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).
Recurring failure in Bentley rear axle drives and proposing a modification with a tie rod.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 102\4\ scan0200 | |
| Date | 2nd April 1937 | |
| Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} Kingsbury. 2.4.37. BENTLEY REAR AXLE DRIVERS. We are sending you another sample of a broken wheel drive. This has broken in the neck similar to the previous one and is caused by the deflection of the axle shafts. Mileage 16,559. It does not seem the right thing to replace these broken drives with another of the same design, which in all probability will again break. The radius in the neck could be increased which would strengthen its weakest part. To overcome the failure of the wheel drives, and not make the job expensive, as will be the case with the design now running on 6.B.IV., I would suggest that a tie rod could be fitted to the present axles at the Depots, and the drives made to the design Kingsbury submitted sometime ago. This would overcome the complaint of drive knocks and breaking of the neck of the driving dog. The sketch shows how the tie rod for the axle could be adapted and fitted at Depots. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} [Handwritten note] cannot be welded due to nature of metal | ||