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).
The failure of a rear axle thrust race for a 3.5-litre chassis, identifying incorrect assembly as the cause.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 102\4\ scan0184 | |
| Date | 2nd June 1937 | |
| MR.EASTON. MR.WEBB. MR.FRASER. MR.DONOVAN. c to Mr.Hancock. PK/KC/DPB/2.6.37. THE FAILURE OF REAR AXLE THRUST RACE. ================================== 3½-litre Chassis No.B.75.AE. ---------- Some weeks ago the axle was removed from this chassis for examination by the Inspection Department at W with a view to ascertaining the reason for the repeated failures (2) of the GB.2035 thrust race. They reported that the failure was due to insufficient nip on bearings on original assembly, there being .017" float instead of .002" nip. This .017" was made up of burrs raised on the faces of the flange, not allowing the housing to seat correctly to the extent of .015". All these burrs had been thrown up by some individual marking the flange of the housing, the adjustment washer and the casing with three chisel marks for assembly purpose, which marking is totally unnecessary, as is well known, due to the stud spacing. There is a strong suspicion that this marking was carried out by a fitter since discharged - therefore it is not possible to definitely state that he was responsible for this bad workmanship. Will those responsible, who fully realise the importance of the maintenance of the .002" nip on this assembly, impress upon all those concerned the vital necessity of keeping all joint faces free from burrs of any description during final erection. PK/KC. | ||