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).
Engine examination report for chassis B.128-GA concludes that bearing failure was caused by a dangerously low oil level due to owner carelessness.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\4\ scan0251 | |
| Date | 1st February 1938 | |
| W/S. (C). c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} 261 BY.8/G.1.2.38. SWDL{Len H. Swindell} to des CHASSIS B.128-GA. S. de Mier, ESQ., Referring to C.11/C.31.1.38. information in connection with which I received from GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} in his memo Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}1/N.27.1.38. in which it was pointed out that when the car arrived at K.{Mr Kilner} for examination of the starter motor, which was refusing to engage, apparently due to accumulation of mud and dirt generally, there was only one quart of oil in the engine sump, this fact being pointed out to the chauffeur. I have since had an opportunity of examining the engine itself, and it is clear from the evidence shown on the crank pins and remainder of the connecting rod big endbearings that the failure is due undoubtedly to shortage of oil. I do not mean to infer that the trouble had occurred prior to it arriving for examination of the starter motor, although there was only a quart of oil present at that time, I am referring to the running which has taken place since that date, as the evidence shows that again the oil must have been dangerously low. The condition of the main bearings was good, as we would have expected - incidentally, these were made in the AC.2 material similar to the 77 engines which I wrote about recently. The big ends were in good condition, with the exception of the one that failed completely, but there were signs of the bearings starting to warm up, a condition which could only be produced by low oil supply to the pins, and as the crankshaft has all the latest features fitted to it the evidence undoubtedly points to carelessness on the part of the owner in not re-filling his sump. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||