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 Zenith Carburetter Co. Ltd. about a production issue with Phantom III carburetter pump pistons.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 122\2\ scan0034 | |
| Date | 9th June 1936 | |
| X1033 Exptl. Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Swdl.{Len H. Swindell}28/KW. 9th June, 1936. The Zenith Carburetter Co.Ltd., Honeypot Lane, Stanmore, Middlesex. Dear Sirs, Phantom III Carburetters. We have received several carburetters on production in which the actuation of the accelerator pump has been very stiff, so much so that the compensator spring is not strong enough to carry on the pump stroke. Upon dismantling, the leather pump piston washer has been found to be curled up the wrong way and jamming. Once this has happened the leather cannot be corrected and a new pump piston complete is required. In the first few carburetters received for experimental trial this trouble was not experienced despite the fact that these carburetters were dismantled and assembled numerous times. The difference is that in the early carburetters the spindle was locked into the washer housing and one could not rotate without the other. In order to ensure that the washer fits correctly in the well, it is necessary to rotate it when entering the washer on assembly. Recent carburetters on which we have had the trouble have had the spindles free to rotate in the washer housing, so that the only way to enter the washer into the well is by pushing without any rotation and we think this is where the washer becomes curled up. | ||