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).
20-HP engine gear failure caused by an unlocked nut on the front camshaft bearing housing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 75\1\ scan0277 | |
| Date | 2nd July 1923 | |
| X4247 c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sft.{Mr Swift} EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}19/H2.7.23. 20-HP Engine Gear Failure. 27-S-O.{Mr Oldham} We have had to attend to the above failure, having received a complaint from the Coachbuilders that during the final test of this car the engine gear suddenly went wrong. This might easily have occurred while the car was in customer's hands. We have been able to ascertain that the cause of the failure was in the engine gears which had broken up owing to a nut used on the bolt fixing the housing of the front camshaft bearing in position in the crankchamber coming adrift. There are two bolts and one stud used in fixing this housing, but there is no locking device for these nuts whereas all the other features pertaining to the engine gears, bearings and housings are locked, either by castellated nuts or spring washers. This is the first experience we have had of this failure, but it certainly appears as though some consideration should immediately be given for these nuts to be locked. Will you please let me know immediately what you consider should be done, not only for future production, but whether action should not be taken on cars on test before delivery and possibly retrospectively on cars delivered. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||