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).
Test report on a vehicle's performance, detailing issues with the clutch, gearbox, sideshaft, axle, brakes, and steering, alongside handwritten annotations for follow-up actions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan036 | |
| Date | 14th October 1937 | |
| [Typed Text] from Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} -2- and have not done anything to obtain good consumption. The clutch works nicely and I think is improving although at the start it did not free itself when disengaged. It has developed a slight squeak on engagement but I do not regard this as serious. I will watch if it develops further. The gear box is not altogether satisfactory but the defects are such as can be put right in manufacture. The sideshaft makes a dry noise when running light and this may be due to bad ball bearings. The gears are good under load but the worst defect is that they are tight in places and difficult to engage if one hits on the tight places. This also applies to the direct drive and rather points to the internal gear being eccentric. It may be this defect which has made the ball bearings noisy thus causing the sideshaft noise above referred to, by putting excessive load on them due to the out-of-alignment when direct drive is engaged in the tight place. The rear axle is reasonably silent and I should class it as good. The hand brake is good but the foot brake is not so good as when we started. It is not bad but is inclined to vary in its effectiveness. It will probably settle down when the dressing has worked out of the liners. The steering is good and is an improvement on the previous Goshawks but it has one defect which should be eliminated as soon as possible. When a pothole is struck with one wheel it has the effect of jerking the steering wheel violently and occasionally one receives a nasty blow on the fingers by the spokes of the steering wheel. The springing is good but the rear springs are on the strong side. [Handwritten Text] CONT'D:- Latest type short slots and slight set rotor blades. Bonded Ferodo. splines eased. Suspect Hyatt hearing. H.S. did you not try plain bearing? Do not consider sufficiently bad to condemn, but matter to investigate for improvement. Taking up with Works for correct fitting. Do not wish to make more clearance. ? Slack in drive. Dunlop wire wheels fitted. axle as produced and will be tested. Feel concerned about brake remaining effective. How does 4.G.II behave? H.S. point to take up with R.{Sir Henry Royce} Important feature - now trying more friction. Warwick Eng Co's Bonded Ferodo on pivots. Friction in steering column also being prepared. CONT'D:- | ||