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).
Internal memorandum regarding steering seizing issues on the 20/25 HP Chassis (GOH-4).
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\3\ scan0318 | |
| Date | 5th August 1935 | |
| X550 STC C. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} F.J. Nardy [Handwritten note in red ink]: We have suspected worm & nut variation for a long time. We should follow this up. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} re 20/25 HP.CHASSIS - STEERING SEIZING (GOH-4) We recently appear to have had a number of cases of the above taking place on new chassis after delivery, and the above is rather a bad case which we have been requested to give our serious investigation. There were no adverse comments on the final chassis acceptance test, or the complete car test report from the London coachbuilders, but on the first test run on the car by the customer the steering became so stiff that the car was not fit for further use. The Repair Department confirm that this steering gear is one of the worst they have handled, and we understand the complete column was returned to you under memo. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/WT25/MW2.8.35 and has now been corrected and built up on a chassis. Possibly you have still got the faulty feature by you for evidence? It is important, therefore, that a report should be issued on the condition of the worm and nut, and what was considered the cause of the trouble. We should also like to handle these partsm if at all possible, as it seems very necessary that the matter should be taken up with the Design and Experimental Departments. It has been pointed out that this trouble seems to be aggravated during the hot weather and the use of engine oil in the steering box. Will Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} please re-consider this point, as possibly some different type of oil under the present conditions could be used to advantage as the 'cure' for so-called heavy steering or use of thin oil appears in these cases to be worse than the disease. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} rh{R. Hollingworth} | ||