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 condition of 18.G.IV. shock dampers after a 10,000-mile trial.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\3\ 03-page204 | |
| Date | 11th January 1932 | |
| X5840 18.G.IV. SHOCK DAMPERS. AFTER 10,000 MILES TRIAL. GENERAL CONDITION. The general condition of this set of dampers was very good. The OIL LEVELS were correct, and only in one instance - the N.S. rear - was the oil at all "muddy". In this case the FILTER had a slight deposit on the cloth; the other filters were practically free from foreign matter. Again in the N.S. rear, the AIR VENT BALL VALVES were not functioning, and this was due to the fact the the adjusting screws were trapping the balls. In every other case the .010" lift was unaltered. In all the dampers the EXPLOSION BALL lifts were correct at .025", and the seatings in the inserts good. The MAIN PRESSURE VALVES and seatings were good. No trace of lost movement at the extremity of the main lever could be felt - with the air vents locked - before stripping, and after stripping the dimensions of the MAIN BEARINGS AND SHAFTS were found to be practically unchanged, the maximum measurable wear being .0005". The CYLINDER BORES were just polished in places, hardly enough to obliterate the machining marks. The PISTONS were also polished, but had no measurable wear. The grooves formed in the PISTON CONTACT PADS measured not more than .0005" deep, and ran fairly evenly over the width of the pads. In two cases "flaking" or "scaling" of the top surfaces had occurred. This defect had evidently been caused by the bad finish of the contact surfaces of the INTERMEDIATE LEVERS; these were not worn badly - the maximum wear being .0005". The BALL-END PINS in the main levers were worn slightly oval - to the extent of .0025" in the extreme instance. The REAR CONNECTING TUBES, were good, but the pads of the FRONT TUBES were pitted, in some cases rather badly. The asbestos GLAND PACKINGS in all the dampers were still well formed on the inside, and on the coned sides. | ||