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 investigation and resolution of a steering complaint for chassis number 137-XJ.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\2\ Scan430 | |
| Date | 4th December 1930 | |
| X4117 FN.1/FH.4.12.30. Mr. copy to. W.R. [checked] H.R. R.W. J.S. Chassis No.137-XJ - Winn - Steering Complaint. [STAMP: RECEIVED DEC 1930] In reply to your EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}3/T3.12.30., the final test with this car yesterday resulted in proving the steering to be entirely suitable for general touring and especially for high speed work. It is not possible to state that any one feature about this steering was responsible for it having developed a steering wobble in the hands of the owner. I think that probably the right view to take is that it was a border line car and a number of small things, any one of which becoming slightly out of adjustment, would have the effect of making it possible for the wobble to be set up if the road speed and surface happened to be conducive to that effect. The front shock absorbers are now set at 100 up and down. We find that when the car came into our hands last these dampers were 100 down and 80 up. These had been set by Handcock whom, I understand, considered he had set them at 100 up and down. This just illustrates that the method of judging the loading of our hydraulics is unsatisfactory. I cannot see how it can be otherwise until the time element is taken into account. The pivot lean was checked and is practically the same as when we checked it. We dare not take any more out of the angle. The vertical movement of the pivots was found to be excessive. It is now made standard. The cross steering tube was 18 lbs. The rear end of the side steering tube has been loaded up as in the case of 26-MX.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} The front end did not appear to require it. The front springs are being replaced by stronger ones. Our tests show that, as these various points were attended to, a gradual improvement in the amount of "joggling" was experienced. I decided that nothing should be left to chance and that, although the steering worm and nut already fitted were probably within our limits of clearance, the future condition of running would be further safe guarded by changing the existing column for the new selective one just received from Derby. I was also influenced by the psychological aspect which, in the Hon Chas.Winn's case after his repeated trouble, is important. contd.. | ||