2668

USER SATISFACTION SURVEY

Serial Number:

Date:

1. How many days after TIL issue date did you receive this TIL?

1 - 5 days

6 - 10 days

+ 10 days

NOTE: If you would like to receive future TILs by email, contact your local GE Energy Services representative for assistance.

Rate the following based on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is Excellent and 5 is Poor.

2. Please rate how well this document informed you of the technical issue.

3. Please rate the overall effectiveness of this TIL.

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Toll free FAX: 1-866-604-2668

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