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).
Modifications to the Bentley's steering system to make it lighter.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\5\ scan0201 | |
| Date | 17th November 1936 | |
| COPY C. from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} ------- Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/R17.11.36 STEERING ON THE BENTLEY ------- In reply to your C10/C11.11.36. wehave gone into the question of what we can do to bring the Bentley into line with the 25/30 which we altered for you, and our suggestions are as follows:- (1) We have been running a special short pendulum lever which gives a 5% lower steering ratio than standard. We have one of these in a partly finished state, and will complete it and send it to Lillie Hall marked for your attention. We expect to be able to despatch it by the end of the week. (2) We do not think 5% is low enough to make the steering comparable with an American car, andif the demand is considered sufficiently important, would recommend that we put in hand dies for a 7" pendulum lever. Before we do this, however, we should like Hancock or one of our experimental testers to have the opportunity of ensuring the steering on Mr.Gowan's car is the best that we can produce. By close attention to the thrust washers on the pivot, the cross steering tube poundage and the use of E.P.lubricating oil in the steering box, it is often possible to improve the standard steering quite appreciably. If you think there is a general demand for a lighter steering on the Bentley, we will put in hand the dies for the 7" lever forthwith. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||