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).
Broken steering box from a Silver Phantom, including measurements and proposed fixes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 109\4\ scan0138 | |
| Date | 13th July 1939 | |
| [Handwritten] To. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} F.J.H Why did we not have a malleable iron box. [End Handwritten] 666a CHATEAUROUX. 13.7.39. [Handwritten Signature: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}] 30.G.7. Silver Phantom. STEERING. [Handwritten Initials: AH] We dismantled the steering on arrival at Chateauroux and found that the left lock stop was broken off in the Ex. 30857 Bz/A steering box. No other serious damage could be found, so we built the box up again having first verified that the steering was central when the front wheels were pointing straight ahead. This was found to be correct. We have made the following measurements for your information. I). Total linear movement from lock to lock of ball pins on outer steering arms, (those attached to pivots) 8.8". 2). Total steering wheel movement from lock to lock including back lash, but with no sponge (front wheels off ground) [Crossed out: two and two thirds] turns. [Handwritten: three] 3). Further movement on right lock against sponge to stop in box- half a turn. 4). Further movement on left lock against sponge to where stop ought to be (end of cam)- half a turn. The sponge comes mostly from the ball pins lifting out of the ball pads until they are bearing on thier necks. We think that the next thing to do is to try the cast iron steering box and see if itsstops break off. Failing this it will be necessary either to raise the steering ratio or reduce the lock. Please send us the necessary parts to change over to a cast iron box, if you agree to this. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} [Vertically on right side] BERKELEY ARCHIVES | ||