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).
The experimental testing of white metal and cadmium bearings for big ends and main bearings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\1\ scan0143 | |
| Date | 19th November 1936 | |
| B. Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} H.H. -3- RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}6/R.19.11.36. temperatures than Z.3. However, Cadmium bearings have given trouble in America, and we are, therefore, treating this material as experimental. (1) WHITE METAL BEARINGS - BIG ENDS. Even with the 3½-litre Bentley standard white metal would not stand up on the big ends. Therefore it is problematical whether even the improved babbitt now available will have any chance on the 4¼-litre connecting rods. Furthermore, there is no particular need to use babbitt since RR.56 seems to give us a very satisfactory bearing at this point; nevertheless, if a white metal which can stand up to the temperature can be found, it might prove ideal; we are, therefore, continuing experiments. (2) MAIN BEARING. It is here that we have the greatest hope of using some of the improved babbitt which has lately been put on the market. It will be remembered that on the whole we have had very little trouble with the main bearings on the 3½-litre, several cars having done over 50,000 miles on their original set. The 4¼ was just too much for the bearings, but we know that we have actually put up the load on them only about 16%, and, therefore, there is every prospect that the latest Hoyt Z.3. material may give the required margin of strength. We propose to put this on the next 15,000 mile test on both the P.III and Bentley. SUMMARY. We may appear to have been slow on our bearing tests. Actually we have been running continuously since the beginning of the year; we have had a number of types of Hall's alloy to test, and many lubrication experiments. We have had to alter our method of running, because we found we were not altogether reproducing road conditions, and finally we have been trying types of improved babbitt. The alarming thing about bearing material is the enormous amount of work required to ensure that it is going to be satisfactory. Next time we move, we | ||