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).
20 HP steering issues, low-pressure tyres, and heavy steering complaints.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\L\2July1924-September1924\ Scan53 | |
| Date | 11th September 1924 | |
| R.R. 403A (40 H) (SL 42 12-7-23). J.H., D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. ORIGINAL Expl. No. REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG11.9.24. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} 20 HP. STEERING. LOW PRESSURE TYRES. X426A Our experience up-to-date is that the low speed steer- ing wobbles occur the same with the low pressure tyres as with normal tyres. The low pressure tyres however do reduce the shocks when the car is driven over a bad road. We did not realise that there was a complaint of heavy steering on the 20 HP. From our experience and from critic-isms we have heard, the steering has been complained of as being too light. The Test Dept. had informed us that there were complaints from Sales of heavy steering on certain 20 HP. cars. When this was investigated it was found that in all cases the lubrication had failed on the pivot pins and bushes and they were partially seized. This was attributed to the fact that the cars had been standing in the Coachbuilders for several months, and that the oil had been squeezed out of the bearings or moisture may have caused slight rust. The pivot pin bushes are the most frequent source of stiff steerings. This is a complaint which has always been with us and has occurred equally on the 40/50 HP. It is in order to overcome this complaint that we are experimenting with Kelmet bushes for pivot pins. The 20 HP. car has exactly centre-point steering. This would cause the car to be more heavy to steer when contd :- | ||