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 during a high-speed run, including damage assessment and telegram correspondence.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\1\ scan0228 | |
| Date | 26th August 1933 | |
| R4532 Hotel de France. Chateauroux. Indre. 26.8.33 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From G.W.H. I. B. IV. We have sent you the following telegrams: ROBERTS TELEPHONED NUMBER ONE CONNECTING ROD BROKE STOP ENGINE CASE BROKEN STOP GETTING CAR BACK HERE FULL INFORMATION TOMORROW - HANCOCK CAR RETURNED HERE STOP FRONT BALANCE WEIGHT STUD BROKEN CAUSE OF TROUBLE STOP CRANKCASE BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR - HANCOCK We received the following telegram: LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN ARRANGE FOR CAR TO RETURN TO DERBY UNDER ITS OWN POWER OR DO YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE FROM US - ROBOTHAM We replied by the following telegram: ENGINE HOPELESS IMPOSSIBLE TO RUN NEW ENGINE REQUIRED - Hancock We are very sorry to have to report the breaking up of the engine. The car was running very well and we had hoped to get some results. The failure was while Roberts and Wood were running during the afternoon. Roberts reports that whilst he was travelling at 90 M.P.H. there was a sudden crash in the engine and steam and dust enveloped them. There was not the slightest previous warning. Oil pressure temperature were normal. He telephoned to me and said he thought it was Nº one connecting rod that had broken, however upon getting the car towed back and dismantling it this morning we found that the first balance weight had broken off. The rod and the piston are intact. The balance weight hit the O.S. of the engine making and open fissure in the top half of the crankcase, close by the ignition tower. The intermediate timing wheel has been thrust out of gear, the O.S. front engine mounting tube bent, ignition tower broken, coil and oil pump broken. The crankshaft from an underside view does not appear to have suffered. The engine of course cannot be repaired here. so we are making preparations, for the car to be sent back to Derby. We are waiting for your instructions. It is damned annoying as we had got all in first class trim and the car was running exceeding well. We have checked the wear of the brakes since refitting ie. 1943 miles. The wear during that mileage has been O.S.F. two turns of hand adjustment, N.S.F. one turn; O.S.R. AND N.S.R. three turns of adjustment. It was necessary to free the thum nut on the O.S.F. and N.S.R. before they could be turned. G.W. Hancock. G.W.H. | ||