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).
Depot methods for dealing with complaints, chiefly concerning engine work on Bentley cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 131\2\ scan0174 | |
| Date | 23th May 1938 | |
| 1113 BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} C. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} Poiles Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}5/G.23.5.38. SWDL{Len H. Swindell} BENTLEY. DEPOTS METHODS OF DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS, CHIEFLY CONCERNING ENGINE WORK. In the first place a Depot, which is dealing with one type of car, naturally is in a position to specialise in dealing with troubles or modifications, also they have more opportunity and evidence to show whether their methods or the results are as good as they should be. The question of policy is a main feature in dealing with any modification, and the Depots have to keep fixedly before them the cost throughout the guarantee of the car. In dealing with engine failures of bearings, it is a questionable matter as to which method dealing with bearings, is going to give the most satisfactory results, with the least cost over the period of the guarantee. The Kingsbury officials take the view that with their experience and technical information received from the Works, the less costly form of dealing with engine bearing is to make them as far as is possibly known a 100% job, when the time arrives for the bearings to be attended to. Evidence of one year goes to prove that this is the best method. There has not been one failure recurrent. There have been several failures (approx.5?) after a temporary method has been applied, which not only makes an owner dissatisfied, but is costly in the end to the Company. With this knowledge, the Kingsbury Depot were all for carrying out the full modification known as C. On the other hand the Depot at the Works do not agree, and are of the opinion that the costs are less and a satisfactory job obtained by dealing with the bearings in position, this modification being known as B., which is carried out without removing the engine. The Kingsbury Depot have had to again deal with the engines so treated at the Works Depot, therefore the statement that they get away with it, is not entirely correct, but they do not show this double cost on their returns. The methods adopted in dealing with an engine vary as stated.- The fitting of the large capacity oil pump, which necessitates stopping up the holes in the connecting rods and fitting a high pressure scraper ring. | ||