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).
Suggestions for dealing with issues on 3½-litre vehicles, including engine failures and long-term running.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\3\ scan0006 | |
| Date | 7th July 1937 | |
| -2- Our suggestions for dealing with 3½-litres are as follows:- (1) After a big end Failure. If the owner is fortunate enough not to scrap his engine, we do not see how we can do otherwise than take every known precaution of preventing a recurrence of the trouble. Furthermore, the crankshaft ought in any case to be removed to enable the engine to be thoroughly cleaned. Therefore, we recommend modification C. at an additional cost of £16/10/- to the Company over the bare charge of dismantling and re-erecting which will have to be carried out in any case. We are embarrassed to think that four Bentley owners have twice experienced bearing failure. (2) After 30,000 Miles' Running. We can only suggest that Depots do all in their power to get customers to bear as much of the cost as possible of the B. modification. Perhaps the Administration would lay down that if the customer could be induced to pay, say, 50% of the additional £6/10/-, the job should be done. We think the large oil pump is well worth while and is included in the £6/10/-. (3) Exceptional Customers. There are probably half-a-dozen customers, with whom Kingsbury are perfectly familiar, who are known to be hard drivers. We think that these cars should, without fail, be dealt with as (2) even though the customer cannot be induced to contribute to the cost. If the car has done 25,000 miles or more, however, presumably the cost of an R.20 should be recoverable. (4) Second-hand cars with Bentley Inspection Certificate. This we realise is delicate ground, but the fact remains that if a Bentley is sold with more than 30,000 miles to its credit, and its new owner takes it on the Continent and keeps his foot down, it is an even chance that he will run a big end, and the result may well be an expensive "rescue", apart from loss of reputation. From a technical point of view the ideal would be to make the issue of a certificate after 30,000 miles dependent on a B. bearing modification having been carried out, which presumably would be paid for by the person demanding the certificate. | ||