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).
Fault report detailing issues with the starter motor, horns, Bijur piping, hydraulic jacks, and body mountings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\4\ scan0156 | |
| Date | 5th May 1937 | |
| -7- 82/7 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HPH.8/AP.5.5.37 The starter motor jammed on four occasions and failed to mesh with the flywheel. This, however, righted itself and gave no trouble for the last part of the run. The Lucas wind-tone horns worked effectively, but failed to blow on 'soft' due to sand and dust between the internal contacts. The current on 'loud' appeared to be sufficient to overcome the effect of the sand. The nature of the roads for the first part of the crossing was so rough, that both horns fell off. The brackets having broken through, where the two small screws secure the wiring clips to the brackets. BIJUR PIPING Considerable trouble was experienced due to Bijur piping breaking, either due to flying stones or fatigue and general movement. The chief troubles were pipes lubricating the rear springs and front suspension knuckle joints. The main feed pipe to the axle and rear springs broke on three occasions and was repaired by sweating on an outer sleeve, but it was evident that the pipe had become hard due to continual flexing with the spring, although the existing coil inside the forward shackles was working correctly. A piece of high pressure air piping was substituted and gave no further trouble. The main feed pipe to the O.S.F. pivot broke despite the coil, which is provided to prevent this happening. HYDRAULIC JACKS. These worked very effectively until the pipe to the rear jack was swept away by a rock. A temporary repair was effected which enabled the jacks to be used with care. It was also found that due to flying stones the edge of the barrels had become dented, and prevented the inner sleeves from returning when the release taps were opened. Consequently the sliding sleeve had to be forced back into place by hand. BODY MOUNTINGS. For the first, 8000 miles the body mountings remained firm, but owing to the exceptional bumps and hollows that had to be negotiated, which exerted extraordinary strain on the body bolts, [handwritten note in margin: the securing bolts] the rear broke off throwing all the strain on the next two further up the chassis. The fact that these broke allowed the body to move about, and the aluminium round the rear bumper bar supports was considerably damaged. continued | ||