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).
Tests with two cars in France, detailing issues with steering, wheels, and brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 182\M20\M20.2\ img014 | |
| Date | 1st April 1924 | |
| R.R. 403A (40 H) (SL 45 12-7-23). J.H. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} ORIGINAL Expl. No. 9941 REF: H.5/LC11 4.24. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. RO.{C. C. Rose - Export Manager} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} SECRET. TESTS WITH EAC.111 CARS IN FRANCE. We have two cars in France - 9-PK and 98-NK. 9-PK is fitted with the 'Agreed scheme' of brakes. It also has the generator on the engine, the exhaust alterations and front springs anchored at the rear end. This car, owing to having been in an accident, has only completed 2,000 miles running. The servo is not sufficiently powerful to get any real information on the brakes. New parts for the servo are being despatched as soon as possible. 98-NK is the car fitted with brake operation to DEB-60 with cone type servo. The car is up-to-date as regards front springs, generator and exhaust. This car has now completed approx. 7,000 miles and has been run hard in France. The troubles complained of are as follows :- STEERING. Very bad road shocks on the steering. Very difficult to hold the car over bad roads. It was also found that the bolts holding the N.S. cross steering lever to the pivot, were slack. When it was discovered they were from .020" to .030" slack. The split pins were still in position. It would appear that the bolts have stretched. We have had a similar occurrence on the bump test. We are hoping that with the new axle which has been sent out for this car, the road shocks will be less severe on the steering and therefore as the bolts are the same as the present 40/50, there should be no further trouble. ROAD WHEELS. Two of the straight side rims have failed. The fixed side of the rim was cracked in the corner. This matter has been taken up vigorously with Dunlops. It would appear it is either a question of material, or a fault occurring in the manufacture of the rim. Dunlops have sent a new set of wheels out for this car. Both of the rim failures have occurred on the front wheels. BRAKES. There have been two important troubles with the brakes :- (1) Oil has got on to the cone servo and made it ineffective. contd :- | ||