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).
Replying to criticisms of the 20 HP chassis, comparing brakes, oil filter, and lubrication.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\5\ Scan023 | |
| Date | 23th November 1925 | |
| R.R. 493a (50 M) (D.D. 31. 12-6-25) J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. X4118 REF HS {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 9/LG23.11.25. To BJ. from Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} 20 HP. CHASSIS. X4118 X5770 BJ13/H18.11.25. Our reply to Mr. Gerald Mere's criticisms would be :- (1) We do not anticipate the four wheel brakes on a 20 HP. car to require adjusting under 10,000 miles when run under normal conditions. Compared with the early 20 HP. without front wheel brakes the area of the braking surface is three times as great as on those cars. The direct pedal leverage has been slightly reduced which still allows for greater wear before adjustment is needed. It is not right to compare brake adjustment on a 20 HP. RR. with the servo operated brakes, with the usual type of 4-wheel brake car which relies on direct pedal pressure and therefore must use considerable leverage which means frequent adjustment. (2) Although it would undoubtedly be more convenient to have an oil filter which was readily accessible under the bonnet, we think that as the filter only has to be cleaned very occasionally it is not actually a very real advantage wherever the oil filter is fixed it will always be a messy job to clean it. (3) The impression that the Bentley car has very few lubricators is hardly correct. The latest Bentley has 32 grease-gun attachments. The 20 HP. RR. car with 4-wheel brakes has 42. This is not counting the lubricators on the gaiters on either car. We make a practice of recommending generously lubricating chassis points. We may over-do it, but it is a safe policy and must reduce wear. Bentley has no invention which allows the car to run further without attention to lubrication. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||