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).
Crankshaft failure, likely caused by a corroded damper due to the car being stationary.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\5\ Scan142 | |
| Date | 10th May 1927 | |
| X4118 c.Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY4/H. 10.5.27. GRK-19. - MISS EDWARDS. Referring to HM {Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} /NRC {N. R. Chandler} 8/D.9.5.27. we consider that the main cause of the trouble has been the fact that the car has been standing for long periods at different coachbuilders. In the absence of a careful examination of the broken crankshaft, technically, it appears to us that the facts of the case are that the damper for the crankshaft has corroded and become practically solid. It is therefore of the utmost importance that we should have not only the rest of the broken crankshaft for examination, but the damper itself, as unless the damper is corrected, it means that most probably we shall have an exactly similar recurrence with the crankshaft with which it is proposed to replace the broken one. Until we are able to get hold of the rest of the crankshaft and the damper, we cannot produce a report which would be of any value. If it should happen that the damper has been interfered with, it would mean that a great deal of evidence has been destroyed. We should notify Cricklewood at least, and one or two others of our main Depots, that crankshaft failure of this type should be dealt with by replacing the crankshaft plus the damper, and it is of the utmost importance that the damper should not be moved or interfered with during the dismantling of the crankshaft. We note that the car has been in stock since July 1924, and that the mileage is remarkably small. It is therefore of the utmost importance that all available evidence which will throw light on the actual cause of the failure should be produced. BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} DERBY ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED | ||