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).
Issues and recommendations for various components including the steering, petrol tank, brakes, and radiator.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan252 | |
| Date | 8th May 1922 guessed | |
| contd:s -6- We found, however, that there was a certain amount of slack in that steering as we were testing it. We are therefore fitting up another one to the Lec. drawing which may give us better results. The steering pivot pins and bushes had worn badly. This is a general complaint of the 40/50 H.P. We think it is a question of lubrication. PETROL TANK. The petrol tank on 5-Goshawk-11 car was very badly dented by stones flung up from the wheels, also the stones and sand which had destroyed the protection against rust on the tank, and the outside of the tank was found to be in a very rusty condition. We think that owing to the section of the tank having a comparatively flat face at the back compared with the 40/50 H.P. it might get more severe blows from the stones. Cars used for Continental work at least, it would be advisable to have some protection. UNDERSHIELD. The bolts fixing the side strip to the frame, in several cases were missing. They were put in with the heads against the aluminium and had no washers. These have now been instructed to be put in the other way with larger steel washers. BRAKES. The inside of the brakes was covered with a caking of mud. The foot brake had used up all the adjustment and the pedal was on the floor. There was still some life left in the liners. It would appear that we could allow slightly increased range in the adjustment. The brake drums had worn, but not badly and had not scored. The brakes on this car were extremely noisy. We consider that we have got to get a much longer life than 10,000 miles from the foot brakes. We think that when we effectively prevent the water and mud from getting inside the brakes, this should decrease the wear. It may be thought reason-able to have the foot brake shoes slightly wider than the hand brake because they get infinitely more use. The pin joints fixing the wire ropes on to the rear axle, were very badly worn. In one case the bronze bush had worn right through and in another case the hole in the lever had worn badly. The brakes on the other cars are giving a more lengthy life than on 5-Goshawk-11. EXHAUST PIPES. We have had several of the standard exhaust pipes which are bolted to the engine unit, crack. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} has instructed that the studs holding on this exhaust pipe should be reduced in the thread. RADIATOR. Except for one slight leak on 6-Goshawk-11 car, which we think was most probably a manufacturing fault because it has not got worse with running, we have had no radiator leaks on any cars. The only complaint with the radiator is loss of water when the water boils. This should receive attention. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||