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).
Letter from Leyland Motors regarding gearbox modifications and issues with the third speed wheel.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 140\3\ scan0267 | |
| Date | 11th December 1939 | |
| 1175 Leyland BY APPOINTMENT TO THE LATE KING GEORGE V.{VIENNA} LEYLAND MOTORS LIMITED. Head Office and Works, Manufacturers of Motor Vehicles. YOURS Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry{Shadwell Grylls}/1.JH. IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE: OURS VWP/HK.{Col. T. Harker - Sales} Tel: Ext: 97. ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMPANY AND NOT TO INDIVIDUALS CUSTOMERS' VEHICLES DRIVEN AT OWNERS RISK ONLY . . . TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: LEYMOTORS, LEYLAND. TELEPHONE: LEYLAND 81400 (16 LINES) LEYLAND. LANCASHIRE. 11th December, 1939. Dict. 8th. S. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Grylls Esq., Rolls-Royce Ltd., D E R B Y. Dear Mr. Grylls, I must apologise for not having previously replied to your letter dated 28th November, but can assure you that we are extremely busy at the present time, and I have not been able to give this matter personal attention. I think if I just outline what we have done to date with regard to the grinding of the third speed wheel, it will give you some idea as to what has transpired. When we first made the modification to constant mesh 3rd in our commercial type gearbox, the gear was made to run on a phosphor bronze bush. We had so much trouble in this direction that we had to abandon this scheme and the second stage was to adopt a needle bearing. The needle bearing assembly was quite satisfactory, but some troubles were experienced with the locating washer on the mainshaft. This was finally modified and to date I believe that the needle bearing assembly is quite satisfactory. At that time we were doing a light form of box for our Kingston production where the American system of mounting the gear direct on the shaft was incorporated. I can assure you that we have never yet had a case of failure of this gear, and many thousands are on the roads. When it is appreciated that the shafting on these lighter goods models is a totally different proposition to a car, it will be conceded that this method has now been | ||