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).
Letter detailing the present position on bearing issues for Bentley 3 1/2 litre cars, categorizing them for necessary action.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\3\ scan0267 | |
| Date | 23th December 1936 | |
| 1245 Bentley Motors Ltd. Derby...........Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} Copy to "Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}" Derby Copy to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Levallois : Sr/VAI/MLG.23.12.36 Re- Bearings, Bentley 3?1/2 litre Present position ------------- As you are aware, we have in the past and are still having a fair amount of trouble in one way or another with Bentley main and big end bearings. We have compiled a list, copy of which we attach, showing the 3.1/2 litre cars on which we have attended to the bearings and those which now need attention. You will observe the first car mentioned has covered the most mileage and the last one the least. The list, with the exception of those against which we have put an asteric, shows the cars which are running in France and which were sold by us. The cars can be divided into four catagories as follows- 1) Cars on which the bearings have been attended to against which we have marked OK. 2) Cars which should be called in as soon as possible according to their mileage, in order that new main bearings can be fitted (This is judged on past experience) these cars have bronze already been fitted with connecting rods with lead bearings with the exception of chassis B-II8-BL which is fitted with connecting rods having original Hall's metal bearings. We have marked two red lines against the chassis numbers in question. 3) The cars against which we have put one red line should be called in for examination of the main and big end bearings as soon as we have attended to the cars against which we have put two red lines. We propose to deal with these cars as follows- Where it is possible to get the owner to pay for an R.20 engine clean this will be done. However, as an example , Mr. Watel to whom we recently sold chassis B-54-EF (ex Favier) could not be expected to pay for an R.20 because when he purchased the car the mileage was 17.500 kms and we sold him the car in good condition. On these cars we shall firstly remove the main bearing caps one by one, and examine the condition of the bearings if they are considered fit for further service, then, we shall if necessary reduce the liners, re-erect the lower halves and carry out an oil test. If the big end bearings are found to be in a poor condition, which we feel sure they will be , then we shall have to fit a new set of connecting rods complete with Hall's metal bearings or for preference big ends in R.R.56 material. | ||