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).
Inspection report on a Bentley 50 semi-floating type rear axle after a 100-hour dynamometer test.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 111\4\ scan0051 | |
| Date | 18th August 1938 | |
| 802 To HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} from HPS{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}/LK.{L. King} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} HPS{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}/LK.{L. King}5/VS.{J. Vickers}18.8.38. BENTLEY 50 REAR AXLE. The above semi-floating type rear axle assembled to LOP.GB.3723 has been dismantled for inspection after completing 100 hours on dynamometer test. Further particulars of details fitted are as follows :- 8 x 37 ratio gears manufactured in the U.S.A. Differential gear thrust washers produced in A.C.2. material. Differential pinion bushes produced in A.C.2. material. The spring brackets have been attached to the axle tubes with fifteen .250 diameter taper pins instead of thirty as specified on the drawings. The general condition of the axle after test can be stated to be satisfactory. The axle shafts, produced in BS.{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager}28 material, are in good condition and free from cracks; both shafts have been checked for axial twist, no permanent set being apparent on the off side, but the near side shaft is twisted .010 in the direction of rotation. The centre casing is free from cracks, and the alignment has been checked up and is correct. All bearings are in good condition except for the near side differential bearing LS.14 A.C.; the ball track in this bearing is worn and slightly chipped. The bevel gears show signs of irregular bedding, a possible cause of this being the wear which has taken place in the near side differential bearing. On the near side axle shaft the bearing retaining collar has moved .002, but no movement has taken place on the off side. These collars when subjected to a load of six tons showed no signs of moving, the interference fits being - near side .0042 and off side .0046. continued. | ||