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).
Parts list and failure analysis for a Phantom III rear axle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\2\ scan0176 | |
| Date | 21th July 1937 | |
| By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 300a 25, Rue de Gide, Levallois-Perret. 21.7.37. 32-EX - PHANTOM III. REAR AXLE. We beg to confirm our telephone message with Roberts this morning asking him to bring the following parts with him to Paris if possible, otherwise to have them despatched. Please confirm that this was done. 1 Crown wheel and pinion with gear setting and fitting instructions. 8 ⅜" Lock washers for differential casing bolts. Pinion adjusting washers (5⅜" dia. approx. with holes). Differential adjusting washers (4⅜" dia. approx. - plain). 2 Woodruff keys for pinion driving flange (⅞" long). 1 Pinion Driving flange for Hardy Spicer Prop. shaft. (four bolt fixing), if available only, not essential. 1 Air Vent for differential housing. 2 Rear rubber buffers complete with pressed steel housings. 6 2.B.A. Lock Washers for oil seal housing. Also some lock washers for pendulum lever ball pin (Steering). ------------- No bearings were damaged and the gears were cut in badly on the thrust face only. Had the trouble been due to a faulty race or deformation of the housing, both faces would have shown poor bedding, but this was not the case. The failure is, therefore, attributed to inadequate lubrication. Wakefield's E.P. oil was in use, and we can only say that at some time the combination of load and temperature must have been too much for the lubricant, as we show from our frequent examinations that at no time was there any shortage of oil. | ||