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).
Ongoing complaints of gudgeon pin knocks and a proposed fix involving new pins with a taper fitting part.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 48\1\ Scan130 | |
| Date | 4th February 1921 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X4190 RECEIVED 4 FEB 1921 4.2.21. A.T. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Dr. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} RE. GUDGEON PIN KNOCKS (ELUSIVE KNOCKS). Further to our EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}2/F7.1.21, we are still continuing to receive complaints of the above developing on cars in service, and we are now in the position that we have to do something to overcome the trouble. We have successfully cured these knocks on several Trials Cars by fixing new gudgeon pins in which the locking screw is fixed with the taper fitting part at the top of the gudgeon pin and the threaded portion at the bottom so as to obtain a tighter fitting gudgeon pin as explained in the above mentioned memo. We have now received a report that Inspection Car 16-EE (Mr. Bell-Scott) has run 1200 miles and there have been no signs of this knock again taking place. (Fitted with above type gudgeon pins) It is necessary that we should have some ruling on the action to be taken in dealing with complaints. Could you please therefore arrange to supply us with some instructions on this point and will Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} please send through the necessary reports and recommendations on this matter. We quite appreciate that the time may not be ripe for this to be standardised, but certainly think that under the circumstances some instructions should be given as to how to deal with the complaints we are now receiving. I certainly recommend, in view of the fact that the fitting of the above mentioned gudgeon pins has proved satisfactory and not detrimental in any way, (nor can we see how the alteration can be detrimental in any way) that we should be allowed to fit this device in actual cases of complaint which we are forced to attend to. If you cannot see your way to give instructions on this matter, please arrange to bring it up at the next Works Conference. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||