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).
Investigation memo detailing the circumstances of a Bentley catching fire upon starting.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\6\ 06-page167 | |
| Date | 9th May 1934 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to BrS. c. to KP. c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. to Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} Ra. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Baring Esq., Bentley. I interviewed Mr. Baring to try and ascertain the reason why his Bentley caught fire when starting up. The following is the precise routine which Mr. Baring carried out in starting his car, and his observations. The car had not been out for a week, therefore following the Instruction Book he first switched on the ignition to allow the petrol pumps to fill the float chambers. Secondly he moved the controls to their respective positions for starting. Thirdly, groped about and found the foot pump lever for chassis lubrication which he then depressed. After depressing the lever he heard what he thought to be liquid flowing and therefore thought that something had gone wrong with the chassis lubrication pump as the lever did not return. (Mr. Baring admits frankly that he knows nothing mechanical about cars, although he has been driving for 25 years.) Under the circumstances, he first switched off the ignition, then got out of the car and lifted the exhaust side of the bonnet to see whether anything had gone wrong with the chassis lubrication pump, and finding no signs of oil leak, closed the bonnet, got into the car, switched on, pressed the starter button and the engine started on the first turn over without any hesitation or blow back. At the same moment flames shot out of the bonnet two or three feet high and from underneath the car. It was noticed when the fire started not only had the petrol been sprayed all over the engine but there was a great pool on the ground. The evidence showed that the cause of the fire was due to the float chamber mechanism sticking, carburetters flooding and spraying petrol over the high tension distributor. The ignition certainly started from the high tension distributor. We also discussed with JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} the cause of the fire on R.75.AN. This was brought about by the carburetters flooding, but in this case the engine was started before much petrol had leaked out of the float chambers. The fire in this case was confined to round about the coil and distributor. Summary of the Investigation. (1) The petrol pumps had been switched on for a full five minutes | ||