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).
Various mechanical issues, adjustments, and repairs for the 'Spectre' vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\4\ scan0051 | |
| Date | 30th June 1935 | |
| E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} X300A HOTEL DE FRANCE, CHATEAUROUX Indre. France. GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}/4/JAB. 30th June 1935. To. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From. G.W.H. 3. S. I. SPECTRECodename for Phantom III. You will notice in the Daily Report of the failure of the first gear selector shaft. The pin that worked outwards, was approximately .125 in diameter, and came out approximately the same amount. We do not know what this does, but it should be placed so that it does not come out of the selector shaft bearing. We have today been tackling the lubrication of the front suspension steering rods etc., We have found that there was too much oil leaking from the needle bearings of the top yokes. On the O.S. there is fitted at bottom of needle bearing a felt washer. These washers were not doing their job, consequently the chassis lubricating oil had an easy escape, leaving the pivot and bottom steering arm short of oil. We have cured this by fitting asbestos rope packing. The N.S. appeared to have rubber packing washers, which were just as ineffective. This side has been packed with Asbestos. We are now getting an ample feed of oil to the pivot and steering arms. The lubrication of the centre ball ends of the cross steering tubes was not sufficient. Here, a N° 3 Bizur has to feed the bearing of the central steering arm, and the two ball ends. It was these ball ends that were creaking during the Alpine run. We have increased the N°3 Bizur supply to three times as much. We have carried Gry{Shadwell Grylls}'s instructions with regard to the rear brake cam adjustment. We have reduced the lift of the cam to .125 Measurements taken on the cross brake rope pull, were, brakes fully adjusted previously 5/8". With the reduced cam, the adjustment has been brought down to 3/8". If we get into trouble we shall soon let you know. In carrying out this job, Hamilton came across a snag. In pulling off the cam lever, he inadvertently lifted up the lever, and then found that something was jamming inside the brake drum. The drum was dismantled, and we found that the operating rod with the ballend had dropped out of the half sphere. This should be made so that it cannot drop out of position. It does not matter coming out of the sphere, so long as it cannot drop. The noise from the front brakes when the Car left Derby, was due to the N.S. drum outer diameter, fouling the flange of the water excluders [Signature] G.H.Hancock G.W.H. [Handwritten notes in left margin:] GRY{Shadwell Grylls} Bowering - This has been passed by another Dept and will need further inspection. GRY{Shadwell Grylls} | ||