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).
Comments and issues found during a vehicle test drive at Leyland for inclusion in the log book.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 124\4\ scan0023 | |
| Date | 11th April 1941 | |
| To: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} [crossed out] from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GB. [crossed out] Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/CTS.{C. Trot Salt - Carburation} [crossed out] Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}1/RH.{R. Hollingworth}11.4.41. [Handwritten in red]: hot tank VISIT TO LEYLAND IN AUSTIN 8 5 - 6.4.41. [Handwritten]: the 1045 We give below our comments on the above car for inclusion in the log book. The engine, gearbox and rear axle are noisy. The gearbox jumps out of 1st. gear on the drive at full torque. This happened on a previous test on Green Bank Hill and a restart could not be made on the hill. The clutch is free from jagger and the brakes light and progressive. The propellor shaft is badly out of balance. The steering is very unpleasant, being heavy and directionally unstable at high speed. The heaviness we attribute to the high ratio (1-2/3 turns from lock to lock) combined with an inefficient steering gear. The directional instability we attribute to bad oversteering characteristics, lack of sponge in the linkage, and slack in the steering gear. The ride is a mixture of harshness and pitching, presumably due to an attempt to damp badly proportioned spring ratings front and rear. The amount of roll is not at present excessive, but if lower rating front springs are fitted, a front roll rod will be necessary both to reduce the roll and to obtain the desired steering characteristics. No petrol or oil was added. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} | ||