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).
Investigation into the top gear disengaging on a 20-HP chassis, citing faulty gearbox alignment.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 75\1\ scan0274 | |
| Date | 29th May 1923 | |
| X4247 c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sft.{Mr Swift} EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}7/H29.5.23. 20-HP Chassis. Top Gear becoming disengaged while running. X4247 With further reference to our report EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}9/H24.5.23 also your memo BY/TWD{T. W. D???Aeith}6/CMK25.5.23 instructing stronger springs - we have to point out that we recently had a case in for attention which appears to have developed this trouble after delivered to customer, and which was so bad that it was not cured even after the fixing of stronger spring. We have now had this car back to the Works, dismantled the gear box for examination and found that the alignment of the gear box also the bearings in the gear box were not correct. Details of this faulty alignment can do doubt be supplied by Sft.{Mr Swift} After correcting these faults and building up the gear box in position on to the engine, we found that there was no further trouble with the gear coming out, even though the weak spring was used. As pointed out in my previous report, we are not satisfied that we have as yet effected a cure for this job and do not feel at all satisfied that we shall not have further trouble in this respect with cars in service, and even those which we are now delivering. On the above car referred to, the fault was so bad that it could not possibly have passed through our hands as a chassis in this condition. At the same time Sft.{Mr Swift} states emphatically that when building up the cars the lining up was correct and the routine of inspection they have in the Works and the tackle they have for doing so certainly seems to justify his statement. I certainly feel we should be in a position where we are not going to rely on the spring or accurate lining up definitely to overcome this trouble, and I suggest investigations should immediately be made as to what can be done to effect a definite improvement in this respect, not only on future cars, but if necessary on cars retrospectively. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||