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).
Redesign and testing of undersheets for model 26.G.VI to address water ingress and cracking issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 108\1\ scan0260 | |
| Date | 14th January 1938 | |
| To HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. c. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} 600a Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.8/MH.{M. Huckerby}14.1.38. 26.G.VI - UNDERSHEETS. In view of complaints of water getting on servo etc. we find that it is necessary to extend the engine undersheets back under the gear box. It has not been possible to make a gearbox undersheet before as we have only just got a final gearbox mounting on 26.G.VI. Further, a defect has shown up on the present undersheets resulting in cracking. We have discussed the alterations to be made with the D.O. and Mr. Wakefield and have decided that in order to minimise tool costs and service costs it will be necessary to make the undersheets in two separate portions, split near the junction of the intermediate exhaust pipe and front expansion chamber - this also gets over the cracking trouble. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} has agreed with this and the revised sheets are being detailed at the moment together with revised frame drilling. We wish to get the new sheets on 26.G.VI for 12,000 miles so that durability and effect on oil temperatures etc. can be determined. The front one can be made by only shortening the sheet already instructed for this car, the rear one, however, will be entirely new. Will you please, therefore, make a set of sheets to the latest details as soon as they are issued, and if possible fit same to 26.G.VI before it goes to France. If it is not possible to do this in the time available will you please complete the sheets as soon as you can, and we will send them out after the car to be fitted in France. If this is the case no undersheets should be fitted to this car here. In any case will you please drill and tap the frame for the fixing of the new sheets in accordance with the drawing issued by 'G' dept., so that the sheets can just be slipped up and bolted in position. We are not requesting any alteration to undersheets on the six production cars in order to avoid delaying same. Instructions for the sheets for the 100 production chassis will be held up until the final sheets have been tried. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. | ||