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).
Customer complaint and investigation into an old-type Bendix gear failure on a 20-HP car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 40\6\ Scan058 | |
| Date | 25th July 1923 | |
| X3592 BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to EFC. c. to Sft.{Mr Swift} for Mr. Brock. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}4/H25.7.23. re. 20-HP Old Type Bendix Gear Failure. We have had a complaint from a customer re his car 44-G-2, which he has only had in service for a short time. The starter motor had jammed and he could not turn the engine. We sent one of our inspectors to investigate the complaint, who found the Bendix gear was damaged, and he has returned with the motor and Bendix gear complete This is the one which you and Sft.{Mr Swift} inspected this morning and which we are now having repaired and returned to the customer with all possible speed. We do not feel that we can definitely understand the cause of the failure other than that the pinion has temporarily jammed on the teeth or temporarily seized on the shaft, causing a sudden load on to the thrust of the armature. The effect, as observed, has been that the armature and spindle and bearing have been drawn out of position. We have not had an experience of a definite failure like this before, although we have on one or two occasions had some little trouble with the Bendix gear sticking in, and it occurs to us at this stage that the present provision for taking up this thrust is not sufficiently adequate. You will notice the bearing is only held in position by a small stamping, which is fixed in position by three small studs. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||