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).
Production problems and faults with Phantom III gearboxes, including a comparison with Cadillac-type gears.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 94\2\ scan0079 | |
Date | 24th November 1936 | |
[Handwritten note]: 328GRY{Shadwell Grylls} - What is the position with regard to production of X. When does it come on. [Text with red strikethrough]: WE [Text with red strikethrough]: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} [Text with red strikethrough]: WEH from Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} PHANTOM III GEAR BOXES The production of satisfactory gear boxes is still the biggest problem on the chassis. The boxes we are passing are below the standard that we obtain on the 25/30HP and Bentley. On the last 100 cars we have despatched, we have made 180 gear box changed. It will be realised that this causes considerable delay and expense. The principal faults are - (1) Noisy and uneven continuous gears. (2) Slack on indirect gears. (3) Whine from second gear when running on top gear. [Handwritten 'X' next to point 4] (4) Second gear coming out under load. (We have not yet had gear boxes fitted with the modification to overcome this trouble) About a month ago 11 gear boxes were built with all Cadillac type gears. Along with Sft.{Mr Swift} and Mr Pritchard of the Gear Box Dept. I tried each one of these boxes. The conclusions we formed were, that this type gear had two advantages :- (1) Continuous gears were definitely quieter when idling. (2) There was a marked improvement on the second gear whine when running on top gear, in fact, with one exception this feature was inaudible. The disadvantages were:- (1) The indirect gear had a heavier and deeper note/than RR type gears. (2) In every case there was more slack on the indirect gears. contd- | ||