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).
Issues with pipe lines, oil loss, dampers, and various loose components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\5\ Scan174 | |
| Date | 20th December 1933 | |
| -3- All the pipe lines from the governor unit to the dampers have been free from fractures, including the one from the engine to the frame. A good deal of oil has been lost from the system owing to :- (a) The front axle control hitting the elbow pipe connections on to the damper ends; (b) The diameter of the thread on the elbows being inadequate. This prevented the elbows from being made dead tight. Both these features are satisfactory with the production parts. Dampers. Static loads have remained consistent, maximum loads being, front 400 lbs, rear 300 lbs. The front dampers have the higher load owing to the shorter levers. At present with this type of damper the load diminishes with fast oscillations. The dampers when stripped showed very little signs of wear. The bellows controlling the load on the valve had not taken any permanent set. On two occasions the O.S. front damper became loose on the frame. All other dampers remained tight. It was found almost impossible to get a spanner on to the lower nut securing the front dampers, with a complete car. Consequently these nuts had never been dead tight. There was also a loose distance piece which headed badly against the frame. Production cars have been arranged so that a box spanner can be used, and the distance piece has been replaced by a forging rivetted to the frame. For new damper casings the size of the 2 top bolts have been increased. During the mileage the control was kept in the maximum position. The high damper loads have caused the body to rattle badly. The following parts of the front of the car needed attention :- (i) Both head lamps became loose on the pillars twice and the pillars became loose on the frame on one occasion. (ii) The front wings became loose from the running boards. (iii) The near side front wing stay became loose on the frame. RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} | ||