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).
Failure of Kelmit big end bearings on 20/25 and Bentley models and the switch to lead bronze bearings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\2\ scan0188 | |
| Date | 7th September 1934 | |
| X4553A To RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Mths.{Reg Matthews} c. to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/CTS.{C. Trot Salt - Carburation} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}11/KW. 7.9.34. Kelmit Bearings. On our last 10,000 miles test the big end bearings of both the 20/25 and the Bentley cracked up almost completely. We have therefore decided that we must go to lead bronze in both cases. On the Bentley when making this changeover we shall go to the short pin crankshaft and shall therefore be glad if you will put another in hand, together with the necessary bearings. With regard to B.10, we are proposing to run this 10,000 miles as soon as possible and probably in view of this fact you would like to replace the lead bronze strip big ends which have had a very considerable hammering on the test bed. We understand that you would also like to reduce the clearance slightly. With regard to the 20/25, we have already instructed a set of big ends for 21-G-IV, and we should like three other sets so that they can be fitted to all our experimental cars and possibly a Trials car. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Tan. | ||