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).
Updates and testing on engine controls, the steering column, and pedal arrangement.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 81\2\ scan0171 | |
| Date | 7th October 1924 | |
| OyS-E-10724 -5- October 7, 1924. (7) Controls on Engine. These are as shown on prints brought over in March. The ignition advance has been made 30° (crankshaft) manual, and 25° automatic. The automatic advance starts at 400 r.p.m. and follows a straight line characteristic to full advance at 2000 r.p.m. This appears to give everything we could want as full advance can be used at all speeds above 20 m.p.h. and acceleration is good. Before knowing exactly the desired characteristics of the Bosch advance spring however, we shall need to make a test on the dynamometer. (8) Steering Column. This is standard except for reversing the two halves of the steer-ing box end using left hand thread in worm and nut. At bottom of the box below steel washer F-6990 we used a washer of belt leather .100 thick. This washer has a .700 hole to be a tight fit on the tube. It is rivetted to F-6990 by 3 sunk copper rivets. This is carrying out further the attempt to make the Steering box oil-retaining which was covered by the proposal of a felt washer on the end of the rocking shaft. (Alt.3367/A.{Mr Adams} Agreed to by England on August 26th, 1925.) At 10,000 miles the box had not lost an appreciable quantity of oil. It had not been refilled. Houghton's absorbed oil was used. All parts are perfectly lubricated. (9) Pedals. (See drawings marked #9). These are founded on recent English drawings of pedals with oval section and round shanks through the floorboards. They are as previously discussed with England. The only change is that the accelerator pedal lever has been set over at an angle (keeping it straight to avoid torsion). This is to give 4" centre distance from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal. The reason for this is that with the standard centre distance 3.300" the accelerator pedal appeared too close to the brake pedal for comfort. On the standard car the edge of the cowl serves to guide the foot to the accelerator pedal, and the closeness of the two pedals is not noticed. With 4" centre distance there is no danger of catching the brake pedal when reaching for the accelerator. We believe however that it will be desirable to provide an ad-justable footrest on the right hand side of the accelerator pedal. | ||