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).
The increasing failures of the Bijur Bendix starter mechanism on the 20-HP chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 40\5\ Scan142 | |
| Date | 18th January 1924 | |
| X3587 BY c. Tof. c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. SFi. for Mr. Brock. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}3/H18.1.24. 20-HP Chassis. Failure of Bijur Bendix Starter Mechanism. Further to our EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}2/H22.12.23 and EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}10/H28.12.23, pointing out the failures in service on the above, failures of this mechanism are now taking place much more rapidly. The majority of failures are due to breakage of the internal dished steel washers D50889 and E51182, which jam the mechanism, causing failure to engage or disengage as previously explained. During the last fortnight we have handled at least half a dozen of these failures, either at the Works or away from the Works. In one case, Dr. Thomson, who lives locally, we replaced the starter motor complete, owing to this failure, and had again to replace the motor owing to a similar failure on the same day. We are also receiving similar complaints from our Depots, Cricklewood pointing out that they have had four 20-HP failures of this description, during the past week, including the Prince of Wales Car. The failures in these cases have been due to the same trouble as above described, and they refer to the washer failures as E51182. We have not had any experience of the latest type of corks, they appear to be made up of layers of cork, but have had one or two failures with the early type of corks, which appear to be made of agglomerated cork, and we have now arranged for supplies of the new type cork washers to be distributed liberally. We do not, however, feel at all happy as regards the broken spring trouble, as above explained, and we feel that some urgent action can be taken in order that we can avoid sending out cars which we feel at present are likely to give similar trouble, and at the same time we should be in a position where we can retrospectively alter the existing ones so that we can avoid trouble taking place in service. The experience we have had is now so bad that it should be tackled as one of our most urgent features | ||