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).
Issues and modifications to the Phantom III starter motor cork friction disc.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 131\4\ scan0257 | |
| Date | 3rd June 1937 | |
| W/K.{Mr Kilner} To Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}2/AP.3.6.37 1113 PHANTOM III. STARTER MOTOR - CORK FRICTION DISC. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} has instructed me to write to you about the cork friction disc, as he is not at present inclined to sign the Standardisation Sheet on the following grounds. (1) The cork inserts failed on 35-EX. (2) He is not satisfied that the trouble still exists, now that the starter motors are being properly made and assembled. (1) The cork inserts chipped round the edge. This fault was known and an alternative was made consisting of a complete ring of cork in place of the aluminium ring with the cork inserts. This has successfully gone through a test consisting of 2000 starts on an engine under various conditions, but it has not been tested on a car on the road. This is Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}'s first objection. (2) Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wst. points out that there were two troubles in service. (a) Failure of the starter motor due to fouling pole pieces and other faults in manufacture. (b) Damage to the starter ring teeth due to second engagement of the starter while still spinning. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} wants evidence that this second fault still exists as a complaint, as otherwise he does not consider the modification justified. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wst. claims that in any case the modification enables the air dash pot to be deleted, as the cork provided sufficient cushioning to quieten the clonk when the pinion is thrown out of mesh with the existing noise insulated in addition to its intended function of slowing it down. He also claims a saving of 8/3d. The question is of some urgency as the parts have ben ordered for Production on the strength of the Chassis Conference held 13.4.37 with Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} present. The decision arrived at was as follows:- continued | ||