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).
Modifications and issues related to the gearbox, oil leaks, hand brake, engine stay, and spring suspension.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 92\3\ scan0278 | |
| Date | 26th January 1937 guessed | |
| ( II ) [Handwritten notes:] Cory - Seems very important. What about standardising? What are we doing about oil leaks. [Typed text:] The load necessary to slide the gear lever sideways through the gate was too high, namely 4 lbs. This made gear changing very awkward. The long spring in change speed lever tube was reduced from 9.4" to 8". This reduced load required to 1 lb. and the ease of gear changing was improved to a remarkable degree. Oil leaks occurred from the special bearing on the 3rd motion shaft. There were general slight oil leaks from the front of the box. The oil softened the rubber in the rear concentric mounting. There was also play between the inner sleeve of the mounting and the spiggot on the box, so that considerable lift developed at the rear of the box. Vibrations and lumpiness in the gearbox and transmission were unpleasantly noticeable if the gear lever was touched, which would not otherwise be noticed. False engagements of the second gear were frequently made. The hand brake with increased leverage was satisfactory in operation. A special stay between the bottom of the gearbox and the engine was fitted in place of the normal top stay. Its object was to reduce clanks and proved effective in this respect. It covered 10,000 miles and gave no trouble. A stiffened stay between the engine and cross member was fitted at the same time. Spring Suspension LOP. G.83747. Complete to the above LOP. incorporating Standard Shock Dampers fitted modified as follows:- Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}208 Valve Block. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}209 Piston. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}210 Tube Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}211 Disc Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}212 Plug. Initial Load set at 60 lbs. Valves off seat .008 N.Sch.4756/7/8 Wraith II. Wheel Movement. The dampers were free from knocks. Near the end of the mileage, loss of oil from the air vents on top of the spring boxes was experienced. These were then blanked off as instructed from Works and no further leaks occurred. They were attributed to dirt under the replenishing valves, allowing oil to pump back from the dampers into the spring boxes causing them to overflow. The reduction of valve clearance off seat from .012 (standard) to .008 reduced front float which has been objected to in service. The new wheel movement overcame three major faults experienced previously on this chassis, namely, front wheels taking charge on heavy braking, causing diving to left and right, excessive wear of inside edge of front tyre treads, also | ||