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).
Bush seizure failure in an overdrive gearbox on a Bentley and subsequent testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 83\2\ scan0166 | |
| Date | 3rd January 1938 | |
| 200a also 228 1153 Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} its. c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/R.3.1.38. OVERDRIVE GEARBOX ON THE BENTLEY. You will see from the attached Daily Report that we have had a failure on the overdrive gearbox. This consisted of a bush seizure. We attribute the failure to the fact that we had used a hardened steel bush in place of a bronze in an endeavour to reduce wear. After fitting this steel bush we did 100 hours on the dynamometer on a bronze bush on a standard gearbox, reproducing as near as possible overdrive conditions. The bronze bush was entirely satisfactory. We are, therefore, reverting to the bronze bush, and, at the same time, we believe that we can make the lubrication better than the standard Bentley box. We ought to be able to get a proof run on the dynamometer with the bronze bush within the next 10 days which, if successful, will justify us in sending the car to France. In the meantime it is held up. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||