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).
Phantom III engine unit test detailing broken valve springs and clutch adjusting screws.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0243 | |
| Date | 9th April 1936 | |
| X300 [Handwritten Initials: R] [Handwritten Signature: Lil Smith] [Handwritten Note: Should like to see these parts] [Handwritten Note: Harls] C.Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from MX.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} HX3/T9.4.36 [Handwritten Initials: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}] PHANTOM III ENGINE We have completed the unit test on the first Phantom III Production engine. Two of the outer valve springs broke - one exhaust and one inlet. We found on dismantling the clutch casing that one of the internal hexagon adjusting screws for the clutch fingers had broken off. The broken piece with the lock nut attached was found in the casing. There were signs of the broken part having fouled the outer diameter of the flywheel on the casing, but fortunately, little or no damage had resulted. There are six of these screws in all. We found on trying the others that they broke off very easily. We examined a second engine which had not started unit testing, and we found one of the screws broken on this engine. The external hexagon screw was adopted with the large flywheel, as there was insufficient clearance for the original type of adjusting screw. Now we have reverted to the smaller flywheel, there is adequate clearance for the original type - it may therefore be considered advisable to revert to the original screw. We are sending to HY{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} and Sft.{Mr Swift} 1 each of the broken parts referred to. [Handwritten Initial: R] [Handwritten Signature] | ||