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).
Technical notes on component issues including air escape holes, brake lubrication, ball studs, shock absorbers, and water pumps.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27\1\ Scan040 | |
| Date | 1st February 1929 guessed | |
| - 6 - Note the position of the air escape hole X. We had this originally about 1" lower down and it got blocked with oil and air-locked the center bore of the bolt. (i) We do not attempt to take oil to the camshaft of the front brakes. This is cadmium plated and left un-lubricated except for an emergency grease cup. The same is done on the rear brake camshafts. We do not want to run the risk of putting oil in the brake drums. (10) Note that we do not drill into the taper shank of the ball stud (except on the pendulum lever which is a recent addition). This was from fear of breakage. We think now that it was an unnecessary precaution. It has the advantage that the oil pipes on levers are either completely removable both ends, or built into the lever both ends. The nuts on ball studs locked by a cup-head rivet we find necessary to prevent enthusiasts removing the ball studs in dismantling an axle. (11) On hydraulic shock absorber levers (not axle control) we found that so much torsion took place that the straight oil pipes broke. We made a loop in them and changed from copper to steel. (12) Water Pump. We have just located a trouble in water pump drip plugs. Antifreeze, either alcohol or glycerine, or both, appears to attack the impregnation on the sheet of fabric used on the face of the drip-plug non-return valve. The water then works back into the oil system to a very slight amount, but sufficient to form a fine "scale" of dirt particles, jellied oil, etc. around the drip plug metering pin. This blocks the plug and cuts off the water pump lubrication. It happens after about 15,000 miles. Bijur is working on it to make:- (a) A drip plug mounted on a capillary tube about 1-1/2" long which will not allow water to pass back fast enough to reach the valve between operations of the pump. (b) A drip plug with metal non-return valve. Will let you know what happens. -continued- | ||