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 failure of Duralumin push rods and the unsuitability of steel replacements for the Spectre engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0043 | |
| Date | 5th August 1935 | |
| X300 To RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Ey. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}11/KW.5.8.35. SpectreCodename for Phantom III Push Rods. After the failure of the Duralumin push rods in France, we instructed steel push rods for all SpectreCodename for Phantom IIIs. It has since been discovered that when the engine cools down with the steel push rods, the valves are opened and the eccentrics on the tappet adjusting mechanism do not function until the engine has been running some time on the starter motor. This means that there would certainly be difficulties in starting and probably run down batteries in consequence. We therefore have come to the conclusion that steel push rods are not a feasible proposition, and that it will be necessary to strengthen up the existing Duralumin push rods. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||