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).
Failures and issues with the Goshawk model, focusing on front springs, frame fittings, and steering.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan251 | |
| Date | 15th March 1917 | |
| contd:- -5- We do not consider, however, that we can look upon the front springs as satisfactory. The proportion of failures is much too high. Another point which suggests excessive movement on the front springs of the Goshawk is the fact that with a very small amount of side clearance on the springs, we get very bad rattles on the front of the car. In fitting up the Goshawks we worked to the same clearances as used on the 40/50 H.P., yet we appear to get infinitely more noise caused by the side play in the shackles. We admit that the 40/50 needs constant attention in order to keep the spring shackles silent. The spring shackles on 5-Goshawk-11 were completely worn out. The wear on this car was undoubtedly excessive owing to the fact that it had not received sufficient lubrication. On the other Goshawk cars which are running, it is the side play which has given us trouble, not so much the wear on the pins and bushes. When a Goshawk car has been carefully fitted as regards side play in the springs and made so as to overcome all rattles from this point, we have found that it gets bad after about 3,000 miles. We think the front end of the rear spring should receive special attention. It was noticeable on 5-Goshawk-11 that when the car was running with the throttle closed, there was a severe harsh feeling through-out the car which made it appear as though one was riding with a flat tyre. There were a number of times when we had to stop the car on this account. The cause of the trouble was slack in the front end of the rear spring which sent severe shocks through the chassis. We also found on 5-Goshawk-11 that the N.S. rear spring had been fidgeting on the spring rest on the axle; the head of the centre bolt in the spring was badly worn and the hole to which this head fits in the spring seating was elongated. It will be necessary to take special precautions to see that the rear springs are firmly tightened to the axle. FRAME AND FITTINGS. The rivets in the dumb irons on 5-Goshawk-11 were loose, also there were signs of movement of the dumb iron in the frame. The front cross member was found cracked in the corner of the flange. This was the latest design of flange. It is noticeable that it is very difficult to remove this cross member under the radiator. The bracket fixing the front end of the rear springs has worn badly owing to the eye, formed on the top plate of the rear spring, rubbing against it as the bushes wore away. We also consider that some provision should be made to form a safety stop in case a rear spring breaks. A safety stop is fitted to all the high-class cars using the rear springs to control the axle. We consider that as a rear spring failure may cause a very bad accident or loss of life, we think that we should do all we know to protect the occupants of the car. STEERING. The steering box cracked on 5-Goshawk-11. Generally, the steering over the bad roads in France was not by any means perfect. The car which was sent out with the plain thrust although it definitely overcame road shocks, had other faults which were equally as bad. contd:- R.R. 198 (600 H) 298. (50) 15.3.17 M.P. 170549 | ||