Steering jerkiness caused by cross steering tube ball pads and the fitting of a new telegauge unit.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\2\ 02-page289 | |
| Date | 24th July 1929 | |
| To Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From G.W.H. Hôtel de France, Châteauroux, Indre. 24/7/29. We have been experiencing jerkiness of the steering, which has been very misleading. After examining the various parts of the steering mechanism, we have come to the conclusion that the stickiness has been caused by the cross steering tube ball pads becoming more embedded to the ball end, which as the area of friction increases causes a heavier load on the steering. To obtain a consistent load on the steering, it is very important that the contact surfaces should be perfectly bedded to the ball ends. We find that this is a long way off on the cross steering tube ball ends of 21-EX. Consequently, with our increasing the load on these, the pads have become more embedded to the ball ends and a greater friction area has been obtained, which has gradually increased the load on the cross steering tube. We have had to take out the washers fitted to maintain the friction load that was at first obtained. Will Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} please note that the springs fitted in the cross steering tube are the square section. We had evidently got confused between the two springs. We have fitted the standard telegauge unit and piping sent out, and after connecting up, the gauge read correctly the amount of petrol in the tank. Also it read the amount it was replenished by. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} We have not had time to carry out any definite tests, but the journey to Derby should give some definite results. We have received to-day from Paris your memo re the telegauges. We cannot understand why it should have gone there, and I could not understand the very short note received from you previously, but of course this letter coming later explains the reason. [Signature G.W.H.] | ||
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).