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).
Throttle body distortion on 4¼-litre Bentley vehicles due to non-standard spanners and washer design at the Kingsbury Depot.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 103\5\ scan0194 | |
| Date | 8th June 1937 | |
| WNH Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Kingsbury. 8.6.37. I am reporting this matter, but leave it entirely with you as to whether any action should be taken. It has been the principle of R.R. to use standard length of spanners, and at the Works the men receive a kit of tools. At the Kingsbury Depot no such thing exists, and no standard spanners are used. It is a custom for men to supply their own. The result is that spanners with longer leverages than ours are used, and there are a great variety amongst the fitters. I mention this because during an investigation yesterday for throttle sticking I found that the body of the throttle was being distorted in tightening up. Apart from the spanner item, this trouble on 4¼-litre Bentley is more prone to this by reason of the larger flange and ⅝" nuts, allowing more leverage for the nuts to distort the body of the throttle. The copper asbestos washer also tends to cause distortion due to the centre ring being more solid than the remainder of the washer, consequently the portion under the nuts can be squashed out pulling the flange with it as the sketch shows. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} | ||