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).
Engine vibration, clutch performance, and steering issues, particularly under stressful driving conditions on a Goshawk model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan107 | |
| Date | 1st April 1922 guessed | |
| - 2 - There is an engine vibration at between 25 and 30 m.p.h. but it is not apparent unless looked for. As regards the tappets, these have remained about the same as when the car was new, there being a small click which developed early on. When they have been once set up again I believe they will remain permanently quiet. There is no need to worry about this, I am sure they will be satisfactory when once bedded in. The clutch works well but is inclined to hang on slightly under hot conditions. The squeaking has gone off but was very slight even when it did squeak. We will return the bent steering levers to you as requested when the new ones arrive and have been fitted As regards the steering generally, if you can cure the jolting of the steering when on striking a pothole, the steering gear will be very good. It is a great improvement on the earlier Goshawk II, and will be found to be quite satisfactory when the above feature has been corrected. I don't think many of us realise what a fearful gruelling the car is getting by attempting 350 miles a day during daylight on those roads. The car rides very well and therefore we drive fast over roads with poor surface, and this results in the chassis suffering terrific shocks for hours together. One would never voluntarily drive a car in this manner and for such periods in the ordinary way of touring or business use, except perhaps on rare occasions. I am agreeably surprised under the circumstances that no serious trouble or breakages have occurred. This appears general on GoshawkII cars. Seems to be engine pulsation synchronising with some feature of chassis (similar at 40/50 - 18 to 25 m.p.h. depends on axle gear ratio) or may be period vibration in drive. Now investigating on 6 - G-II. Have asked Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} to examine condition of rollers, over valves. Sending stronger levers as soon as ready. In the meantime sending another spare set present type to keep car running. Matter now in hand experimentally. Instructions for experimental work on this matter received from R.{Sir Henry Royce} and now in hand. Sending parts to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} to fix if tested out O.K. here on 6 Goshawk II. | ||