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).
Use and testing of lead bronze bearings in car engines.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\2\ scan0135 | |
| Date | 22th March 1935 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} 4633 HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}7/KW.22.3.35. Use of Lead Bronze Bearings in Cars. As you know, we are using white metal main bearings in our cars as heretofore, the big ends only are being produced in lead bronze. We made one specific test on a car which was fitted with lead bronze bearings, the engine of which was rough, to determine whether this roughness was due to the increased clearance. We changed the lead bronze rods for white metal rods and were unable to detect any difference. Furthermore, we have recently changed over En's car from white metal to lead bronze, and he has no adverse criticism to make on the smoothness of the engine; in fact the contrary as it is better than previously. This is probably due to the fact that we fitted a rubber rear engine mounting. We are proposing to repeat the changeover test on another car to confirm this point. There is no doubt that the smaller the clearance we can use on lead bronze big ends for car work the better, because we do know that if we get to .005" clearance in the big end this can definitely be heard at high speeds. We are carrying out tests in conjunction with RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} on various units to see if we can run with reduced clearance. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||