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).
Catastrophic engine failure caused by a broken connecting rod and gudgeon pin.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\1\ scan0275 | |
| Date | 16th October 1933 | |
| Yurra Hotel de France. Chateauroux. Indre. 16.10.33. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From G.W.H. I. B. IV. We have sent you the following telegrams: NUMBER SIX CONNECTING ROD BROKEN COME THROUGH ENGINE CASE STOP CAN RETURN UNDER POWER STOP ENGINE SCRAPPED - HANCOCK CAUSE OF FAILURE GUDGEON PIN BOSS BROKE AWAY CONNECTING ROD BREAKING AFTERWARDS STOP SEND ONE VOUCHER - HANCOCK The engine failed while I was trying the car. I was using third speed and with cutout open was just reaching the 4000 rev mark when there was a crash. Upon investigation we found a hole in the top crank case at the N.S. opposite number six cylinder and could see the broken connecting rod. On the O.S. there were two holes, one in the bottom half and one in the crankcase. We managed to crawl back to the garage. When we dismantled the engine we found a whole heap of debris. The top portion of the piston was still in the cylinder and was quite free (no seizure.) The rest of the the broken piston along with the broken rod, gudgeon pin, was in the bottom half. The rod had broken off close to the big end. The bearings of the big end are perfect (no seizure) What apparently happened was, the gudgeon pin boss of the piston broke away allowing the rod to jam on the cylinder wall during the next revolution. It then crashed through the crankcase and snapped off. The gudgeon pin end of the rod was bent right round. The bottom of the cylinder is broken away both sides of the engine. The crankcase is badly cracked and the gallery oil pipe pierced. We can however patch it up and get the car back under its own power. The car had just completed 6050 Miles. G.H. Hancock G.W.H. | ||