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).
Letter from Leyland Motors regarding discussions and issues with A.C.9 bearing material.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\4\ scan0084 | |
| Date | 18th June 1940 | |
| 1125 Leyland BY APPOINTMENT TO THE LATE KING GEORGE V.{VIENNA} LEYLAND MOTORS LIMITED. Head Office and Works, Manufacturers of Motor Vehicles. YOURS Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2 / M.L. IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE: OURS SE/VWP/HK.{Col. T. Harker - Sales} Tel: Ext: 97: ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMPANY AND NOT TO INDIVIDUALS CUSTOMERS' VEHICLES DRIVEN AT OWNERS RISK ONLY... TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: LEYMOTORS, LEYLAND. TELEPHONE: LEYLAND 81400 (16 LINES) LEYLAND, LANCASHIRE. 18th June, 1940. Dict. 15th. Personal. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham Esq., Rolls-Royce Ltd., D E R B Y. Dear Mr. Robotham, In the first place I regret the delay which has occurred in my dealing with your letter dated the 10th May, and confirming our discussion on A.C.9 bearing troubles when you were at the Works on Friday, the 7th instant. Mr. Spurrier has also advised me that he has received a letter from you, indicating that a difficult position has arisen with the suppliers of this material as the result of my observations on the subject of the satisfactory use of bearing material. I would like to make it quite clear that, having adopted A.C. 9 as a standard, any departure would considerably embarrass us on the production line. We were cognizant of the cost saving effected by the use of this material, and unless rigorous testing proved that any other bearing material was more satisfactory, there would be no question of our going off A.C. 9 material. The present position arose from observations between Research Engineer and our Chief Metallurgist, as arising from complaints received through our Service Department of failures of A.C.9 material on nitrided crankshafts, and after a lot of discussion on this subject, we came to the conclusion that A.C.9, although when tested under ideal conditions, such as in our Research Department, where the oil was clean and every precaution taken with regard to bearing finish, clearances accurately checked, etc., gave results which without doubt were extremely satisfactory, under service conditions this was not the case and erratic behaviour was observed. P.T.O. | ||