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).
Progress report on the re-erection of an S.S. model, detailing challenges with the central lubrication system after an oil change.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27\1\ Scan023 | |
| Date | 24th January 1929 | |
| X3806 To: Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From: G.W.H. Hôtel de France, Châteauroux, Indre. January 24th, 1929. To-day has been solely taken up with the re-erection of the S.S. We have now almost completed the engine, the silencer pipes are finished, gear box erected, front axle and rear axle erected. The alteration from using Mobiloil to Vacuum BB has caused considerable delay. It has been necessary to alter the whole of the central lubrication Bijur drip plugs. These as we had set them for the thinner oil would not pass by 75% the drops when using Vacuum BB. It is not a question of just simply taking a Bijur out, it means most of the pipe lines have got to be disconnected before one can get to the Bijur drip plug. We are however adhering to your instructions by using a thicker oil, but personally I do not think that this is a wise move. It means that immediately warm weather arrives the oil will simply pour through. It would have been far better to have kept to the thinner oil for winter use, then come on to Vacuum BB for summer use. The temperature of the oil in the Bijur tank under the conditions we are testing is 7.5°C. We were hoping to have dropped the body on to-day, but these alterations have thrown us a day late. To alter the bijurs we have reamed the plunger hole out, thoroughly washed them all through with paraffin, then tested each one for drops per min. We have oil-tested the crankshaft bearings; the leak from the bearings is very small which shows that very little wear has taken place. We hope to have the engine running by morning and to have completed the car by the week end. G.W.H. [Signature] [Handwritten notes:] Please note RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} By/SS{S. Smith} [struck through] B4/SS{S. Smith} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} [Signature] HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||