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 engine failure of a Bentley 8-GA Paris Trials Car, detailing the seized connecting rod bearing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 130\2\ scan0112 | |
| Date | 26th August 1936 | |
| Copies to Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} and Swdl.{Len H. Swindell} To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} C O P Y. Paris. X1113 26.8.36. Bentley 8-GA - Paris Trials Car. With reference to Sr's telephone message yesterday, the above car had been loaned out for a test run and when it returned Sr. sent it to the Depot for attention to oil pressure. Upon starting up there was a bad knock and vibration in the engine, clutch would not stop without first engaging the synchromesh. When dismantled, No. 1 connecting rod bearing had apparently partially seized. The metal was cut up, metal broken off the shims. The rod bearings had increased to .020" clearance. All the remaining con. rod bearings had hammered in and become slack in the caps, but not to the extent of those examined on our Bentley. The main bearings have not broken up or cracked, but wear has taken place to the extent of .013". A quantity of oil had leaked past the rear bearing into the clutch case and was starting to get on to the pressure plate side clutch fabric. This has been caught in time and will not require renewing. This car has run 20.740 kilometres, or 12,962 miles. I should say that the breaking of the metal off the shims was the cause of the rod bearing failure. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/G.W.Hancock. | ||