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).
Investigation into oil leaks from dampers and a squeak from front axle anchor control brackets.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\3\ 03-page318 | |
| Date | 20th June 1933 guessed | |
| - 8 - The dampers have been free from any audible knocks. The anchorage both front and rear has not given any trouble. The spring loaded connecting links have given no trouble, and the spherical contact joints have been well lubricated. It is useless fitting leather covers to the bottom of the connecting links as they are quickly torn off with stones and grit. They also do not prevent dirt getting inside. The dampers have not been free from oil leaks. It was quickly noted that oil leaked from the glands. The Rear Off Side (Near Side on the Continent) was the worst in this respect, 50 cc. in 500 miles, in so much that its velocity of movement was the greatest. The Continental roads traversed generally having the surface broken up at the sides. The exhaust, Rear Side which becomes hot by its close proximity to the exhaust, did not leak so much. The front dampers moving through a less arc and the velocity not being so great, the leak was relatively less. Gland packings impregnated with tallow in place of beeswax was tried without any appreciable results. A series of various packings were tried. A scheme was devised and tried with the gland packing at the opposite end of the gland gap, in conjunction with a special bronze washer. This fitted to the Off Side completely cured the leak, for approx. 4000 miles afterwards a slight weep was observed, the loss in oil not being above 3 cc. in 5000 miles. The results of the investigations would place 75% of the trouble to the distortion of the shaft, the remaining 25% to the non recovering properties of the gland packing during distortion effects. The dampers as now fitted up are practically free from leaks, an average of 1 cc. is the amount from the glands. FRONT AXLE ANCHOR CONTROL BRACKETS F.58835/6. A squeak developed from the bottom bearings of both control brackets at 2500 miles. It was found that no oil was feeding to the bearing, the pipe lines being dry and air locked. It is important that all pipe lines on the bijur system should be well bled before connecting up, otherwise oil will not flow. We had no further trouble after doing this. We find that the setting of the spring loaded contact for the ball of the control damper is affected by the tightening up of the bolt after setting. In tightening up the bolt the shell is distorted. The contact pads have been well lubricated. The control brackets are not in line vertically with the dampers. It would appear that the fitting of the plate under the Hydraulic Damper anchorage is the cause of the out of alignment. | ||