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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).
Bearing failures on 3 1/2 litre Bentley cars and proposed solutions for customer repairs.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 146\2\  scan0249
Date  22th June 1937
  
1243-

To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
Derby.

Levallois
Sr.2/ET.23.6.37
Dictated 22.6.37

Re: MY TRIP TO LE MANS AND MILEAGE ON TRACK.

#R20

As you probably know by now, before leaving for Le Mans I got a telephone call from a certain Mr. Healey, Racing Manager for Lucas of Birmingham, owner of a 3 1/2 litre Bentley having covered 36.000 miles, which he gave me to understand had been B. decarbonised

He had run a big-end on his way from Boulogne to Le Mans at approximately 80 M.P.H. The con. rod had not gone through the crankcase. Wisdom was driving at the time. I took two mechanics down to Le Mans with me and, working overnight, managed to slip in bearings into rod and cap, and at 6 o'clock in the morning, the car was back on the road. Of course this is a temporary job and Mr. Healy knows it; he will be going to Derby very shortly with his car. He was very surprised that a con. rod should give out on what he said was "such an expensive car", after such a short mileage. I managed diplomatically to avoid answering any questions on the subject.

Unfortunately the following day, having recovered his car, the petrol pump collapsed and the car once more completely broke down. We got over this trouble, and I hope by now he is back in England and somebody else can handle the matter.

Some time back we got an urgent telephone call and a special messenger came up from Dijon asking for a couple of con. rods complete for a 3 1/2 litre English Bentley that had run 2 big ends in that part of the world. Unfortunately, in spite of all our efforts, we have not been able to discover who the owner was. We have written again to-day.

However, this is not my point. My point is that, some time ago, when discussing bearings, I pointed out to you that you in England and your customers would have exactly the same trouble that we are having, but at a different mileage, and those customers coming to France with cars having run 30.000 to 35.000 miles and not having been attended to from a bearing point of view would more than likely run into trouble over here. This prediction seems to be proving correct and will probably become more apparent this summer, when they flock over here to the South of France.

I think the method we have adopted now in two cases to get customers out of trouble (Mr de Brault, one of our customers having broken down about 10 days ago with a bearing gone on his 3 1/2 litre Bentley), i.e. to dismantle in place and slip in a bearing so as to get the car either back to us if a French car, or to you if an English car, appears to me to be the best and most economical solution. What do you think?

So much for Mr. Healey and bearings.
  
  


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