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).
Gearbox issues and modifications for the Spectre model, including fixes for oil leaks and component failures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\4\ scan0118 | |
| Date | 19th July 1935 | |
| HOTEL DE FRANCE, CHATEAUROUX. Indre. France. 19th July 1935. To. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From. G.W.H. 3. S. I. SPECTRECodename for Phantom III. of 17/7/35 re Gear Box. We have received your memo. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry{Shadwell Grylls} 8/KW We telegraphed for a new spindle for the drive of the damper govenor for the reason that, we found the first acme thread torn to pieces. Incidentally we have very little faith in these threads. They are alright in still air, but where pressures are to be met, they fail miserably. With our baffles, and stopping up the hollow reverse shaft and conduit feed to reverse pinion, we are getting quite a good feed to the 3rd and top Synchromesh cones. We have since the Fitters left, fitted a baffle in the selector lever compartment, which prevents the throw of the oil from the second speed driving wheel up into the change speed lever tube, and by fitting a baffle under the selector shafts, we drain the oil back into the 3rd & top compartment. This is an excellent scheme. We have found a discrepancy in our box. The anchorage for the swinging arm, should have had a pressing sweated at the end, bolted to the gear box. This had been omitted, consequently oil was going straight through the hollow shaft and down the swinging arm. We had twice checked the bizur supply, because of the amount of oil floating about, before we tumbled to the probability of there being a direct supply from the Gear box. We have cured the leak from the damper unit drive. We don't like to mis-believe you, but how on earth do you get 6 inches of water pressure. With all our air vents closed, we get 1/2 an inch. (Tres difficile) We reported that we found the Engine out of line with the Gear box coupling 1/4". We raised the rear of the Engine that amount. | ||