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).
Outlining faults found with the first set of rear shock absorbers fitted to a test car for America.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 171\3\ img048 | |
| Date | 28th May 1920 | |
| COPY. To By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}15/F28.5.20. X.3912.- REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS. We have now fitted the first set of rear shock absorbers supplied, on to a car on test for delivery i.e. 22-LW. for America. The following are the faults which we consider should be rectified before the cars are delivered fitted with shock absorbers, or before shock absorbers are supplied for fixing on cars already delivered. We shall be glad to hear from you what it is proposed to do about this matter, as we do not think they are satisfactory as they are, and to fit them in this condition will only cause us to receive complaints from customers. 1. The fixing nut for the lever F.7858 is not suitable for a standard spanner. 2. We anticipate difficulty in removing the lever F.7728 off the serrated cone without damage. Could not some collar scheme be arranged similar to the one suggested for the pendulum steering gear? 3. No.1 Plate has some additional serrations cut which are wider than those actually used. It is possible for this plate to be fixed in an incorrect position so that wider slots are engaged with the narrow slots, which will cause different action of the shock absorber. It has been suggested by you that these wide grooves should be bevelled off. On the contrary, we understand that Mr. Hives suggests that they should be longer as they require to use these later. The difficulty I now wish to point out is that the plate in its present condition may be fixed wrong, even although we are issuing instructions for correct erection. 4. The lubricator on the lever ball end fouls the brake bracket owing to excessive movement of the rear spring We have always specified in our spring tests, etc., that the only part which should catch should be the rubber buffer, and that this should be capable of being compressed 1/2" before any other part of the chassis catches such as the wings, bodywork, etc. (Contd). | ||