From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Engine big end bearing failures in 3½ and 4¼ Litre Bentley cars, listing failures, mileage, and remarks.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\3\ scan0011 | |
| Date | 3rd July 1937 | |
| COPY. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}6/HR.3.7.37. ___ re ENGINE BEARINGS. 3½ and 4¼ LITRE BENTLEY CARS. ---------------------------- With reference to your enquiries concerning the above, we would reply as follows:- 3½ LITRE BIG ENDS. ------------------ 1. The total number of big end failures on 3½ litre cars is 28. All replacements of these bearings after June 1936 have been in Hall's metal. 2. There have been two failures since fitting Hall's Metal. - B.147-CW. Vandervell, and B.58-DG. Headlem. 3. There have been no failures with large capacity oil pumps, but not many of these have yet been fitted. 4. A list of cars on which big ends have failed is given below. This gives the number of the big end which failed, and the mileage at which the failure occurred. CH.NO. NAME. BIG END NO. MILEAGE. REMARKS. ______ ____ ___________ ________ ________ B.199-AE. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} L. Good. 2 & 4. 7,026. X B.142-CR.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} Hignett. 5. 8,418. X B.32-DG. O'Callaghan. 5. 8,767. B.51-AE. Stewart. 2. 21,000. B.5-CW. Becker. 2 & 5. 12,482. " " again. 5. 27,089. X Fitted Hall's Met- al big ends. " " Also No. 2 ) 36,000. (Fitted High Output piston. ) (Pump. Grooved (intermediate (bearings. B.158-AH. Earl of Jersey. 2. 33,891. X B.80-CR.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} Pelley. 5. 40,666. B.57-AE. Olliffe Lee. 6. 26,817. B.147-CW. Vandervell. 5. 20,925. " " again. 6. 39,968. X Hall's Metal bearing failure. B.126-DG. Peter Lilley. 5. 39,785. X B.116-EF. Clarke. 5. 15,259. B.127-CW. Mrs. Meyer. 5. 34,267. B.91-AE. Cowley. 1 & 3. 28,281. B.26-EF. Woodhead. 2. 5,991. -contd- | ||