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).
Improved fixing of the flywheel on the Bentley car and the associated risks.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\4\ 04-page398 | |
| Date | 12th July 1938 | |
| Y C113V To Sq. From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} O.{Mr Oldham} to Jef. R.{Sir Henry Royce} O.{Mr Oldham} to C. Ex. Bi. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/HJ.12.7.38. Re. Bentley Car. Replying to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}11/E7.7.38. We have held up replying to this memo, until we have had experience with the Bentley car with the improved fixing of the flywheel. This was fitted to the open car which was in London last week end. We have since run it for a considerable time with the engine running at 4,500 R.P.M. which is equal to 80 M.P.H. on third and 57 M.P.H. second speed. There has been no trouble with the flywheel or the engine. We have no anxiety about the risk of these cars in customers' hands. The margin on the Bentley crankshaft is considerably higher than it was on the original 20 HP. car. On those cars the crankshaft period could easily be reached on the gears. There have been one or two cases of the crankshaft failing on those cars. The risk on the Bentley is less than on those cars and the failure (when it occurs) of the flywheel coming loose is much less disastrous than a broken crankshaft. We have given a lot of consideration to this problem, and we are convinced that there is no cause for alarm. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||