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).
Faults found during a 15,000-mile Bentley test car run in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\5\ scan0146 | |
| Date | 25th March 1939 | |
| 400b To. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}I/JAB.25.3.39. Testers concerned Please note 8.B.V. - BENTLEY. 15,000 Miles Test Car. Further notes on faults reported during running in France, supplementing those in Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}I/BA.20.2.39. 1) Front tyres rubbing cross steering tubes. We have been using distance pieces between the wheels and hubs but the tyres still rub. Tests at Derby on the skid pan show that .750" static clearance is required. .550 clce instructed. F.T.H. check on roads to see if O.K. 2) "General" Oil Filter. Recommend new cartridge every 5,000 miles. 3) Lubrication of rear hub bearings. Recommend 1/4" dia. vent holes in underside of axle tubes close to centre casing. These prevent expansion of air in tubes forcing grease out of hubs. Holes also act as drains and ensure that water cannot remain in tubes as might happen if holes were drilled elsewhere. Recommend grease gun nipples, as on propellor shaft sliding joint, for periodic replenishment of rear hub bearings. Could use same gun and grease for both. 4) Failure of rubber connection on petrol tank vent pipe. This is a repetition of a previous failure. The material is supposed to be petrol proof. Failure probably due to alchohol in French petrol. 5) Silentbloc rear damper links. These were fitted as the previous Delco type failed. They are, besides being durable, noticeably more effective in preventing rear axle patter than the others, and are to be recommended for this reason. | ||