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).
Damper faults, including oil leaks from Bijur connections and issues caused by maltreatment.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 105\3\ scan0133 | |
| Date | 25th October 1930 | |
| -3- He/Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}1/AL.25.10.30.Contd. in the frame which has been traced to coachbuilders slacking them off to fit their wing stays. This of course is likely to lead to broken damper feet etc. Generally speaking, the complaint of the large Phosphor Bronze main lever bearing knocking is a rarity. OIL LOSS FROM DAMPERS. The only oil leak that we consider serious at present is that occasioned by the Bijur connection on the rear dampers. This was fully realised in RS{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary}/15.5.30. and Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} stated that he had the matter in hand in his Dal/4.5.30. Experimentally we have only been able to lose at a maximum 26 c.c. from the S.S. rear dampers by this means though we have made many tests including of course four 10,000 miles tests. 26 c.c. still leaves plenty of oil for the correct functioning of the damper. However, three cases have come to light in customers' hands where the dampers were empty and there were no external leaks, so that we can only conclude that the oil escaped via the bijur pipe to the ball end. We have these three cases under observation to establish the point. An appreciable proportion of leaks have been traced to maltreatment of the dampers by chauffeurs presumably in an endeavour to adjust the loads. We have found - Valve caps increased several turns. * * cross threaded. Filler plugs with stripped threads. Dampers with washers inserted over the spring rasing the loads above 150 lbs. | ||