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).
List of outstanding development problems for the Spectre model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0160 | |
| Date | 27th November 1935 | |
| File' X300 HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}18/KW.27.11.35. The following are our outstanding development problems on the SpectreCodename for Phantom III :- (1) We have no big end bearings which are suitable for production. The lead bronze bearings failed on the first 10,000 miles test in France. We have just issued a report on white metal bearings with both types of connecting rod. (2) We have no pistons that we can really recommend for production. We have got the die-cast fully split type pistons on test, but it will be some time before we can give them a clean bill of health. The reason for this is that though the piston follows our Bentley and 20/25 general design, the gudgeon pin position is different. We have run into trouble with the steel skirted pistons. (3) We are still not happy with the gearbox. Sometimes we get satisfactory changes, other times we do not. The car is sensitive to the lining up of the engine and gearbox. Since both of these are mounted on flexible rubber, it is difficult to guarantee that they will remain lined up, even if they are right in the first place. (4) We have the Duplex Stromberg carburetter on test which gives promising results, but there is a lot of development work to do on it. We find that this carburetter floods on a 1 in 15 gradient. We have got to try and overcome this trouble. (5) Steering. We have to admit after all our efforts that we have not approached the standard attained by the LaSalle box. (6) Brakes. We shall definitely require stiffer brake drums. (7) Hydraulic valve adjustment. Two of these have broken in France. We also have the complaint of valve gear noise at high speeds. This means a considerable amount of development work. (8) We have yet to evolve a satisfactory clutch. | ||