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).
Investigation into a hypoid axle failure on chassis 1-WJ, attributing it to lubrication issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 18\3\ Scan031 | |
| Date | 23th December 1929 | |
| Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} THE. c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}15/H23.12.29. re. HYPOID AXLE FAILURE ON CHASSIS 1-WJ. Further to my EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}11/H20.12.29. and my discussion with you on this matter - I have discussed this with the Experimental Dept. and BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} and have also noted BY's report BY5/G23.12.29, which I return herewith. I would suggest that your report to Sales Dept. should be to the effect that according to the evidence, the axle failure appears to be due to shortage of lubrication. This may have been due to insufficient oil in the gear box or to the state of the oil in the gear box not allowing satisfactory lubrication of the gears. We should, however, be very glad to receive some definite report from Heckford, who, I believe has been the driver of this car, on the examination of the oil level in the axle he has made since he first took over the car and whether any oil has been added, if so what kind of oil. Also whether he knew the level of the oil definitely when the failure took place, and if any oil was added, how much. It should be realised that we consider there is no need for any alarm, as we have run any number of axles 10,000 miles without similar trouble. At the same time, it is appreciated that the question of improvement in lubrication is a feature which must be considered and this is now having attention in the Experimental Dept. We do not feel quite satisfied with the type of oil used. There is also a question of increasing the normal level of oil in the axle, which is also receiving attention. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||