WIX Archives
Re: Merlin manufacturing process
Posted by Ron Henry on Thu Nov 21, 2002 01:21:53 PM
In reply top Merlin manufacturing process posted by Cees Broere on Wed Nov 20, 2002 07:08:49 AM
: Hi all,
:
: Every now and then the subject of remanufacturing Merlin e
: ngines is discussed on this board.
:
: But about the original manufacturers, Rolls-Royce of cours
: e, it is known that they supported the users of Merlins we
: ll into the 60's with parts, advice etc.
: Does this also mean that they were still able to produce s
: pare parts or even whole engines using the moulds?
:
: If so what happened to these moulds, where they destroyed
: or are they still somewhere in storage.
:
: Cees
Even today, the Merlin isn't really a scarce engine. Because of this there are still reasonable stocks of (dare I say) all parts available to a greater or lesser degree in several countries around the world. Bear in mind that many components are also refurbishable, this being normal practice. IMHO, once the engine was out of production RR would have just made spares available from what was held in stock, along with a stock non-replenishment policy. IMHO, again, it would have made bad economic sense for RR to have held onto moulds and dies.
I'd also say that the RB211 development (in 1970?) that made RR bankrupt could also well have a part in the story. RR pre and post-bankruptcy are two entirely different companies. I once read that up to the bankruptcy point, the company was run by the engineers, not the accountants. The formation of the new company must have been accompanied by a total culture change, and I'll bet that all non-profitable business was thrown out of the window.