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).
Front hub lubrication, discussing bearing failures due to a lack of lubrication on specific chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\1\ scan0119 | |
| Date | 29th December 1925 | |
| XS980 BY14/H.29.12.25. FRONT HUB LUBRICATION. CHASSIS Nos:- 96-MC, 97-MC, 120-MC. 112-RC.{R. Childs} 116-EM. With reference to the four bearings, No.350, three from Cricklewood, one from Paris, and one No.160, from Cricklewood, we have submitted this question to the Hoffmann Company, and after fully considering their remarks and the evidence supplied, it is quite positive that the four No/350 bearings taken from the front hubs have failed from want of lubrication. Our experience with under lubricated bearings running at high speeds was non-existent prior to these samples. I was quite satisfied that they exhibited phenomena characteristic of some special condition with which we were not acquainted, and therefore submitted them to Hoffmanns for their report. Hoffmanns have replied stating that they have had quite a large number of failures bearing these characteristics, and that in every case they are due to absence of lubrication. The Hoffmann Company go further and state that they can reproduce the effects at any time by running a ball bearing without lubrication. This being so, it is quite evident that we are not giving sufficient lubrication to the front hub. We would point out to the Works, Test and Repair Departments that quite a large amount of oil is required in the inner hub after having filled the outboard annular space, to enable the oil to get in the race of the inner ball bearing, and apparently in four different instances all of which have not run more than three or four months, we have had four failures all similar, due to inadequate lubrication. In the first place, the Works should see, before they fit the outboard bearing, that a good supply of oil is contained in the inner hub. Contd. | ||