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).
Updates and testing on Phantom III valve gear and big end bearings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0522 | |
| Date | 13th September 1937 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} 30P Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Swdl.{Len H. Swindell}/JH.13.9.37. (1) Valve Gear (Phantom III). The fourth set of solid rocker gear will be completely fitted on 37-EX by this week-end 18.9.37. This uses up all the 4 sets of parts originally instructed, which are fitted to 32-EX (No.13 unit), 35-EX (No.16 unit) and 39-EX (No.14 unit), the latter unit now being prepared for 15,000 miles test. We have instructed for 4 further sets of solid rocker gear which will take 4 or 5 weeks to complete, these however are being urged as much as possible and every endeavour will be made to improve on this date. (2) Phantom III Big End Bearings. No.14 Unit for the next 15,000 miles will be equipped with Hall's metal bushes on the inner forked rod bearing that runs on the crankshaft. The outer bearing upon which the blade rod bears will be W/M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} The decision for this arrangement is that the W/M face of the forked rods failed on 32-EX, whilst the outer W/M blade rod bearing remained in excellent condition. The above is in conjunction with a strengthened bearing cap. Towards the end of this week a Phantom unit will be running with the above arrangement but with perfectly standard bearing caps, which if successful can be adapted to cars in service if necessary. Another scheme which is being followed up is the use of Hall's metal bushes both for the forked rod and the blade rod this however necessitates backing halves ina hardened steel and new strengthened blade rods. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Swdl.{Len H. Swindell} | ||