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).
Starter motor failure caused by grease working its way onto the commutator.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\D\January1920\ Scan41 | |
| Date | 20th January 1920 | |
| R R 235 A (100 T) (S.F. 846. 6-8-19) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 2460. ORIGINAL. To Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to CK.{Mr Clark} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/LG20.1.20 X.3082 RE STARTER MOTOR FAILURE DUE TO GREASE WORKING ITS WAY ON TO THE COMMUTATOR. X.3348 This matter was taken up with "R" several months ago and he agreed that we should cancel the instruction to fill the starter motor bearings up with grease. At present we have a dynamo on the car which is running continuously at high speed on which there is no means of lubricating the bearings, whereas, the motor which is only run for a few seconds, has a means of being packed up with grease. We do not think it is possible to get any scheme to prevent the grease from getting on to the commutator if the grease is forced in by the screwed cap. The only way would be to have an oil lubricated bearing, on which any excess oil drains out. This would mean radical alteration in design. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||