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).
The failure of two pinion bearings for a Bentley rear axle during dynamometer testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\4\ scan0349 | |
| Date | 19th November 1937 | |
| GRY{Shadwell Grylls} 202=TH This is entirely within our Grs ~~To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from HPS{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}/RH.{R. Hollingworth}~~ ~~c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}~~ ~~c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}~~ ~~c. to HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}~~ HPS{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}/RH.{R. Hollingworth}1/VS.{J. Vickers}19.11.37. BENTLEY REAR AXLE. Failure of Pinion Bearings GB.2680. We give below report on condition of the two pinion bearings which failed in 5.B.IV while on dynamometer test. 1. Bearing fitted 20.10.37. with .0005 end float removed 4.11.37. after 84 hours on dynamometer at full throttle 2,000 R.P.M. in 3rd gear. Failure due to one ball in thrust race breaking into three pieces; the remaining balls and all tracks were slightly pitted. There is also evidence of the cage in the thrust half fouling the inner race. 2. Bearing fitted 5.11.37. out of B.23.AE. Chassis removed 11.11.37. after completing the following :- 12 hours full throttle 2,000 R.P.M. in 3rd gear. 4 " " " 2,000 R.P.M. " bottom gear. 1 " " " 2,400 R.P.M. " " " failed. The above bearing had completed 21,626 miles in B.23.AE. End float in bearing prior to fitting in 5.B.IV = .005. Thrust cage broke into four pieces and both inner tracks have failed badly. The thrust outer race is cracked badly, as shown on attached photograph. Due to the above bearing failure the pinion is badly worn on track of nose bearing. HPS{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}/R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hollingworth. | ||