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).
Fractured 20/25 HP servo connecting rod from car GOH-3, which failed due to maltreatment during an adjustment attempt.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 107\3\ scan0102 | |
| Date | 26th November 1937 | |
| W/N. To Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale}8/MH.{M. Huckerby}26.11.37. FRACTURED SERVO CONNECTING RODS 20/25 H.P. GOH-3 HALPERIN. This rod has failed due to maltreatment during an attempt to adjust its length carried out by an unskilled man. Part of the evidence is missing - the original jaw G.78240 has not been returned to W and we would like to see it. Apparently adjustment of the length of this rod has been considered necessary but this has not been easy due to a bad thread in the missing jaw. Possibly an attempt has been made to free the thread by dieing the rod instead of tapping the jaw. The nut is very loose. This not having proved successful, the rod has been removed from the car, held in a vice, and the missing jaw forced further on to the rod. The vice marks and direction of rotation are clear on the rod and we expect the jaw will show signs of strain. The rod has been fatigued but final failure occured on the road. If the long jaw is still on the car unless it has been tapped out the same thing may occur again. Flexibly mounted engines sometimes move forward on their mountings and front axles can easily move rearwards. Each of these things can make the front brake ropes slack. The cure is to shorten the ropes; if the rod which has failed is shortened the equalizer lies in a wrong position. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale} | ||