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).
Replacement schedule and costs for Bentley connecting rods and main bearings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\2\ scan0322 | |
| Date | 26th July 1937 | |
| To Bentley Motors Ltd. Derby Copy to .............. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Handwritten notes: Hives Swell 1245- Please note Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} George V.{VIENNA} Sr14/ET.26.7.37 Re: BENTLEY CONNECTING RODS AND MAIN BEARINGS --------------------------------- In answer to your By6/J.23.7.37 re connecting rods and main bearings, I hereby five you our views of this subject. First of all I should like to say that, generally speaking, the memos fall in with our ideas on this question, apart from certain differences of opinion which, I think you will appreciate,, are due to Continental conditions. Page I - para. A.{Mr Adams} (RmI/R.7.7.37). We consider that 40.000 Kms. is, from our experience, the danger point for connecting rod bearings over here. We therefore suggest that, in future, we should endeavour to extend the R.10 to 20.000 Kms. instead of 16.000 as at present, so as to enable us to effect an R.20 ad 40.000 Kms. Page 2 - Para. 2. We do not think that it would be possible, or even wise commercially to attempt to get customers to pay even 50% towards the replacement of their connecting rods, after 40.000 Kms. On the other hand, we could consider increasing the price of an R.20, so as to cover 50% of the additional cost of fitting new conn rods. We think this would be the wisest policy as far as we are concerned. Perhaps in some cases, we might even not be able to get away with this, but such cases would be the exception. Page 2 - Para. 3. We agree with you on this, but would like to point out that, unless a customer runs a big end in the very early stages of owning his car, we on this side would always be able to recover the cost of an R.20 in replacing connecting rods. for safety first purposes. Page 2 - para. 4. The idea is a good one, but it suits us better to do as we have been doing, i.e., when trading in a car, we estimate for work to be done, including changing the connecting rods. We therefore sell the car in good condition and do not have to mention to the prospective customer the fact that, for Frs.XXX more, he can have the connecting rods changed. Here again, I insist on the fact that the less customers hear about connecting rods and the fact that they have to be replaced after a comparatively short mileage, the better. | ||