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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).
Significant issue of engine cylinder bore wear and planned investigations.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 132\5\  scan0052
Date  11th March 1939
  
1/23

By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
c. Es.
c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}
c. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Jnr.{Charles L. Jenner}

Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/R.11.3.39.

CYLINDER BORE WEAR.

As we have emphasised a number of times, we believe that cylinder bore wear is now outstandingly the worst feature of our engine with regard to durability.

From papers which have recently been read on the subject, one might be tempted to believe that an investigation of this phenomenon should not be a very difficult matter. Our own experience, however, indicates that the contrary is the case owing to the complexity of the problem.

The attached summary shows the immense number of tests we are having to put in hand in order to get sufficient basic facts to be sure that when we move, we move in the right direction.

Owing to the number of customers who drive under congested traffic conditions in London, we are always inclined to think that our cars must be basically worse for cylinder bore than other people's. We do not, however, believe that this is correct. Recently we examined one of our experimental cars, 3.B.IV, after 27,000 miles, and found that the cylinder bore wear was less than 1 1/2 thou. When it is considered that cars made to the same drawing have, in service, managed to wear at as much as eight times this rate per thousand miles' running, it will be appreciated that we have got to use the customer as the final test of the success of any improvements which we may introduce.

Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
  
  


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