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).
Letter to G.W. Hancock in France regarding issues with front axle lubrication, brakes, and a gearbox.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\3\ 03-page189 | |
| Date | 25th November 1931 | |
| G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} W. Hancock Esq., Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre, France. From Ha/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} X5840 Ha/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/WJ.25.11.31. FRONT AXLE LUBRICATION. Thank you for your letter re. clutch etc. We are going to get some altered clutch levers and altered exhaust system sent out to you as soon as possible. I have been examining 19-G4. which has been stripped. The worst feature is the complete under-lubrication of the front axle. This was also noticeable on 25-EX. The main trouble occurred in the section of the axle which lies on the far side of the felt filter used to protect the pivots. We should like you to run without these felt filters on 18-G4, and we hope that this will improve matters. Of course, if the cross steering tube pads are not following up the ball, oil will escape at this point and run the rest of the system dry; this may have been one of the previous trouble. The brake drums on 19-G4. were actually very good. You have, of course, got a heavier and faster car in 18-G4 and therefore you may succeed in scrapping the brake drums quite apart from the ball bearing cams. We are, however, very interested in your report on their condition. It occurs to us that the shock absorber fouling the cross steering tube may be accentuated by having better front braking due to a more efficient servo and also very weak front springs. This might allow the axle to twist over and the cross steering tube ball end in consequence to get nearer to the shock absorber. We should like to know whether you have altered the brake leverage by fitting the altered lever to the front equaliser shaft or whether you are using the ball bearing cams only. We are having some success with the spring drive rattle and find that with stronger drive springs we can get a better axle than you have got on 18-G4, and from what you say this should be passable. We are still struggling with the gearbox. The fault | ||