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 performance of spring gaiters and hydraulic shock absorbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 43\2\ Scan144 | |
| Date | 8th May 1926 | |
| Oy1-E-5826 -6- May 8th, 1926 V.{VIENNA} (cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary}) We obtain the latter from the average of the up and down readings through a range of one inch either side of the normal loaded position. This gives a figure for the spring which is independent of settling of the spring in use, or of internal friction between the leaves. VI. Gaiters. We have not found very good results from the Wefco leather gaiters fitted to many imported cars. The leather appears to absorb water, and the Enots nipples on the gaiter encourage the use of a heavy oil, which temporarily destroys the inter-leaf friction altogether, but soon washes out and allows the spring to rust inside a mass of solidified oil or grease. We enclose print A-7328/9 showing a gaiter which we make for all cars, on the principle of the "Jeavons". This is of water proof imitation leather (rubberized fabric) with a felt liner, and a threaded nipple which takes the syringe A-6378 but not the Alemite gun. It cannot therefore be interfered with at a "greasing-station". We call in the Instruction Book for the use of kerosene and engine oil mixed, or (in the case of dried out springs), straight kerosene. The springs generally seem to have kept in better condition since using this. Soaking the felt with a light lubricant four times a year appears to keep them sufficiently lubricated. The springs are not painted inside the gaiters so that no"grease remover" is used. Formerly this used to get between the leaves and rust the springs. VII. Hydraulic Shock Absorbers. Mr. Royce's comments on the hydraulic shock absorber have encouraged us to go further in trying the effect of Lovejoys in front. The trouble we have found with the R.R.friction type on 12-MC is to maintain the friction effect constant. Formerly we have had very poor results with Lovejoys in front whether fitted to Rolls-Royce or other makes of cars. The defect was increased pitching. | ||