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).
Ongoing repairs and observations on a Bentley, including issues with the clutch, jack, and engine components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 83\4\ scan0190 | |
| Date | 1st May 1936 | |
| HOTEL DE FRANCE. CHATEAUROUX. Indre. France. To. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From. C.W.H. We received the front axle for 22.C.V. on Wednesday afternoon. This has been fitted and the car resumed running yesterday. It is quite alright and tests are being carried for petrol consumption valve bounce. When these are completed we shall carry out your instructions as received in your memo Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RmS/KW.28.4.36. You will have received my report re clutch of the Bentley. There is no question as Prof. Smith suggests of the clutch being tight on the spiggot especially after 10,000 miles running. Actually there is .002 clearance on the splines and .008 on the dia. There is no sign of the unwanted oil thrower being loose. We have proved that the oil in the clutch pit is engine oil and not bijur as we first suspected. We are endeavouring to keep it off the pressure plate side. Re Jack for Bentley. We do not understand the reason why Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} is asking if there is any difficulty in jacking the front of the car, after I reported taking the car to Conduit St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} and letting Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} jack the front up from a flat tyre and fitting a spare. We reported that this jack is not the right length and until we obtain a correct jack this kind of work counts for nothing. Our jack keeps giving trouble owing to the push in pin at the bottom of the spindle coming out and allowing the crown wheel to drop off the square. Hamilton made a good suggestion that the sphere should be the opposite way round, i.e. the top of the jack should be con'cave. This would be more definate and less liable to slip off when on bad cambered roads. The jack could also then be used with more security if and when the jack pads are knocked off. BENTLEY. We have to-day received the six connecting rods and the dropped cross member which are being fitted. The main bearings of the crankshaft are in a poor condition. They are badly grooved, the crankshaft likewise. We have had the crank out and thoroughly cleaned the webs and all oil passages, cylinder head water ways, are being blocked up as per 22.C.V. To fit the cross member necessitated removing the two front wings, nearly a day's job. G.W.H. | ||