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).
Faulty repair of a connecting rod and bearings from a 4 1/4-litre chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\3\ scan0176 | |
| Date | 15th October 1937 | |
| K/W. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} PK/KC/DPB/15.10.37. 4 1/4-litre Chassis No.B.163.GP. Mrs.J.E.Hill. Speedometer mileage 17702. The above 4 1/4-litre chassis is now at K for the examination of big end bearings after repair by a German firm, who rectified No.3 big end failure by direct metalling the rod with white metal. I am returning this rod to you under cover of our advice note No.R.5184 for the following reasons:- (1) It is scrap as far as K are concerned, due to the fact that it has been machined by the Germans to take the white metal direct. (2) Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} will remember the discussions that I have had with him regarding the use of a mud groove in a bearing and I have noticed that the Germans have cut away the bearing liners to give this mud groove. (3) I was wondering whether the Metallurgist at the Works would care to have the rod to find out the composition of the white metal used. (4) The metal is cracking up but this is possibly due to two causes - bad adhesion due to poor degreasing prior to metalling and the fact that the liner is far too thick. For Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}'s information, we are carrying out modification "C" to this engine, having removed the engine from the chassis. I am not aware of the exact mileage the bearing has run, but assume it would be somewhere in the region of approximately 1,000 miles. -contd- | ||