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).
Failing single thrust bearing on the 40/50 chassis, causing noisy axles and returned cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 182\M16\ img024 | |
| Date | 7th June 1921 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. c. to Wsr. c. to BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to K.{Mr Kilner} c. to Dn. c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to RF. Handwritten notes: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} - DYNAMIC, REALISTIC, CALLS R.{Sir Henry Royce} CJ to ORDER REF ORIGINAL SENDING OUT FAULTY CARS -- "QUITE WRONG", US DELCO MOTOR SUPERIOR - "SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE QUICKLY -- " X.2565 X.415D. 40/50 CHASSIS. X. 4165. We should like to point out that the sudden reduction in the out-put of 40/50 chassis effects very considerably the time in which certain improvements can be got on to the chassis unless we scrap a lot of expensive material. One point particularly we are concerned about is the double thrust for the bevel pinion. We have had three cars returned lately from customers with noisy axles. It has been found in each case that the trouble is due to the single thrust bearing having failed. In each case it has been the narrow distance piece which has worn badly and allowed the gear teeth to bottom. The double thrust bearing as at present designed, demands new propeller shaft and new thrust housing. There are sufficient of these parts machined to carry on for 300 and 400 chassis so that it means with the present production it will be nearly 12 months before we are sending out cars fitted with the double thrust bearing. This is, in our opinion, quite impossible. We know that the present bearing is unsatisfactory. We therefore consider it is a mistake to send out any more cars until the job is put right. We find that with the double thrust bearing, the thrust washer which is intended to be fixed to the shaft still turns round. We have always found it a problem to prevent any thrust washer from turning round. contd:- | ||