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).
Technical query and response regarding oil leaks in the Bentley rear axle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\4\ scan0147 | |
| Date | 16th February 1937 | |
| 202. K/W. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} from K/KC. K/KC/PP/16.2.37. BENTLEY REAR AXLE. Reference your Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry{Shadwell Grylls}4/R.13.2.37. 1. The oil leak at the axle tube flange is invariably on the N/S and developes between the tube and the end plate, rarely, if ever, between the end plate and the aluminium centre casing. 2. Yes. We have had recurrent cases of leakages at the flange after grover washers have been fitted. As a matter of fact, new cars fitted with grover washers Ex. Works have developed this leak. 3. The leaks at the pinion housing are through oil getting past the Acme thread and are not due to oil leakages at the joints of the ball race housing. Regarding (1), We have found that in any car that has been on the road for some time the flange fixing nuts will always tighten up ¼ to ½ a turn (using normal spanner pressure). In the case of (3), Is this leakage aggravated by any shaft deflection due to slackness in the thrust bearing, or is this question of nose-piece leakage bound up with the trouble with the pinion thrust bearing? My reason for asking this, is, that we have found a number of defective thrust bearings when rectifying this nose-piece leak. K/KC. | ||