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).
Bearing issues and decarbonizing procedures for a 4 1/4 litre Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\1\ scan0151 | |
| Date | 24th December 1937 | |
| - 2 - .... to the crankshaft, and fitted the N° 7 white metal bearings. One of the reasons why I consider it necessary for us to be enlightened on this subject is that recently we had occasions to decarbonize, and also cure an over-oiling trouble on a 4 1/4 litre Bentley belonging to Commodore Beaumont. This car, when tested by us, was considered quite passable from an "engine thud" point of view, if compared with any of our other Continental cars, and it would not have entered our minds to have attended to the bearings on this chassis when it was brought into us. (Mileage 12,000 miles). Since this time, however, the car has found its way to England, and Kingsbury have definitely stated that the bearings had to be attended to. In fact, they were very definite that the car could not be let out of the depot in its present condition. As the car has not covered any mileage to speak of, since it left our premises, you will appreciate that I am anxious about our procedure with regard to bearings. If Commodore Beaumont's car is considered to be in such a state that it is not to be released by Kingsbury depot, until the bearings have been attended to, crankshaft drilled, etc., etc., then I can safely say that there is not a 4 1/4 litre Bentley running in France that should be on the road at all !! Sr. P.S. It must be borne in mind that we cannot let our cars go until they have covered 36,000 miles before "bottom decarbonizing" them, not that we consider that this "bottom decarbonizing" is necessary, but I have taken pains to train our customers over here to the fact that their cars must be decarbonized at 16,000 kms, and "bottom decarbonized" at 30 to 35,000 kilometres. The reason for this is so as to economize the Company's money on the bearing job, which definitely becomes necessary at the latter mentioned mileage over here. Sr. | ||