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).
Investigating repeated fractures in Phantom III rocker shafts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 131\4\ scan0283 | |
| Date | 9th June 1937 | |
| To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} 1113 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} Cricklewood June 9th.1937 Ph.III. ROCKER SHAFTS. A cracked rocker was shewn to me this morning. The crack extended either side of the centre hole for the pedestal location. This is the fourth they have had. The previous ones have been returned to Archer. This is a similar fracture that we recently experienced on Bentley and which was put down to loose pedestal nuts. I enquired of the fitters who dismantled the Ph.III. with regard to the tightness of the pedestal nuts and he assured me they were not slack. Is it not a question of material or method of hardening. If these shafts are case hardened and they do not put clay in the centre during the process it would cause the cracking. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} | ||