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 observations on various vehicle components including the radiator, bonnet, Autovac, clutch, and gearbox.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\2\ 02-page047 | |
| Date | 6th July 1908 guessed | |
| -4- The radiator stay from dashboard broke at the screwed end. This has always occured during 10000 miles tests. The .250" thread is not strong enough to stand a continuous strain. Also we should like to point out that on the Phantom the stay is held by a shouldered bolt to prevent tightening up of the jaws, and castellated nuts are used. On the 20-HP a plain bolt is used, using a grover washer and nut. The jaw is made a solid by the tightening up of the nut and no movement can take place. We should recommend that this be held similar to the Phantom. BONNET TO LOP. ES5063. The bonnet has chattered endways, and caused wear to take place at the corners of the dashboard and radiator. The anchorage of the bonnet at the top of the radiator has worn oval. The ferodo strips on the top flanges of dashboard and bonnet have worn at the corners and allowed the bonnet to come in direct contact with the metal strip. We have not had any trouble with the bonnet fasteners, slight wear of the clips has taken place. AUTOVAC TO LOP. FDS674 ZENITH FILTERS THE AUTOVAC has operated satisfactorily, we have had no trouble with the supply of petrol. The tap of the tank on the dashboard broke off having been caught by the passengers' foot. The fracture showed that the spindle had been lengthened by screwing a portion into it, thereby weakening the spindle. We should like to point out the position of the tap and the foot lever of the Bijur lubricator. These are to close together, and when the foot is moved to operate the Bijur lever the petrol tap is often caught by mistake. These want placing further apart. The Zenith filter has done its work satisfactorily there is quite a quantity of sand in the petrol obtained in this district. The filter has prevented this going through to the carburettor. It has been necessary on numerous occasions during the mileage to clean the filter. The glass cover has had to be replaced by a metal cover, owing to it becoming cracked. ROGERS COVER. This should have the latest felt packing and spring loaded thumb nuts. The present thumb nuts work loose and allow the cover to chatter. FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH TO LOP. GS3461. N SCHEME 2615/6. OIL RETAINING CLUTCH THRUST RACE. The clutch has been inclined to O.K. both when hot and cold. When dismantled, the clutch plate and fabrics were in a very good condition. The rear ball race had not been sufficiently oiled, and the clutch spigot showed hard marks. This was polished up and clutch re-fitted. To dismantle the clutch, we found that the wiring tube now fitted in the front of the cross member prevents the gear box from being drawn off the engine casing. This is not standard, and the tube should be fitted behind the cross member to facilitate the removal of the gear box. The oil retaining thrust race was in a good condition. GEAR BOX & CHANGE SPEED MECHANISM. The gears and change speed mechanism appear to be in good condition. There has been a slight oil leak from the joints of the covers. The return hole for the oil drain in the housing of the speedometer drive has been omitted, with the result that oil was pumped up the drive and filled the speedometer with oil, causing a failure of the speedometer. | ||