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).
Correspondence regarding Goshawk 11 steering lever failures, test reports, and other component issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan081 | |
| Date | 31th March 1922 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence - frm EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} X4086 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}2/LG31.3.22. X4219 X4086 GOSHAWK 11. We have wired you today as follows:- "Hives - Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} reports cross steering levers bent - latest type - now unsafe to run - suggests stronger design - have sent pair to replace - wire if any immediate action require - have written you fully. Platford". [Handwritten note in left margin: By now another report] We have sent you a copy report on the information received and our reply. We are pressing for the return of the faulty levers as BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} does not feel disposed to make any alteration until we have made further investigation. In view of the remarks on your report that in your opinion the steering levers appear weak, I thought it wise to inform you of this failure as we are rather anxious that we should be in a position to test out some improved levers. The production of these levers is automatically stopped by the "lock-out" and we think there will be difficulty in obtaining drop forgings of a different type at this juncture, but it may be considered advisable to make stronger levers specially. We should like to fix some improved levers, if thought desirable, on 6-Goshawk-11, we have which we hope to send to France for Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} next week. [handwritten: but will not send now until faults overcome (see attached)] With regard to your report to the effect that it is fatal to run off 10,000 miles until we are satisfied that the car is satisfactory. You will notice that I have added to your report suggestions which may help us to carry on as you suggest. I have, this morning, heard from BJ. and I attach copy of arrangements made on the 'phone, which have confirmed. If nothing otherwise develops, I will let you know - in the meantime however, I should be glad to have any further comments from you which may help us to form some practicable way of dealing with the job as suggested in your report to CJ. With regard to leather covers for the ball joints, you suggest that these should be made accessible for adjustment purposes. This is hardly practicable with the present type of joint in which one, not only has to adjust the end screw for taking up the slack, but also unscrew and again screw up the bolts which grip the cup pieces in the tube. We have obtained some sample covers made to our drawings, but to adjust these covers it means entirely dismantling them. We hope to fix a set on 6-Goshawk-11. Re. coil failure. Have you arranged for this to be returned to the Works? Please let us know when we can expect it and how it was sent. As regards the carburetter jets. The two we have sent you today have similar grooves cut in as those you now have. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||