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).
Low-speed wobble issues on 20 HP cars due to a lack of damping on steering pivots, and the costs to rectify.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 29\1\ Scan263 | |
| Date | 18th November 1926 | |
| X457 BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} C. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} (crossed out) C. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY2/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 18.11.26. Despatched 30.11.26. Delay due to obtaining cost. 20 HP. LOW SPEED WOBBLES. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} met in conference and discussed the question of complaints arising from the lack of damping on the steering pivots. This particular complaint arose as a result of lack of damping in the special axle for use with F.W.B. Prior to this, damping had been fitted, but when the FWB. design was brought along the damping had not been arranged for, as it was considered certain other features might result in preventing the slow speed wobble from developing. From the first the Experimental Dept. expressed the opinion that damping was equally necessary on chassis fitted with FWB. as those without FWB. to which damping had been fitted. The position now is that we have:- 170 cars in "F". 200 " "G". 200 " "H". all of which require attention from the above point of view, as we are certain that even where complaint has not arisen at the moment, it will arise later when the axle pivots and steering pins etc. free themselves by getting down to highly polished condition as a result of use. As it is of the utmost importance that we should, as a Company, prevent any criticism arising which can possibly be avoided, we feel it is essential that we should tackle this matter without delay, as sooner or later it will unquestionably arise and the money will have to be spent. The cost of fitting the damping to an axle of the FWB. type is:- £4. 8. 0. if the axle has to be dismantled for this particular job, and nothing else, but would only be £3.1.6d. if the car came in for overhaul and the overhaul demanded the axle dismantling. The best way to consider the matter would be to assume it was a mean of the two figures. /to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} BY | ||