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 difficulties of accessing and maintaining the oil relief valve on the Phantom model.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\2January1926-March1926\ Scan21 | |
| Date | 27th January 1926 | |
| E xpl: Report. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} OY. Expl: NO. Ref. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}3/LG27.1.26. ORIGINAL X8205 X89409 OIL RELIEF VALVE ON PHANTOM. We have never been able to complete 10,000 miles in France without having trouble with the oil relief and having to dismantle same on the road. The oil release unit on the Phantom is in a most inaccessible position to dismantle either in the garage or on the road. The position is such that it collects all the dirt off the road and to attempt to dismantle on the road is one of extreme risk to anyone who is not familiar with the job. It is not a practical job to dismantle the top cap only whilst on the road to clean the valves, as it is impossible to see or clean the valve seats, also, the dirt and grit lying about will in almost every case fall inside the unit. To dismantle the whole unit from engine case, which is the only practical way for cleaning valves and seats, is one which no customer would tackle. In the first place, one has to crawl underneath the car and then proceed to clean the unit before attempting to dismantle same. When the oil pipe nuts are loosened off, a dirty stream of oil runs down ones arms and on to ones clothes before the unit can be dismantled. The complete unit has then to be taken apart on the running board and is not an ideal job to do, with a lot of dirty oil all over. Also, generally, more dirt gets inside than what has caused the failure. In replacing the unit, one has again to crawl underneath and after re-fitting there is generally an oil leak contd:- | ||