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).
Failure in the rear axle of a Phantom III vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\2\ scan0110 | |
| Date | 10th July 1937 | |
| CHATEAUROUX. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}/4/JAB.IO.7.37. 300a To. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} c. HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} 32-EX. PHANTOM III. Rear Axle. Ever since leaving Derby, we have experienced on occasions a violent clonk in the transmission on sudden take up, in reverse and on the next forward take up after reversing. We were at first unable to locate it, but it recently became more frequent in occurrence and we found it to be due to the driving flange moving on the rear axle pinion. There was .012" sideways clearance between the Woodruff keys and the keyways in the pinion, and .003" in the driving flange keyways. The taper had torn up rather badly with the movement taking place. The nut was quite tight. The acme thread had fouled the pinion housing, had picked up, and was damaged, thus accounting for the oil leaks complained of. We cannot help thinking that the job was not fitted very well. The pinion bearings were in good condition and the outer thrust race had not turned in the housing. This failure has necessitated holding up the car to fit new keys etc., thereby wasting valuable time. For it has no bearing on the object of the test and has provided no useful information. ------------ Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} Ivanhoe Walker. | ||