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).
The frame failure of the 8-EX experimental car after 11,500 miles and a list of new parts to be fitted.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\2January1926-March1926\ Scan9 | |
| Date | 14th January 1926 | |
| Exptl: Report. 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} EY. c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Exptl: No. ORIGINAL Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG14.1.26. 8-EX CAR. PHANTOM CAR WITH SUBFRAME. Y8940a We have received the following telegram from Mr. Hancock in France :- "8-EX OFF SIDE FRAME CHANNEL BROKEN AT REAR ROAD "SPRING CENTRE BEARING BRACKET STOP CROSS MEMBER "BRACKET FLANGES ALSO BROKEN" HANCOCK". 8-EX car has completed about 11,500 miles running in France. It would appear that the cause of the frame going is due to the subframe body being mounted on 4 supports, the rear supports being at the end of the over-hung portion of the frame. It was intended to run 8-EX car a further 10,000 miles. The following new parts were being fitted :- 1. Modified luggage grid. 2. Petrol tank with modified side filler to N.sch.2100 and reserve compartment. 3. Steering nut having solid whitemetal instead of steel thread and whitemetal. Static tests on the tensile machine have proved the whitemetal to be stronger than the steel-shell. They are having a certain amount of difficulty on production cars in producing a satisfactory whitemetal steel nut. 4. Rear brake drums fitted with Goshawk type dampers. These drums save 12 lbs. in weight, and should reduce the cost. 5. Pistons with pedestal fixing for the gudgeon pins. contd:- | ||