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).
Chassis care, lubrication practices, and observations from a 1000-mile road test.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 80\2\ scan0024 | |
| Date | 28th July 1919 | |
| -8- CARE OF CHASSIS. We have been under the impression at the Works for some time that our instructions regarding the lubrication etc. of the chassis, as indicated in the Instruction Book, errs somewhat on the side of the over-lubricating, and that the items which we advise to have attention every 500 miles do not in fact require attention, and in most cases would probably be better if left alone, and that the chassis would undoubtedly be cleaner as a result. I took the car away in proper trim, and did not oil any part with exception to the flexible drive for speedometer (which squeaked and started hunting after 250 miles) for the whole run of a thousand miles. During the run I was unable to observe that any part was suffering in consequence and this has since been confirmed at the Works. For the last one hundred miles I could hear one squeak on off side rear spring, which I thought at the time to be the roller on the axle but we now think this is the toe of the second longest plate rubbing on the split main plate and I expect this squeak is when it rubs sideways through lateral displacement of the axle. The toes of all the plates wear and intend the plates on which they bear rather badly. I was very surprised to find that the spring shackles did not squeak. This shews the importance of thoroughly lubricating these parts when the operation is carried out. I am inclined to think that as a rule we cannot expect them to run as long as one thousand miles without attention. Practically the whole of this run was in dry weather. On inspecting the universal joint behind the gear box we found that there was no oil in the sphere but the joint was nicely free and just moist with oil. We would | ||