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).
Test report on the Bijur type Bendix starter after approximately 8,000 starts, detailing wear and damage findings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 40\5\ Scan092 | |
| Date | 12th December 1922 | |
| X3587 To H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} from He. c. to CJ. and BJ. c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/L06.12.22. BIJUR TYPE BENDIX. X3587 X3572 We have operated the starter approximately 8,000 times! We consider that this is equal to 40/50,000 miles in average use by the customer. The engine to which the starter with the Bijur Bendix was fitted had already run 13,000 miles with the present standard type Bendix Drive, and the flywheel teeth were damaged to a certain extent. After the 8,000 starts, we took it down and examined it and found the only thing wrong with the Bijur Bendix was that the two spring washers which are fixed in front of the collar on the armature shaft and which we suppose are intended to relieve the shock of the clutch, were flattened out and have lost all their springiness. This made no difference to the working. All the other parts of the Bijur Bendix were in excellent condition. The teeth on the flywheel were more damaged than when we started, in fact, we should say they have got to a stage now where it is necessary to change the position of the geared ring relative to the crankshaft so that the starter engages in another position. We propose continuing our tests of the Bijur on another flywheel which has not been used at all with the standard Bendix. Although the Bijur Bendix is a definite improvement over what we are using at present, we still consider we shall not be entirely satisfied until we have done away entirely with the crash engagement. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||