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).
Various faults with a Bentley III, including ignition tracking, component wear, and oil leaks.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\4\ scan0073 | |
| Date | 26th October 1938 | |
| 4500b To. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} CHATEAUROUX. I./26.10.38. 8.B.V.- BENTLEY III. We thank you for the ignition cables received this morning. We are not fitting these yet as we have found that the short circuit from No 2 lead was taking place through the tracking in the bakelite Delco distributor cover, and not inside the conduit as at first diagnosed. We fortunately had a spare distributor cover and fitting this has completely overcome the flat spot which was, as we had been led to suspect, due to weak sparks as a result of leakage in the bakelite cover. We are returning this for your examination. The tracking starts all round the spike for No 2 wire. We have also been troubled with rapid wear of the rubbing blocks on the Delco contact arms. A pair of these (the strengthened type) failed during the preliminary running in England. We also experienced rapid wear of the first strengthened blocks fitted to 6.B.IV. in France. We find that engine oil as well as gearbox oil is entering the clutch housing. We are going to try an air scoop under the drain hole as suggested by Swdl.{Len H. Swindell} In view of the slight clutch slip already experienced, it might be a wise precaution if you sent us a spare clutch plate. There also appears to be a certain amount of oil leaking from the engine front past the Acme thread. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} JWaller | ||