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).
Faulty side steering in 20-HP cars, investigating issues with weak buffer springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\4\ Scan350 | |
| Date | 5th March 1924 | |
| X4264 c. SFT. {Mr Swift} c. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Hm. {Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} EP {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} 11/H5.3.24. 20-HP. Faulty Side Steering. We have been rather concerned with the unstable condition of the steering on the 20-HP cars after they have been in service for some time. Customers have also complained about the steering, pointing out they have a feeling that the steering is inclined to wind up before taking action. This complaint you will remember was one of the points we brought attention to in our experimental car, but we feel that some cases are worse than others. A bad example of this fault is the production car now doing 10,000 miles test (GH-39.) We have lately discovered that the buffer spring F.51864 appears to be much weaker than the drawing specifies. Three cases were taken at random and these measured 58 Lbs. 50 Lbs. and 58 Lbs. whereas the drawing calls for 75/Lbs. We have also made a point of testing some springs on some new cars coming on test, and these seem fairly good, i.e. 68 Lbs. 70 Lbs. 73 Lbs. and 75 Lbs. The free initial length in all cases, however, was practically to drawing specification, i.e. 2.7". It does not, therefore, appear as though the springs have taken a permanent set, but at the same time, we are now making a special point of testing the condition of a new spring before and after running about on a car on test. Can you instruct for arrangements to be made for these springs to be tested on the bouncing rig to see whether they remain consistent as regards their strength. Also could SFT. {Mr Swift} please make arrangements that these springs should be more thoroughly inspected, and no springs used unless they come within the drawing limits. Will BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} please fix some close limits for this job. The drawing at present does not give any limits at all and it would therefore appear from the above particulars that the Works are not working to drawing. We suggest 3 Lbs. either way should not be exceeded. Contd. | ||