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).
Complaints of steering stiffness, arguing for the reintroduction of grooved worms based on test results and historical performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\3\ scan0332 | |
| Date | 5th September 1935 | |
| Copy. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from Sft.{Mr Swift} Sft{Mr Swift}2/BH.5.9.35. Re COMPLAINTS OF STIFFNESS IN STEERING. In reply to your note Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}2/R.3.7.35, in which you suggest that this is a production matter, and further to my Sft.{Mr Swift}1/BH.11.7.35, we have been suspicious for some time of the wisdom of deleting the grooves in the worms, especially as during the period that grooves and worms were fitted, we have had very few complaints of sticking steering, and in all cases where such complaints have been investigated, it has been proved that they are of the non-grooved type. Consequently we have carried out a series of tests on our rigs in the shop, and we find that in the case of the non-grooved worms, that we are able to produce 'stickiness' frequently if we run them sufficiently longenough on our shop rigs, and we suggest that, as the road conditions in use can be compared to a continuation of the Shop rig conditions, this stickiness, according to our rig tests, is sure to occur. We arranged to put through six of the grooved type worms, and in each case they have improved by running, the poundage has lightened, and there has been no sticking of any kind. These have been run, as in the case of the non-grooved worms, considerably longer than the specified run laid down. I attach hereto our Shop Foreman's report on six worms of each type. To go back to the beginning of the introduction of this worm and nut which was approximately 9.4.26, you will personally remember we had considerable difficulty in getting them past the Shop rig. After many people had been called in to assist, it was eventually overcome by By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} instructing grooves in the worms. Grooved steering columns were fitted to cars for five years. Then we had an instructions from By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} to delete grooves, based on experimental instructions in memo By6/G.8.1.31. These non-grooved worms were introduced on chassis about the end of February 1931. I feel that this deletion of the grooves was false economy, and is the major reason why we have had complaints of sticking steering, and I suggest, based on the experience we have had in the shop plus the experience of grooved worms before the deletion of the grooves, that the grooves should be re-instructed at once. Sft.{Mr Swift} | ||