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 chassis condition of model 18-EX after 18,000 miles, detailing issues with the rear shackle and soldered pipe joints.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\2January1929-June1929\ Scan242 | |
| Date | 24th May 1929 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gy. c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} ORIGINAL Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gy1/LG24. 5. 29. REPORT ON CHASSIS CONDITION OF 18-EX X3806 AFTER 18,000 MILES. X 7420 The general condition of the wearing parts of this chassis after 18,000 miles is very good. With the exception of the front anchorage ball ends (already condemned) and the O.S. rear shackle, oil has reached every part. The O.S. rear spring shackle appears to have received no oil at all for a considerable while, and the shackle pin has worn very badly. On examination we found the drip plug feeding this part was blocked up, and application of a low pressure oil gun through an adaptor shewed both the pipe and the shackle to be clean. We are satisfied that the latest drip plugs are made and tested much more accurately than those in this chassis, and do not anticipate much trouble from drip plug failure. Moreover, the latest type pump delivers a pressure of practically twice the intensity of that fitted to this chassis, and we believe the system on 21-EX is not nearly so susceptible to pressure disparity as that on 18-EX. A careful examination of all pipes after they had been cleaned revealed 6 failures at soldered joints, 4 of these we believe are due to imperfect erection or dismantling i.e. the pipe twisting when the spanner is applied to the drip plug nut; and two to failure by vibration. We have since considerably improved the system by making it less rigid for vibration, and such that joints can be made or broken without harmful effect. contd :- | ||