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).
Faults and repairs on a Phantom III vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0304 | |
| Date | 27th May 1936 | |
| [Handwritten notes]: FHH scott too AFW Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}, X300a, 4-7-1, [Illegible scribble], LES.{Ivan A. Leslie}, F.S.H. Martindale HOTEL DE FRANCE. CHATEAUROUX. Indre. France. GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}/6/JAB. 27th May 1936. To. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From. G.W.H. 32.EX. - PHANTOM III. With reference to your memo Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}I4/KW.20.5.36 The points you raise. 1) Petrol Smell. This has been just as bad with the tank half full as when full. We have located it to the top hat breather at the side of the filler. We can hear the gas escaping when stopped after a hard run, due to heat. The smell is caused more by gas than petrol actually spilling. To cure this, we are fitting a vent pipe in place of the top hat and carrying it down to the rear of the body, results of which we will send along when completed. 2) Loss of oil from O.S.F. Shock Dampers. This has not as yet been cured. F.{Mr Friese} Dodd tackled it during my absence at Derby. He found oil leaking from the joint of the pot to the frame. All nuts were on the slack side. Attention to this has not stopped the loss of oil. Since then, we have been keeping a watch and found that oil was leaking from the joints of the bellows unit. There are three joints at this point, also from the large nut on the outside pot. These leaks have been tackled since our return from Mount Ventoux. The car has not as yet been on the road. The following points have been having attention :- I) Rear Dampers removed, checked for poundage, and oil. Specification states 60 lbs initial load. Tests found them 70-75 lbs. no serious loss of oil. 2) Breather pipe to Petrol Tank. 3) Servo Mechanism. All pins in rods sloppy fit, resulting in a lost movement on brake pedal of 1/4 inch. This appears to be the usual practice now-a-days. We have no oversize pins so cannot cure it. Lay out of servo linkage was not correct, corrected by altering lengths of connecting rods. Air pot damper not working, ball valve not seating. Position of damper wrong, piston was out 3/4 inch in off position. This limits movement of front brakes, with wear of linings. Metal welded on to bracket, and dash pot moved to allow piston full movement. | ||