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).
Final report on chassis 247, testing the durability of steering pivots and cross steering tubes with different spring configurations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 2\B002_X168\ 00000001-page087 | |
| Date | 22th April 1913 | |
| From Exp. Dept. Copies for:- Mr. Johnson. Mr. Royce. Mr. Hadin. Mr. Pinney. AR/HML/C4541B. 168 April.22.1913. FINAL REPORT CHASSIS 247. STEERING PIVOTS. CROSS STEERING TUBE WITH DOUBLE BUFFERS. The tube has one spring each end, they only work on compression. Drawing No. If we have a car with the old type pivots and run it over our track test, no matter what strength of spring we use in the tube, or if we use an old type bent tube or a straight tube, the pivots are the first thing to go. There is an improvement in the time they last with or without the buffer steering tube. Type of Tube Average Time Solid tube minutes 60 Buffer tube 800lbs spring " 200 " " 600 " " 150 " " 400 " " 110 We obtain the average time by testing at least three pivots with each type of tube. I do not think there can be any doubt that there must be several of our cars on the road with cracks started in the pivots. During our tests we have been using pivots which Mr. Hormald has taken off cars that have come in and we have found three cracked. The cracks are very difficult to see unless the paint is scraped off. When testing pivots the other day I had a steering arm brake suddenly, it was not at all a nice feeling, although I was going slowly and could pull up, I do not think we should rest when we know that there are cars running on which the steering pivots are the weakest part. | ||