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).
The seizing of the battery ignition contact lever pivot due to lubrication and rust issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 54\5\ Scan332 | |
| Date | 23th September 1930 | |
| Y5680 To E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} c. Ev. {Ivan Evernden - coachwork} EFC {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} 5/AD23.9.30. X.5680 X.7680. BATTERY IGNITION CONTACT LEVER PIVOT. We have experienced several cases of the battery ignition contact breaker lever seizing on its pivot. One of these has occurred on experimental chassis 17-GIV, and as a result of enquiry the Repair Dept. inform us to the effect that "we have had several cases of seizure of this part which were apparently due to lack of lubrication. In each case the pivot pin has shown a certain amount of rust, but when cleaned and oiled the freedom has been quite standard and no other action has been necessary". Cricklewood have written us as follows :- "We have had several cases of sticking rocker arms. In each case the car has been brought to us with a failure of the battery ignition, and this has proved to be the cause. It seems to arise from the bush being fitted with very little clearance in the first place. A contributory cause is that drivers never clean or lubricate this part". Another similar case has come to our notice only today, for instance 31-XJ Benjamin. The Instruction Book states that this pivot should be greased periodically but, owing to the fact that it means removing the lever to do this, the lubrication is likely to be neglected and we have had several cases in the past of levers seizing on their pivots. An experiment has already some time back been made on a pivot pin in stainless steel secured with a nut | ||