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).
Technical note on spring lubrication and the effect of brakes on road clearance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 43\2\ Scan090 | |
| Date | 18th December 1925 | |
| Oy4-E-121825 -7- December 18, 1925. Note 2. (cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary}) before, and so reducing the bending effect from the brakes. This reduces the road clearance, but the spring is so well shaped for a "skid" that it will not take much damage from hard snow or sand. (The gaiters might be damaged). Note 3. Spring Lubrication. We are now making our own spring gaiters, of the "Jeavons" type but with a felt liner. We have found it necessary to avoid having these lubricated with the heavier oils as these fail to penetrate between the leaves, so that when first lubricated (if the load is taken off the spring when lubricating) the springs are too lively, but they soon stiffen up and on inspection the springs are found covered with oil all round the outside but dry and even rusty between the leaves. We therefore do not put Alemite nipples on the gaiters but fit them with threaded oil-caps to take the threaded end of the oil syringe, and direct that they should be lubricated with kerosene or a mixture of kerosene and engine oil. This we find gives the best results as it will penetrate between the leaves while the car is running. (Engine oil alone makes the springs too lively.) Yours very truly, MO/E | ||