ROVER 8 hp 1904-12

ROVER 8 hp
Technology
1904 - 1912

The illustration is taken from the first ROVER automobile catalogue from 1904. The picture appeared in almost all reports about the ROVER 8hp.

Legend to the chassis - views

Name Function Name Function Name Function

A Engine crankcase G Inlet connection of cylinder N Quadrant für change speed gear

A1 Steel cables for foot brake G1 Cross connecting rod for steering levers O Steering column

B Clutch case with inspection lid H Carburetter (Rover automatic) P Gear changing lever

B1 Rear brake levers H1 Exhaust pipe from engine to forward part of exhaust box Q,R Throttle and ignition control discs operating Bowden wire mechanism

C Gear case with inspection hole I Aluminium bracket to make up dash and support various parts T Radiator

C1 Rear brakeshafts I1 Exhaust box U Fan

D Propeller shaft case (upper part) J Foot lever to operate the cams on the engine half-time shaft V Fan belt

D1 Brake bands rear J1 Brackets to carry the rear body springs and brake bracket W Pump case

E Bevel gear case and rear axle case in two half castings K1 Connecting rod for striker S (from shaft F1) from lower lever operated by P X,X1 Wire steering connections

E1 Swivel bar for front party of body L Foot lever for rear brakes D1 D1 Y Transverse spring for front part of chassis

F Exhaust port of cylinder L1 Bracket for carrying body, attached to dump iron on rear spring Z Contact maker

F1 Radius rods for front axle M Foot lever for clutch

The illustration is taken from the first ROVER automobile catalogue from 1904. The picture appeared in almost all reports about the ROVER 8hp.

The Rover 8hp Skeleton Frame. The illustration is taken from the first ROVER automobile catalogue from 1904. The picture appeared in almost all reports about the ROVER 8hp.

Skeleton frame view legend

Name Function Name Function Name Function

A Skeleton sides cast in aluminium D Rear body springs G Cross stays in ash

B End stay cast in aluminium E Rear spring horns (front) H Spring bolt to secure the spring to the rear axle bracket

C Ash side members F Rear spring horns (rear) I Rear wheel wings

The picture above obviously does not show the current state at the start of construction in 1904, the report for Stanley Show refers to a new Aluminum - cross beam in the frame:

The Rover car, of which an illustrated description appeared in THE ENGINEER recently, is the greatest novelty. Practically the only modification of note which the builders have found necessary since the Hereford trials is the introduction of a cast aluminium truss midway across the frame. This will serve to give greater rigidity to the car. We understand, too, that Mr. Lewis has placed the balls forming the bearings for the half-time shaft in a cage to prevent a repetition of the Hereford disaster in case of the fracture of a ball."

The block of engine, clutch and gearbox of the ROVER 8hp. The illustration is taken from the first ROVER automobile catalogue from 1904. The picture appeared in almost all reports about the ROVER 8hp.

Legend for vertical section through the distribution wheel case, clutch case, and gear case of the 8hp Rover Car

Camshaft drive and engine Components in the coupling housing Components in the gearbox housing

Name Function Name Function Name Function

A Position of cylinder body G1 Main driving shaft from clutch A1 Jaws of clutch on gear wheel X

B Crank case N Bell clutch secured to crank axle D B1 Jaws of clutch on gear wheel Y

C Flywheels secured to crank D O Cast iron clutch disc C1 Constant wheel meshing with wheel X

D Engine crank P Clutch ring carrying levers Q D1 Countershaft second speed wheel

E Camshaft Q Levers to apply action of clutch spring W to disc P, O and N. E1 Countershaft first speed wheel

F Cover for distributing wheel I, H, G Q1 Locking nuts for ball races F1 Shaft carrying gear striking lever

G Camshaft gear wheel R Lever worked by foot lever shaft to release clutch H1 Squared mainshaft

H Intermediate distributing wheel S Adjusting ring for clutch lever fulcrums J1 Ball races for mainshaft

I Crankshaft distributing wheel T Aluminium clutch casing K1 Ball races for countershaft

J Stuffing gland to prevent oil escape U Inspection door for clutch case L1 Reverse pinion

K Fan driving pulley V Clutch operating sleeve M1 Case for exhaust box and propeller-shaft

L Ball races for camshaft W Clutch spring N1 Countershaft carrying gear wheels C1, D1, E1, L1

M Ball races for engine crankshaft O1 Sleeves for distance pieces between pinions C1, D1, E1, L1

P1 Aluminium gear case

X Constant mesh pinion driven by G1

Y Second speed spur wheel on squared sleeve

Z First speed spur wheel on squared sleeve

The block consisting of camshaft drive, engine, clutch and gearbox is an integral part of the chassis.

ROVER Crankshaft and Flywheels
Observe method of fixing ball bearings in left hand view, and in right hand view the recess cast in flywheels to carry shoulders of cranks, thus taking all strain of driving the heavy flywheels off the connecting bolt (also shown).

ROVER Clutch
The Rover Clutch was designed with the object of preventing all jerks and strains when starting the car. The surfaces are metal to metal, running in oil supplied from the base chamber of engine. These friction surfaces are particularly large, and are constructed so as to stand almost indefinite wear. There is no leather or fibre to burn or get out of condition, and the clutch will probably run for a year or more without any adjustment being required. The clutch surfaces are forced together by compound levers, held in position by a special spring.

Elevations and Sections of the Rover Cam Mechanism

The left-hand upper figure shows the combined air compressor and exhaust cams, whilst the right-hand figure shows the inlet valve cam, the tapered lines showing how the cams fall away to reduce the lift as the cam is slid along its shaft. The dotted lines indicate the positions at which the sections of the cams are taken. The combined end view indicates the relative positions at which the cams are set.

