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 with rear spring shackle lubrication and proposing the consideration of an improved method.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 42\5\ Scan120 | |
| Date | 10th May 1921 | |
| BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} 'X 3898 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}13/F10.5.21. X.2628 X.3898 SPRING SHACKLE LUBRICATION X 433 I again wish to bring forward for consideration the necessity of some improved method of lubrication to the rear spring shackles. We are continually having trouble, even with cars on test, of these seizing up and squeaking. It is not a question of their not being lubricated enough so far as using the lubricators or injecting sufficient lubrication into this bearing is concerned, but it is a fact that this does not appear to lubricate the bushes properly, and on dismantling these bushes for examination we find that although the grease has been actually forced through to the ends of the bearings, it has not been forced on to the part of the bearing which takes the load, which is actually dry and scored. The improvement required, therefore, is for the oil which is supplied to be better circulated and distributed over the bearing, and it is this point to which I should be glad if you will give consideration, so that an improvement can be experimented on and recommended if satisfactory. I am anxious to impress upon you the importance of this move, as we are at present being put to a considerable amount of expense, and annoyance from customers, through this trouble taking place on cars in service. The only way in which we have been able to satisfactorily overcome this trouble is by either dismantling the shackles entirely, re-lubricate and re-fit them, or in some cases we have been able to cure the squeak by taking the load completely off the shackles so that the lubrication can circulate over the part where the load is taken. The chief fault in this respect is the middle and front bearing of the rear springs. A sample of this failure I recently showed to you on a car on test. We would like some scheme which could be applied easily to existing cars, and which could be done when the car comes into any of our Repair Departments or Depots for overhaul or repair, or on such occasions as these springs have to be disturbed for any purpose whatever. We also wish to press forward the importance of some better lubricators or better lubricator scheme being used for these Shackles. We find in some cases contd:- | ||