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).
Issues with Bentley starter motors and the development of an improved version.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\6\ 06-page120 | |
| Date | 27th January 1934 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wer. Replying to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}25/E.26.1.34. It is realized that the starter motor on the Bentley is only just up to it's job. An improved starter motor has been designed and we expect to have it on test in ten to fourteen days. As you realize, the starting of a car greatly depends on intimately knowing the peculiarities of the car. For instance, I leave a car out every night - frequently I have left a car out in severe frost with Ethylene Glycol mixture in the radiator. I have never failed to start a Bentley car. On the other hand, last week-end we lent Hdy.{William Hardy} a Bentley car and he failed entirely to start it until he had put hot water in the radiator, reset the sparking plugs, etc. I took the same car again and started it up right away immediately. On the present cars with the present starter motor considerable advantage is gained by using a special thin oil. We do not however want to recommend this unless we are forced to. I can understand an owner when he first gets the car having difficulty with starting, but as soon as he is used to it there should be no trouble. The new starter motor of course will make things much easier. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||