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).
Catastrophic engine failure on Chassis B.38.JD belonging to Mr R.E. James.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\1\ scan0342 | |
| Date | 9th August 1938 | |
| 1245 To Bentley Motors Ltd. London. Copy to Mr. Derby Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} "K" Kingsbury Sr. is absent Levallois VA.12/ET.9.8.38 Re: CHASSIS B.38.JD{J. Draper - Frames} - R.E. JAMES, Esq. While this customer was driving his car from Cannes to Paris last Friday, N°5 connecting rod very unfortunately failed and has caused, as far as we can tell from an external examination, extensive damage to the engine. There is a very large hole in the upper and lower halves of the crankcase, on the near side; the cylinder block and one piston are broken. We were able to ascertain this by removing broken parts through the hole in the side of the engine. N°5 Connecting rod is not broken, but badly bent. What we think has really happened is that N°5 big-end bearing seized, then the bolts of the connecting rod failed and the rod finally came through the side of the engine. We have, this morning, received a visit from Mr. James who, we must say, is very nice about the matter. He gave us the following particulars: During the run from Cannes to Paris, the maximum speed which the car attained was 92 m.p.h. 4200 r.p.m. were never exceeded The trouble occurred when the car was being slowed down and upon entering Nogent-sur-Vernisson. Just prior to the above happening, the car was being driven at 75 m.p.h. Mr. James said that he heard a noise which was not at all loud and thought it was a sparking plug which had blown out. What attracted his attention the most was the oil fumes from the engine. The car was pushed into a garage, about 20 yeards away. Upon receipt of a telephone call from Mr. James, we collected the car from Nogent-sur-Vernisson, about 150 Kms. from Paris. We note this car is fitted with a small oil pump. As Mr. James (who has been on a tour in France) resides in London, he will leave it for us to decide whether the car should be repaired by us or by "K". We have informed him that we can of course carry out the repairs, but that we should need the car for at least a month, owing to the fact that it would be necessary specially to order certain parts from the Works, and also on account of the fact that we shall be very short handed this month | ||