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).
Phantom III hydraulic transmission and steering gear issues, including rocker shaft and bearing failures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161a\3\ scan0189 | |
| Date | 3rd June 1939 | |
| PHANTOM III. cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} - 2 - HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION. We have written to Turbo Transmitters Ltd. suggesting as a date for the trial, Thursday or Friday, June 8th and 9th. STEERING GEAR. (a). Failure of the rocker shaft on the car driven by Faroux. The information called for was supplied to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} under cover of EY.5/G.19.5.39. For easy reference, the position is :- 41 shafts were examined, one only was twisted, representing a percentage of 2½. (b). In this connection, I am tabling the two rocker shafts which were used in the tests enumerated in Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}3/MH.{M. Huckerby} 16.5.39. The decision as to whether rocker shafts should be changed for the stronger type was put back for decision at this Conference on the basis that we had to change the follower rollers, and could therefore change the rocker shafts without additional cost other than the actual cost of the production of the shaft. (c). Failure of bearing rollers which carry the follower roller. The position in regard to the new follower roller mounted on ball bearings is that the Hoffmann Co. will begin to deliver in 10 days from date, and will then maintain a delivery of 40 per week. This will enable us to replace the roller bearing type of follower roller at a substantial rate, commencing with cars in France, and following this up by dealing with cars in the order they were delivered. [Handwritten note on the right] F.J.H. TO GET SOME WEIGHT OUT OF THE ROCKER SHAFT [Handwritten note at the bottom] WE SHOULD SEE WHAT TWIST WE CAN GET ON THE WEAKENED SHAFT BEFORE IT TWISTS OFF | ||