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).
Recurring bearing failure on the rear axle pinion of the 3½ Litre Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\2\ scan0003 | |
| Date | 30th January 1934 | |
| To H.I. From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Hcr. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Ey. c. to Sr. c. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. to Ddy. c. to Dg. X4553 A RR.6/HM.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}30.1.34. 3½ Litre Bentley. ---------------- We have got to accept that the bearing on the rear axle pinion is a definite weakness. This bearing failed on the last 10,000 mile car run in France. It has also failed on one of the 15 Demonstration Cars and we have had failures on two Experimental Cars: in all, four failures. We have been in touch with the Makers of ball bearings, both Hoffmann and Ransome & Marles, in order to obtain a bearing which will overcome this trouble. Ransome & Marles claim that they can supply us with a bearing which will stand up to the job. This bearing will fit in in place of the present one, requiring no alterations. We hope to have a car running with this bearing on Monday or Tuesday, and we propose to run this car 10,000 miles or more in England as quickly as possible. We also propose carrying out tests on the dynamometer, and if possible make comparative tests on a rig. We treat the failure of this bearing as very serious and one that is likely to occur with the cars in customers' hands. We have had more failures occur in England than in France, so that the test can be carried out satisfactorily here. Two failures have occurred when using Whitmore's Gear Oil, and the others with R.P. Oil. Apart from the special bearing on the rear axle pinion, we propose to fit the following parts to the car :- Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} | ||