Top picture, bottom row, from left to right:

Section of air compressor cam
Section of exhaust cam (full lift)
Section of inlet cam (reduced lift)
Section of inlet cam (full lift)

The figure below shows the interaction of the two semicamshafts.

Details of the Rover Water Circulation Pump

A Body of pump

B Water inlet boss

C Water outlet boss

D Two-blade propeller

E Propeller-shaft bearing

F Squared driving end of propeller shaft

G Lubricator for propeller shaft

H Plate to carry E and to bolt crank case

Finally, a look at the accessibility of the ROVER 8hp. The picture was taken in November 1908, source unknown.

© 2021-2025 by ROVER - Passion / Michael-Peter Börsig

Legend to the chassis - views
Name	Function	Name	Function	Name	Function
A	Engine crankcase	G	Inlet connection of cylinder	N	Quadrant für change speed gear
A1	Steel cables for foot brake	G1	Cross connecting rod for steering levers	O	Steering column
B	Clutch case with inspection lid	H	Carburetter (Rover automatic)	P	Gear changing lever
B1	Rear brake levers	H1	Exhaust pipe from engine to forward part of exhaust box	Q,R	Throttle and ignition control discs operating Bowden wire mechanism
C	Gear case with inspection hole	I	Aluminium bracket to make up dash and support various parts	T	Radiator
C1	Rear brakeshafts	I1	Exhaust box	U	Fan
D	Propeller shaft case (upper part)	J	Foot lever to operate the cams on the engine half-time shaft	V	Fan belt
D1	Brake bands rear	J1	Brackets to carry the rear body springs and brake bracket	W	Pump case
E	Bevel gear case and rear axle case in two half castings	K1	Connecting rod for striker S (from shaft F1) from lower lever operated by P	X,X1	Wire steering connections
E1	Swivel bar for front party of body	L	Foot lever for rear brakes D1 D1	Y	Transverse spring for front part of chassis
F	Exhaust port of cylinder	L1	Bracket for carrying body, attached to dump iron on rear spring	Z	Contact maker
F1	Radius rods for front axle	M	Foot lever for clutch

Legend for vertical section through the distribution wheel case, clutch case, and gear case of the 8hp Rover Car
Camshaft drive and engine		Components in the coupling housing		Components in the gearbox housing
Name	Function	Name	Function	Name	Function
A	Position of cylinder body	G1	Main driving shaft from clutch	A1	Jaws of clutch on gear wheel X
B	Crank case	N	Bell clutch secured to crank axle D	B1	Jaws of clutch on gear wheel Y
C	Flywheels secured to crank D	O	Cast iron clutch disc	C1	Constant wheel meshing with wheel X
D	Engine crank	P	Clutch ring carrying levers Q	D1	Countershaft second speed wheel
E	Camshaft	Q	Levers to apply action of clutch spring W to disc P, O and N.	E1	Countershaft first speed wheel
F	Cover for distributing wheel I, H, G	Q1	Locking nuts for ball races	F1	Shaft carrying gear striking lever
G	Camshaft gear wheel	R	Lever worked by foot lever shaft to release clutch	H1	Squared mainshaft
H	Intermediate distributing wheel	S	Adjusting ring for clutch lever fulcrums	J1	Ball races for mainshaft
I	Crankshaft distributing wheel	T	Aluminium clutch casing	K1	Ball races for countershaft
J	Stuffing gland to prevent oil escape	U	Inspection door for clutch case	L1	Reverse pinion
K	Fan driving pulley	V	Clutch operating sleeve	M1	Case for exhaust box and propeller-shaft
L	Ball races for camshaft	W	Clutch spring	N1	Countershaft carrying gear wheels C1, D1, E1, L1
M	Ball races for engine crankshaft			O1	Sleeves for distance pieces between pinions C1, D1, E1, L1
				P1	Aluminium gear case
				X	Constant mesh pinion driven by G1
				Y	Second speed spur wheel on squared sleeve
				Z	First speed spur wheel on squared sleeve

	ROVER Crankshaft and Flywheels Observe method of fixing ball bearings in left hand view, and in right hand view the recess cast in flywheels to carry shoulders of cranks, thus taking all strain of driving the heavy flywheels off the connecting bolt (also shown).
	ROVER Clutch The Rover Clutch was designed with the object of preventing all jerks and strains when starting the car. The surfaces are metal to metal, running in oil supplied from the base chamber of engine. These friction surfaces are particularly large, and are constructed so as to stand almost indefinite wear. There is no leather or fibre to burn or get out of condition, and the clutch will probably run for a year or more without any adjustment being required. The clutch surfaces are forced together by compound levers, held in position by a special spring.
	Elevations and Sections of the Rover Cam Mechanism The left-hand upper figure shows the combined air compressor and exhaust cams, whilst the right-hand figure shows the inlet valve cam, the tapered lines showing how the cams fall away to reduce the lift as the cam is slid along its shaft. The dotted lines indicate the positions at which the sections of the cams are taken. The combined end view indicates the relative positions at which the cams are set. Top picture, bottom row, from left to right: Section of air compressor cam Section of exhaust cam (full lift) Section of inlet cam (reduced lift) Section of inlet cam (full lift) The figure below shows the interaction of the two semicamshafts.

	Details of the Rover Water Circulation Pump A Body of pump B Water inlet boss C Water outlet boss D Two-blade propeller E Propeller-shaft bearing F Squared driving end of propeller shaft G Lubricator for propeller shaft H Plate to carry E and to bolt crank case